I wonder what the hell I've been doing then after watching Wigan since 1958 ?

The other thing is - Finch and Lima have copped a lot of stick since arriving here, but how many of last year's team of unstoppables have played anything like as well this year?

For me, only Sam Tomkins has been a consistant performer. Joel, Lockers, Tommy and George have all blown hot and cold. Prekky and Moss have done okay, but I think Coley has been less effective. McIlorum has tried hard, but I don't think he's the answer to our hooking problem. In the second row, I reckon Faz is now better than Hansen, but he still doesn't get as much game time.

If you look at the away league fixture at Leeds last year, when we crucified them, all of these guys were absolute dynamite. We haven't seen anything like that this year yet.

So picking on two of the three new boys - especially when one has been seriously injured and the other has had minimal game time thanks to suspension - is a bit short-sighted, IMO.

Agreed - we are a bit off the boil compared to last year and are missing the guile and change in play that Piggy gave us - together with missing Fielden who's has been the mainstay of our pack for the past couple of years.

Combine this with Richards missing the season start (look how much better we are with him in the team - takes pressure off sam at FB, & he get's us at least a couple more points a game with kicks) Gleeson saga, playing St George, Maguire, it's been a pretty disruptive start to the season.

Finch is struggling to get to grips with coming back from injury, adapting to a key position without having had much if any prep time with the squad, and expectations from fans that we have signed cronk rather than finch - he's definately more of an organiser and playmaker rather than a game breaker - some fans will never be happy with that. He is struggling with his game but this form isn't the player maguire signed.

Lima - bad (and probably harsh) start with the disciplinary has put him under the spotlight and every thing he does (or doesn't) is now magnified 100x.

If we can keep the results going while we are struggling with form and stay in touch at the top 4 then we will come stronger in the 2nd half of the season and the criticism of these 2 from 3 imports will go (apart from the usual lifetime moaners........)...

It was Finchs kick that Gardner had to palm dead which gave us the field position to score the winning try.

His only poor kick was in the first half which went touch in goal.

he was a little better today but i still dont rate him think we could do alot better

Copious post-match beers might be clouding my memory, but I saw a lot more than just one poor kick.

I'm not slagging him off at all, there has been a massive improvement elsewhere, especially in his defensive efforts and his passing game, and I expect that improvement to continue as he gains match fitness and gets used to the players around him.

Maguire knows the players better than anyone, he knows the job they can do for the team and the team looked better with Finch,Deacon and Leuluai on. Lima is playing ok I thought he played his best game yesterday, hammered and came back for more. The team will improve for that game and if the intensity of the St George game is back in the play offs I can see Old Trafford, but I would like a trip to Wembley

Please don't get me started about this guy! Not only is he a joker off the pitch but on it as well! Sorry he does not cut the mustard at all. I appreciate that some Aussies take time to settle in but this guy looks like he just cannot be ar$$d. I disagree with the view that if he was from Wigan we would be "up his booty", because on his performances to date we would definitely not be.

have to agree here, if it was a wigan lad some people on here would be ripping him apart, but as he is australian apparently he gets let of being crap.

Finch came back from injury too soon.
When he was picked for the Wire game it was unexpected and due to Deacs being ruled out through injury.
He only started contact training two days before the Wire game.
That was far too soon and it showed on the pitch well enough.
He is getting better every game and will continue to improve as the season goes on.
With him improving, Deacs back, Pat is also now in the team I think the performance levels will improve each week.
We also have Fielden to return and Hock will appear late June. Those two, given a couple of games, will make a massive difference to our pack. If the forwards can get back to their best of last year and the backs thrive off it then we could very well have an excellent season again.

i dont get this having to bed in stuff too,
if he is as good a player as people say he is then he shouldnt need time to bed in,
i just dont think its an excuse

Complete nonsense...player criticism has nothing to do with where a player comes from, and eveything to do with his performances.

5 games is simply not enough for a fair assessment, especially after coming back from a serious injury & operation.

John Ferguson and Brett Kenny didn't have to 'bed in' !

Depends on the player - some do, some don't. There are plenty of examples of imports who have taken a while to show their true class - Pat included; equally there are some, like Hoffman, who impress from day 1.

Can't believe people are on Finch's back after 5 games. Get a grip.

Gene Miles did sod all until mid-December in his one season at Wigan but he's talked about as a legend by many.

Craig Smith had an indifferent start in his first season but again, is always spoken highly about.

Pat's first season?