Some very strong opinions on this thread!

I'm going to disagree with just about everybody and say that I am totally on the fence on this one:

Pros

1. We need more leadership, that's been clear for years, though its not all Lockers' fault as the knockers would have you believe. If this move encourages the allegedly "senior" players to take responsibility and helps avoid the shameful, gutless performances we have seen over the last few years, then great.

2. It shows MM is not frightened to shake things up, which is a good thing in itself. The Wigan club has been crying out for new ideas and direction for years.

Cons

1. There is potential for confusion and rivalry between "captains". The coaching team's man management skills will be crucial to the success or failure of this, it could backfire but let's hope they are up to the job.

2. Is Lockers really happy with this? Even if he is, I do hope the knockers don't crow too much over his demotion - we need to support Lockers, he's always given 100% for the club, unlike many of the others who have worn the cherry and white in recent years, not undermine the guy.

The jury's out for me on this one.

only 4 or 5?

There are thereabouts. Roughly the same amount of time you lot will be playing home fixtures at the LSV.

Shaun o is NOT captain material and MM as finally realised it so to have other captains is cool

Let's not overplay this "all coaches picked him as captain".

Basil picked him..................

Nobby was hardly spoiled for choice for competition (plus sacking Lockers would have made him even more unpopular with some people than he was already).


He hasn't had a sniff at International level (and is some way down the pecking order).


Hopefully MM sees him for what he is. A hard working 2nd row forward.

Lockers captained his school team, the town team, Wigan academy / reserves and England A. I'm not sure if he captained England at academy level.

Were all those coaches wrong?

Yep.


He is NOT a natural captain.


He may have been appointed captain as he was the "best" player from the crowd he was in. More likely it would have been as his attitude was (and indeed is) very good.

I am not a rugby coach but I can recognise leadership qualities when I see them. Lockers is just not cut out for it.

I believe that if he just focussed on his own game, which as I have said, is imo, a hard working 2nd row forward, then I think it would be to his and Wigan's benefit.

IMO He's the best 13 in the competition & a Very Good Captain, but Hey, You know better than Ex international & Current SL Coaches etc so you must be more knowledgeable than everyone else on here including me?

Then again, it could just be that your statement is in fact Your Opinion?

How do we know if hadn't been captain the lsat 3 years he would have performed better? Is it not conceivable he could actually have been worse?

Of course it's my opinion. What a strange thing to say.....

I agree with you about him being the best loose in SL and an OK captain but what's the point in using the 'Coaches know best therefore you're wrong' argument? No coach is correct in everything he does, and these forums would be very boring if every coaching decision worked out perfectly.

Vehemently criticising a coach for his decision or the player himself when it can or can't be proved wether he is or isn't and then stating for example that "He is NOT a natural captain." deserves to be picked up on.

If someone wants to make those criticisms of a player/coach then he/she needs to come up with a better argument to back up their statement in my opinion!

My opinion would be that he has been chosen by very experienced coaches who know far more about the game than I/We do and I haven't seen too much to make me think that their was a significantly better alternative &/or making that change would have improved the team's performances.

More importantly IMO I would hazard a guess that not many of the players have thought as much about it as we have and I am sure wouldn't make his captaincy a significant reason for lack of success etc.

PS

I didn't make a "Coaches know Best" Statement I merely said that BK had pointed out that "HE Knew better" than previous coaches who had selected him.
Looking at it a different way BK has basically made his own mind up and no matter what I or anyone else says he is convinced it is the right decision, isn't that what he is criticising the coaches of doing?

My point was that different coaches of different teams at different levels who have worked with Lockers have chosen him has captain.

They have all seen something in him that makes THEM believe that O'Loughlin IS captain material.

So how can WE who see him at most 30 times a year believe that those who work with him on a daily basis are wrong?

I'm unsure about the five captains. Will it work? I don't know but I trust the people in charge will address the problem if there is one.

Is it causing me sleepless nights? No.

Twelve pages on a nothing story - bloody incredible

Than God we'll soon have some rugby to discuss soon.