Kaii, I was stood in the Wigan end to the right of the sticks, can you let me know what you and others around you think he did wrong yesterday? For me he did absolutely nothing wrong, no mistakes, caught every high ball and made some try saving tackles especially on carney who is hard to put down, and scored a try himself.

He did nothing wrong in as much as he did the basics well. I think we are entitled to something better from a "world class player". In every game that Sam plays, even if he is having a stinker, he will create something.

Also Bowen should be, with all his experience, providing some leadership. We were bereft of that yesterday.

Example; when Matty dropped us into the lead with a minute left on the clock- what was going to happen next? A cool head would have had us prepared for the kick off instead of mobbing Matty. Everyone in the ground knew where Sneyd was going to put the ball from kick off.

OK so that isn't Bowen's fault but he is replacing a world class player who organised the defence and provided leadership.

Regarding Bowen and leadership, was this ever part of his game down under? I don't know so was wondering if calls for him to be a leader are misplaced?

Some world class players are just not the leadership types.

Maybe not...but it's what we need from him. Some people are quiet but with experience and age gain in self confidence and are respected, much like Lockers. Bowen has all of those attributes, in fact is so much more highly regarded than say Finch was, yet you couldn't shut Finch up. Bowen must be the quietest Aussie on the planet!!!

Well if we do need this from him it must be because we have shipped out too many players who would take over the leadership role when Lockers is out.

Do we still have the leadership team idea first introduced by Madge? If so who is in it? If not who would you suggest [iwas[/i in it? I don't mean who you might think ought to be in it because just like Bowen they are experienced players but who do you think has the attitude to be a member?

Yes we have shipped out too much experience. That was evident yesterday. Micky Mac was a headless chicken and certainly NOT captaincy material.

The leadership idea was still in place last season, but I've not heard anything this year.

Leadership contenders - Lockers, Matty Smith, Faz and I think Clubb is improving rapidly at prop. I believe that SW reckons he has leadership potential. It is a bit thin though, granted.

I think the fact that we have lost our 2 vice captains (TL and Sam) in consecutive seasons isn't really helping the cause in this regard.

I thought so but like yourself I have not heard about it this season.



That is pretty telling IMO. It is still worth doing again though especially if Lockers is going to limp his way through the season.

The leadership team is still in existence. I've read references to Micky Mac and Faz both being part of it this season.

One thing you notice without Lockers is the team is very quiet vocally, with him there he directs play and keeps everyone in order. That is a massive thing to lose and you need someone with a good rugby brain to fill in the spot, for me I'd go with Matty Smith but take kicking duties of him. I personally think that side of his game is a mental block now, we saw at stains he could kick but those misses must be effecting him.

I thought he had a really solid game. Looked a lot better than huddersfield and Wcc. He just needs some time on the pitch to get used to how we play as well as the super league. It was a dodgy bounce for the try he gave away, didn't see the impedance that some have talked about, and his try was really well taken.

Our biggest problem at the moment is a kicker, we will struggle a hell of a lot this season without those 2s going in every time and it cost us big yesterday

The misses didn't affect him enough to convert from the touchline and drop a goal with two players on top of him, all in the last couple of minutes.

Who knows he may take a lot of confidence from that and (quite literally) kick on?

Hope you're right, Matty Smith imo has been a great player for us

Maybe I don't understand the rules properly but wasn't Bowen taken out by a Cas player when defending the kick that led to a try?

"Solid game", "did alright", "slight improvement".

Yes, just the comments you want to hear about your big money signing

Regards

King James