I don't think Solo drinks at all. You have to admit he has great hands.

He has, and I've just been discussing it with a saints supporting friend of mini rogue.
He's like Puletua and Lautiti, great with ball in hand, but very poor defensively. What you ned to do when you play against them is to to make them work, and hard.

Easier said than done I know, but none of them have "big engines"

Solomona did slim down 12 months back but he's put it back on in spades over this pre season. He looks very top heavy and isn't in good enough shape to play for a top 4 side imo at the minute. He isn't on his own at Wire in looking a little unfit going off our pre season with them. I thought they had 4 or 5 players that looked like they'd had a 'good' christmas and needed an extra few weeks pre season but going off tonight they've worked them hard.

Wire have the talent to really push Wigan close but i'd back out fitness and work ethic everytime.

I totally agree that he has great hands, but like Feka, these are "luxury" type players who in modern day rugby league are not really players which title contenders should be accomodating. IMO the modern game is so much more about percentages plays and defence that having a player that can create a bit of magic but who is a liability in defence is not something the top coaches IMO can afford to have. MM has created a title winning culture at Wigan that is about constant improvement, how is a guy who has put on 2 stone in the off season demonstrating that he buys into such a culture which is now the minimum requirement for a title winning team?

I'd have him nowhere near our team, he's well out of shape and his impact is minimal these days.

He isn't the same player that he was in his Wakey days is he. I remember a game at Belle Vue where he murdered us and at the time I thought he was probably the most gifted player in superleague. To be fair he probably is still one of if not the most naturally gifted player in the league but his general attitude to fitness isn't good enough and he doesn't push himself hard enough.

If only the guy had an attitude for the sport like Sam Tomkins has he'd be an alltime great but he hasn't.

Not what he's there to do, he's there for good yard, which he makes and that bit of flair. Like one of the other wigan posters says, he's a luxury and his weaknesses are cover by other peoples strengths

No way is it our trophy already(Well it is but but it's not ours to keep without alot of hard work) but like I say i'd back our work ethic and general fitness over pretty much every other side in the league. I'm not saying we're nailed on by any means but in the same breath I know I can say without being arrogant that it will take a very good side to stop us winning the title again this year. I believe Wire may be that side because theres no lack of talent and on a man for man basis your just as good as Wigan talent wise but like I say going back to a fitness issue and a work ethic issue i'd back us against anyone.

I'm a pessimistic git at the best of times and i don't say it lightly when I say we're a very good side. Thats not being arrogant because it's a fact. No side wins a superleague title without being a very good side.

For God's sake some of you, get over yourselves

We bought Solomona when he was fat, he's still fat (or even fatter). SO WHAT

He's the best off loading forward I've seen in years.

What do you want him to be. Another identikit 6'1", 15 stone player (like the majority of SL players, these days) or a fat so' n' so, who shows fantastic skill.

To mention him in the same breath as Feka, is, quite simply, embarrasing.

Have to say, your pack were outstanding tonight. Lovely to see the ginger whinger getting battered!

I don't want him to be anything. I'm happy with him the way he is, how he can call himself an athlete is, quite simply, embarrassing

you are a cracking side! no doubt! and i dont think it is fair to say Wire, as a team aren't fit. If i remember rightly last year it was one a piece between our two great teams. It's been said a lot on our board we lost 5 games last year through missed kicks for example. That isn't fitness, that was a missing skill point.

I do think Wigan will win but there are 4 teams who will be there and there abouts, we have (hopefully) shown we can manage injuries so far, can other teams? i always think that has the big say so in a season.

good luck for sunday and good luck for the year (not too much though)

He's abit like Jarrad Sammut, he has the ability to single handedly win a game, but can also just as easily lose a game.

I wouldnt have him or Sammut at Wigan, happy with what we've got. However if we were offered them pre Maguire, I would have snatched them in a heartbeat.

he got BATTERED.... M.monaghan owned him big style... then Carvell smashed him.

he spent the rest of the game showing he can pass from first receiver.