I certainly don't understand the regular replacement of Micky Mac with Sam Powell. Yeah, Powell is a willing lad, but does anyone really think he has a future at Wigan? He never adds anything to the team and as others have said, we seem to lose vital intensity when he comes on. It's almost as if we're playing him out of some kind of misguided loyalty. We need MM on the pitch a lot more than he currently is.

Quote: DaveO "I don't think the weather of the state of the pitch helped as it really affected the game. The pitch wasn't fit for a school team. Some bloke in the south stand just before kick off deserves a medal. Got everyone going and was brought up on the big screen waving hos shirt around. Give him a job!'" Cameron Hughes https://twitter.com/cameroncheers

Quote: DaveO "I don't think the weather of the state of the pitch helped as it really affected the game. The pitch wasn't fit for a school team. Some bloke in the south stand just before kick off deserves a medal. Got everyone going and was brought up on the big screen waving hos shirt around. Give him a job!'" Cameron Hughes https://twitter.com/cameroncheers

How can MM burn himself out? He has had zero go forward for the best part of two years.
In the past he was my favourite player but recently he is so laid back he is almost horizontal. No urgency comes from him at the play ball and he hasn't improved his distribution one iota in years.
In his defence he is probably playing to instructions which includes knowing he doesn't need to play 80 minutes.
I await the howls of derision from the MM can do know wrong club.

I recall the same being said of MM...

Never been a fan of Powell, he doesn't seem to offer much, and has a tendency to give away pens and yellows with cheap shots which doesn't endear me either. Agree that we might as well give Waterworth some first team game time; I hope that happens. Gildart took his chance well last year (and at the business end of the season too), be nice to see other youngsters do the same.

We have a first team squad of 31 players so I don't think the salary cap is any excuse. If when Wane subs Mick Mac we end up on the back foot which we do virtually every time this happens we need to manage the cap differently.

What I mean by that is Wane's game plan of subbing by the clock [irequires[/i us to have another very good hooker in the squad (and another prop at least as good as Flower since he subs them by the clock as well). As we have not got one then Wane either needs to change the game plan or go and find another good hooker. If the salary required to recruit such a player meant we had to reduce the first squad to 29 then so be it. Powell as sub hooker is no good and the fact he can cover other positions doesn't seem very relevant either because he rarely does that.

Salary cap is obviously a factor otherwise we could bring in whoever we could afford. Do you really think our team would be the same if there was no cap?

Nothing wrong with spelling McM on the first game of the season after he's come back from quite serious surgery, I think a smart club looks after their players and considers the season not just the first game of the season.

Powell is no world beater. I don't know why people are focusing on him. But I see why he's played, currently in our squad I don't know who would be better to cover the halves/dummy half than Powell. And for the moment he's on? It's savy cap management.

What about Hampshire on the bench with Smith moving to 9?

Obviously not going to happen this season, but is that the way to integrate him into a permanent spot in the match day squad?

Have to say I agree with that.
When you put him side by side with someone like Roby it's then clear that Roby is far superior. He does as many (probably more tackles) but makes 5x as many meters and breaks.

That's an option, and options are good. Like all of us on here I hope Rocky is a sensation this year and becomes too valuable to let leave. With him, Smith, Williams, Powell and Tomkins we have options in key positions.

How is Bateman did not come back on did he have a head collision.

Totally agree. If we rotate our subs as we do the bench hooker is one of the most important players in the squad and that should reflect in his ability and importance on the cap.

Our bench hooker should not be a gap filler given the game time they are expected to play.

How dare you mention Hampshire on this Forum, don't you know he has been banished to darkest Yorkshire for a season for not toeing the line ( even though I am pretty certain he is chuffed with the decision ).

So according to the naysayers on this forum, taken as a collective... We need, international class, a hooker, at least one prop, and 2 specialist centres.. How big is the cap?

A very fair and difficult challenge but I will give it a go.
Firstly we were told we made an offer for Ferres therefore, I can only assume that we had the cash and/or cap space to accommodate that signing so let's exchange that for a prop.

My gripe with MM is that he should play 80 minutes if he can't why on earth would you extend his contract and I assume increase his salary? I still like MM albeit that I feel he hasn't played well for over a year. If he can't play 80 minutes then get shut. That's sounds very arrogant but why would anyone pay top dollar for a player who can't play a full 80?
What if ST comes back and can only play 40 minutes per game? Would that be acceptable?
Our second highest earner I suspect is SOL who again we seem to accept will probably play 50% of game time. It's the logic of the madhouse.

Now to the hardest bit specialist centres. Our game is now played by bit players many of whom have had and never will have a specialist position which pardon the pun we seem to specialise in. In the long term we need to accept that centre is a very specialist role that needs to be developed over years and not a pre season ala Joel Tomkins and Jack Hughes.
In the short term I'd give Charnley go there and Gildart. Longer term when SOL retires then his salary can be allocated for a replacement centre.
As I say very difficult but Gelling in particular surely can't be the answer.

I don't pretend to have all the answers and I know that no one person has. My frustration is that we are clearly lacking in several areas but the club seem to pursuing a policy of mediocrity and bit part players.
Last year from a playing point of view was quite painful for me with the odd interlude from Williams, Burgess and Bowen.
I know I can't be right on everything but unless we improve on our performances what I do know is that the atmosphere at the ground will continue to decline as will attendances.
I sincerely hope I'm wrong and will take great pleasure in being told that I'm an Harris if this team delivers any improvement in terms of success this season.