Only time will tell if the issues have been addressed or not. Your confidence seems to be based on hope rather than evidence. We'll need to wait until the season progresses before we actually have an answer.

I wish we did have halves that played like it was 1985. I long for the days to return where we had halves that can play with each other rather than just left or just right.

Sadly the 10 yard rule and infinite subs have taken away the need for a specialist half back, basic ball skills and a bit of pace are the skillset nowadays.

I'll be amazed if we finish anywhere below last years position, I quite fancy us top 2 if Im honest.

Good points very well made..

No props, no pots.

I have a sneaking feeling we'll be back to form this year. The way we played against Leigh filled me with optimism that the problem areas were being addressed. The props ran it in hard, the kicking game from both Sams was a big improvement on last year and, along with the return of Escare who we saw last season has a more than useful kicking game, that should only improve as the season progresses and combinations settle.

The distribution from dummy half was also much improved with Tommy at 9. In fact I was surprised just how much quicker it was. Given that TL also brings a running game to the position, something we haven't had in quite a while, coupled with the guile of Ganson, I feel that we will have more options and creativity from Hooker.

One or two players look like they've upped their game. Navarette in particular looks to have taken several steps forward and, along with the terrific showing from Hamlin and the return to full fitness of Clubb and Flower, there should be genuine competition for places in the front row.

Last but not least we won without SOL! Only a pre season friendly maybe, but one giant leap for mankind nonetheless! Haha

I may be getting confused here but to my mind I always felt Sarginson looked like he’d be a better fit over on the right. The reason being that he seems to love that step back to the right, which over on the left kept taking him away from his winger (which was hugely frustrating).

On that right side if he straightens and then goes right that should see him being able to link with his winger on far more occasions. If the space becomes tight then as is the norm, the winger comes inside to give his centre an option.

Sarge needs to watch endless clips of George Carmont and see what a truly great winger does and doesn't do.

I guarantee I will be tapping at this keyboard in 2 months time frustrated at the lack of passes our winger gets - mark my words!

This is so pessimistic. Wigan have addressed the issues with rearranging positioning, bringing in a kicking coach etc, this is evidence based, from this I have hope. What more do you want at this stage? For one I'm pleased we've addressed issues. Like I said, big season for Wane. If he doesn't perform as a head coach it's possible it could be his last.

Debatable. When a team is totally lead around the field by an 'off the cuff' creative half, the team becomes dependent on their creativity to make things happen, when they're injured and replace the whole team looks completely different as they've been dependent on that one player, the old school 7.

Now with structures, a team and the halves play to to the structure meaning there's less impact on losing a star half.

A good argument case study would be Castleford with Rangi v Cas without Rangi. They were often dependent on flashes of his individual skill and flair to breakdown the defence. Now they play much more structured and are a far better team.

It's not pessimistic, it's waiting for [uevidence[/u that things are actually going to change on the field. Given the season hasn't even started yet we don't know if the changes being made will actually address the issues - if not done correctly they could make things worse.

Like I said (on more than one occasion) no one knows how things will pan out. I hope we sort things out and win every game and every trophy on offer but I'm not going to be a happy clapper or doom monger at this stage.