It seems to me that it's clever leadership on the field that is missing. The structures are there, mostly, but too often we don't play what's in front of us, which is more of a captaincy issue than a coaching one. Too often we take the wrong option, or don't have a plan before we get to the last tackle, based on the opposition defensive structure at the time.

Last tackle options and complete lack of dummy runners.

Sort those out and we finish in a good position and make our attack harder to read.

We have to stop passing the ball sidewise when we have no options to straighten up the attack.

Our problem is that we have a game plan that completely omits any natural flair, it's game plan or bust and that is it.

Our game plan is to stop the opposition scoring. That seems to be it.
A good result at Hull but the issues that have been there for 3 years still remain.
Really pleased for TT who should being doing more minutes.

Too many issues with basics is what is killing the attack,

line far far too shallow - players need to learn to line up with depth so they are running on to the ball,
dropped ball and too many head down and barge,
loopy passes from dummy half and the half backs - can no one pass flat anymore in this team?
lack of runs from dummy half
absolutely awful kicking on the last tackle - often rushed due to lack of depth (see above)

all these are basic skills/tactics that professional players should be capable of - every other club can do it.

(and the injuries excuse annoys the hell out of me - other clubs eg Castleford have had a lot of injuries but have still played good rugby)

I hope there is someone on here who can put down word for word what John Wells and Sam Powell said when Wells brought up the try that George Williams scored on Friday in the post match interview.
If my memory is right it went something like this, after Wells mentioned Georges try Sam said George very much likes to play off the cuff, but we are a very structured team. Wells then said something along the lines of does that mean structure takes precedent over off the cuff play. Sam really didn't give a reply to that.
That is how I remember the conversation going.

It made me wonder if Sam Powell was always a structured player as a junior, or did he play with more freedom.

There's no doubt whatever is missing involves our attack. There are no issues with the defence or team spirit. To pinpoint exactly what the problem is a different issue.

Ultimately the head coach has to take responsibility. There has to be some sort of change in the coaching department and IMO an outside influence with different ideas needs to be brought in. Whether that is in the form of a new head coach or an assistant or two depends upon who is available. Tony Smith at Warrington admitted earlier this year that bringing Agar in reinvigorated the squad and had made a big difference.

The players have to take some of the responsibility too. Poor errors and stupid penalties have often either cost us or made games very difficult. We often lack composure at crucial times. I'm hoping rather than expecting TL will make a difference in terms of leadership and the ability to control a game an organise a team. Assuming TL is replacing Smith then Williams needs to step up and support his scrum half and offer more than the occasional good grabber kick and eye catching run. Though still young He's had enough experience now not to be classed as a 'kid' anymore.

one thing we really miss is a hooked that can come on from the bench and give us some real go forward. maybe that will change when Tommy arrives

Spot on. This is nothing against Sam Powell who has been superb all season long, but we are lacking a spark and drive during the latter stages of halves usually. An example of this would be Wire, who have Brad Dwyer to come on to replace Daryl Clark and he gives them an added edge IMO. Tommy coming in probably gives us that option for next year but whether he has the legs anymore is another question.

What's missing are dummy runners, more offloads, off the cuff attacking, scoots from Powell in the Higham style to pinch a few yards from lazy markers, an ineffective fullback (IMO Tomkins needs to go into the halves as he is a passenger at 1)

The display at Hull illustrated Wigan's will to win under Wane. I doubt that any coach in the league would have got a team in the top 4 after losing their hooker for the whole season. Lockers is still missing too. Replacing him takes two players really.

If we add to that Sam Tomkins is not the player he was then Wigan have had to overcome several major setbacks this season.

Sam is clearly struggling. I wouldn't be at all surprised top see him retire from the game altogether. It is clear that he does offer us improved defence, leadership quality and a still decent passing game. However his return has not been the success that I'd hoped to see. I think it is really quite sad to watch him at the moment.

We have missed McIlorum hugely. Imagine Hull without Houghton or Wire without Clark for the season, would they have made top 4 as easily?

For large parts of the season we have had no first choice 1, 6, 9 or 13 in the team. We have hardly seen Joel Tomkins or Faz for that matter. No wonder they have struggled in attack. Credit the coach for the defensive effort.

I have always supported SW and have no doubt that he deserves another season in the role. I do agree that he may need an assistant. I also would criticise him for over doing the aggressive stuff in big games. An example was the Saints derby in July. Saints were average but won in the end because Wigan couldn't even master the basics, and were far too intent on hurting people.

If Waney is to be replaced the new coach would come from one of three possible sources. (1) Super League (2) Union (3) NRL. There is no Super League coach who is superior, Powell is okay at 'small town' Cas, but he hasn't done much there. They bottled it in the only big games they have played (CC Final and LLS decider at Catalans in 2014). Edwards and Farrell have been away for too long really, though I would prefer them to Powell. A big name like Bellamy isn't going to come over from the NRL, we can only attract an assistant. We struck gold with Madge, but I worry that we are more likely to get Peter Gentle/Royce Symmonds mark II than Madge mark II. We need to be careful not to lose the good things that Wane has brought to the club.

As for next season. Matty Smith will be missed. Tommy is not a good enough kicker to play scrum half. He needs a kicking Stand Off like Trent Barrett to allow him to function. I wonder what role Powell will play. Not that I necessarily want it but I think Waney will start Powell at 7 with Tommy on the bench, assuming MMc starts. We will miss Josh too. Great to have Joe back but I think we are light in the centres. We need another utility back. Depending on who goes out of Super League, I'd be sniffing around Cudjoe, who was excellent against us twice this season, McGilvary, Murphy and Wardle from the Giants and Jones, Sa'u and Evalds from Salford.

I don't think that is true. When he played on the wing for the latter half of the season he was fine. It was playing him at centre that didn't work early on.

Playing players out of position has ruined a few Wigan careers or never got them started. We signed Lauaki after he played well in the 2nd row against us and then stuck him at prop for example.

Can't argue with much of that, but,




I'd argue Tommy is at least as good an out-of-hand kicker as Smith, probably better. I accept that still doesn't put him in the first rank, though.

I'm more than happy to believe that you are right about Tommy. But we don't have a particularly good recent record of 'old boys' returning.

The Widnes game surely proved to everyone that Matty was badly missed and that Shorrocks is nowhere near ready.

Bowen?