Quote: cadoo "So Gary Hetherington never interlinks his criticisms with a club or coach directly, but it would take a fool to not see who his fatuous comments are aimed at. It would be inane of Hetherington to come out completely and name X club and Y club. It would make him look (more) foolish and motivate other clubs, whilst also giving the impression he has a certain amount of trepidation towards how his team will fare in this upcoming season. However, please don't be naive about who he is commenting about. He doesn't need to name clubs/coaches. We all realise who is talking about. As the journalist rightly points out in the articlehttps://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12387_6186138,00.htmlrl Comments that came after his side had won in the challenge cup against us.
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So you are saying that Wigan do use such negative tactics which is and has been complained about by numerous RL personalities (Only one of which is GH) and was been the catalyst for the introduction of another referee (which is a fairly huge change in the officiating of the game, as big as any in my lifetime) in Australia to rescue the spectacle.
Quote: cadoo "His argument that these supposed 'negative tactics' ruin the game and have a greater focus on 'defensive' tactics are dumbfounded IMO. From watching Wigan last season I have witnessed more attacking flair, dexterity, greater skill levels and overall entertainment in that one season alone than I have seen over the last decade. We had players who topped all the try scoring, points charts, scored over 900 points collectively and amassed every single honour in Super League as a team and as a club. We're the best supported team in the league, which suggests that we play an exciting brand of rugby. We've also smashed viewing figures whenever we played last season too. All this evidence completely contradicts Hetherington's hypothesis that "they do nothing for the spectacle". '"
I certainly cant agree that the flair, dexterity or skill levels of SL now, and in immediately preceeding years is as high as it was 5-10 years ago. I certainly dont think that the 2009 Leeds side which won the LLS and GF was better than the Leeds team in 2005 which lost the GF and CC final, I certainly dont think it is the quality of the 2004 side.
But i think you clarify here your argument isnt that Wigan dont play that type of rugby, dont have a reliance on defence and wrestling techniques, but simply that those techniques dont matter. Which would make your defensive tone seem even stranger
Quote: cadoo "For sure, Wigan have a definite emphasis on defence. We do wrestle in the tackle and do (seem to, after all I'm not the coach) place an importance around the ruck. But tell me which teams in Super League don't? Is it not possible to do both AND show flair in attack in the same time? '"
All clubs do nobody has said any different.
Quote: cadoo "Could you elaborate on the free flowing stars "you pretend they are" comment? The statistics, achievements, accolades and cold hard facts all suggest otherwise to what you've suggested. I don't support Hetherington's claims not because my team don't play expansive, fast-flowing, entertaining brand of rugby, but precisely because they do and so any vacuous criticisms of the 'brand of rugby' we play is ludicrous as his comments suggests.'"
Which makes your position simply ridiculous and contradictory. If Wigan do play an expansive and fast-flowing, entertaining brand of rugby (and in the interests of full disclosure i dont believe they do. I dont believe many teams do at the moment, including Leeds) then why take offence at something which you dont believe applies to Wigan, and bar the speculation of a journalist, doesnt mention Wigan. If you do believe that Wigan play an exciting brand of Rugby then you would surely support GH's comments rather than criticise him for making them.
And do you mean cold hard facts like Wigan committed more technical offences than any other team in SL last year?
