Why? What have we seen that tells us he is not a good captain?

Deacon only only became captain of Bradford in 2007.

I think this has been done to death in the past. He's just not vocal enough and while the usual response to that is he leads by example that isn't always enough. The best captains do both.

Too often in previous seasons when the side has been playing badly he has been one of the players stood under the sticks with his head down instead of doing the captains job. That said I do think he was a bit better in this regard in 2009 than previously.

I think he will actually get the captaincy again and at least if he does MM will have been shown to have gone through a selection process which would be a good thing in itself. It's just part of the meritocracy MM clearly wants to institute here so on the off chance someone else gets the job no one should complain IMO.

I always thought Millward appointed him as a young player to be captain just to be controversial and get some media attention and that Noble kept him as captain because Noble never rocked the boat with his first 17.

I have also always thought not being captain would make Lockers an even better player and would suit his work-a-holic ethic better. He can just get on with his 100% commitment to playing and not have to bother about being captain as well.

Dave

Captain is only a name tag.

There is no reason why other players such as Bailey, Richards, Carmont and Deacon cant do the shouting behind the sticks, even though when people say Lockers just puts his head down, thats just a myth.

Lockers is an ideal captain and he does what captains do best and that is lead by example. I just think DaveO is using it as another opportunity to have a moan.

No offence Meyt N Prater because I know you're only passing on what has been reported in the paper but I can't believe the Lockers Knockers are back....





Just when things were looking very, very good for next season:

1. New coaching team

2. New fitness regime

and last but not least

3. A really strong squad with strength in depth for the first time in years

we get the nonsense about the captaincy stirred up all over again.



Lockers did a decent job last season in what at times were very difficult circumstances. He showed good leadership skills despite coaching failures and the failure of some key players to take responsibility and in some cases a failure to achieve even a basic standard of fitness.

His personal performances were excellent and a more competitive and consistent Wigan side next season will give him a real platform to show what a good player he has become in recent years - if he can stay injury free he is likely to be a very strong contender for MoS.

The only good news is that when I clicked on the voting form I was very happy to see that nearly 80% of those who voted backed Lockers. He has the overwhelming support of Wigan fans and should continue. I can't believe for one minute that MM would change our captain. This is just nonsense instigated either by a small minority of misguided Wigan fans or more likely Wigan RL hating Latics morons or Stains or Wire fans spreading foul rumours....

O'Loughlin all the way, Bailey as vice.

Signing Deacon as Player, Coach and Captain in his first year here? Christ talk about pressure.

I really think taking the captaincy off Lockers would cause a lot of trouble with little reward at the end of it. McGuire could alienate the team in one fell swoop, and for what? Most of the potential captains (Carmont, Deacon, Bailey) will retire in a year or two, leaving the successor looking like sloppy seconds. That's not the kind of forward thinking I want from a coach. The captain should be Lockers with Bailey as vice if/when he signs a new deal, if not then Leuluai.

To way to think about it is this:

If there was no current Wigan captain, and they were picking from a clean slate, who would be the main candidate?

O'Loughlin by a country mile.

I'm 100% sure McGuire will pick him as captain, and he would be right to do so.

To give it to anyone other than Lockers would be daft IMO

Lockers as captain but what about Gleeson as vice it might work out if needed?

I would have had Fielden as captain but as it is looking like he will be coming off the bench again, I would have to stick with Sean as long as he keeps leading from the front and growing in stature, a little extra talking and he will be great.

you need to select a player who is defo first choice in his postion and is going to play the full game...and that imo is to Lockers....