Ideally I would only be happy if we finished in the top 4 and maybe made it to the CC final and winning it.

However judging on our opening few games, I feel 4th to 8th is more realistic. If it means finishing in this position but having Tomkins and Ainscough being played regularly then I'll be content, as we will be building for the future whilst still finishing in a respectable position.

With the youngsters we have, I'm willing to be patient if it means we will be back at the top winning things in 3 to 5 years, but some fans want instant success and that wont be happening overnight.

Can't argue with that, If I was going to write a thread complaining about any of our players, Hansen would be somewhere near the bottom of my list... totally under-rated solid player.

Hansen is an average SL player. By rating him anything more is overrating him.

Yes he's a great tackler, so are many of the forwards in SL. Think of it from this angle, having Hansen in the 17 results in another player missing out in the 17, namely one of the other young backrowers- Flanny Mossop or Farrell for example.

If one of these 3 could tackle up and offer some ideas in attack, surely we'd sooner see them in the 17? Basically if they're a better player they should be in.

Team I posted

-----------------Richards-------------------
---Roberts Bailey Carmont Ainscough---
-----------Tomkins Tommy---------------
-------Fielden Riddell O Carroll-----------
--------------Hock Lockers----------------
----------------Tomkins--------------------
Feka McClorum Prescott (Mossop/Farrell/Flanny)

If they are better than Hansen, they should play.

I'm sorry but again you’re posting your opinions as FACTS. They are not facts they are your opinions.

You think Hansen is average and overrated i think he's underrated. You think he's clueless in attack i think he runs the best lines at the club, makes modest yards and never gets dominated in the tackle.

Hansen would get in the starting 17 of every SL squad and would be my first 2nd rower down to start every week.

Agreed. It is opinion.

Like 98% of comments posted on a message board.

Now that's a FACT!

If ifs and ands.....

Hansen has a consistently high work rate, doesn't make unforced errors, doesn't give away penalties and as has been stated runs some great lines.

He improved in the majority of areas between 2007 and 2008 which can't be said for most of our players. Last season he was top in tackles with 825 with Sinfield second with 777. He was also top on marker tackles with 106, 16 more than Simon Finnegan at number 2.

You are entitled to your opinion but at least back it up with some evidence.

Errors, penalties, attitude and inconsistency cost us dearly last season so I just don't understand why anyone would highlight a player who has no apparent problems in any of those areas.

Because on the field away from tackling up he offers very little.

Is this your opinion or a fact?

IMO it's probably incorrect.

oh dear, I can't be bothered with this discussion anymore.

Quote: Last Son of Wigan "Because on the field away from tackling up he offers very little.'" He doesn't though and that's the problem! One example but i'm sure there are others on how a predominantly defensive 2nd row compare favourably against other types of players www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... ason=2009c England international www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009 Young player of the year www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009 Hardly ineffective

Quote: Last Son of Wigan "Because on the field away from tackling up he offers very little.'" He doesn't though and that's the problem! One example but i'm sure there are others on how a predominantly defensive 2nd row compare favourably against other types of players www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... ason=2009c England international www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009 Young player of the year www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009 Hardly ineffective

Seriously. I understand stats are facts.

But once again this thread has become off topic and onto Hansen.

Say what you want, but is he as good as lockers? no. or hock or tomkins? no. So that rules him out of the back row.

Now..

Hansen or Mossop/Farrell/Flanny. If one of the three are better than Hansen who should be in?

Or are you now saying Hansen is better than the starting back 3?

Or are you say IF the 3 in the reserves are better they shouldn't be in?

Seriously.. come on.

Look you said he offer very little in attack and that was my main problem.

His attacking stats compare well with the three above one of which is a prop and two are England internationals! He hardly offers nothing as you say or can you finally admit your wrong on that one and that your opinion is based on nothing concrete?

Hansen is better than all the reserve back rowers that you mention so it’s a none starter! Why keep going over it? He’s is still quite young himself also btw.

I'd also start him over Hock as i see Hock as an impact player. Is Hansen better than Lockers? Again it's all opinions but he could well be In some aspects of his game and if he works on the other parts I fully expect him to be a better player at 26 than what Lockers is now.

Im sorry but I think you are going slighty off topic with Hansen here, you stated at the start he was overrated, so in answer to your statement no he isn't, if anything he is underrated.

I think it was Rogues who was saying in the SR who will have a defensive player, a player who makes the runs (attacking) and another player who just adds that something extra special like an extra playmaker, so to speak.

At Wigan you have Hansen as defensive, Tomkins as the attacking and Hock as the special player.

They each have different roles in the SR, Hansen's job isn't always attack and score tries it is to defend, but considering this he still gets through a lot of work in attack and comes up with his fair share in tries.

Hansen at the moment is better than Mossop, Flanagan or Farrell and out of them 3 I can only see Mossop and Farrell being the ones to make it.