Ok. Poor choice of words. The point remains. He's the best half back in Super League but didn't get near the Aussie or NSW rep teams did he. Not knocking him. But the poster was suggesting that Super League is on a par with the NRL I was using the example to illustrate the relative strengths of the competitions. Which I think you know anyway.

In all honesty mate I hadn't read the full thread so probably didn't take the comment in context. I just saw that comment whilst scanning through.

Looking forward to see how Daryl Clarke goes this year.

He got a lot of attention last year and to be fair I had not really taken much notice. However towards the back end of the year it was pointed out that he shows a lot in attacking from the ruck, but does he have other elements to his game? With a move to a new club will he flourish or will he flounder. Also how will that impact on Warrington as in Daryl and Higham they have 2 similar styled hookers.

Were as when they had monaghan you could argue that they had 2 different styles to throw at teams.

Surely Todd Carney is the best half back in SL? I'm looking forward to seeing him play.
Clark will be interesting as he's now a fish in a big pond. Wire look strong with great talent and strength in depth. Russell looked good last year maybe he'll kick on in 2015.
Ryan Hampshire is a very exciting player and can't wait to see how he goes this year. Tautai's always looked talented, it will be good to see how he goes in a better team with better players around him.
No particular player stands out at Saints but with Longy coaching their backs and halves they should be very much improved and different this year.

No player stands out? In Luke Walsh and James Roby we have two of the best players in Super League. Surely you aren't that blinkered that you can't acknowledge that?

Ps I don't feel we need that much improvement and difference in all honesty and Cunningham won't be looking to make huge changes. We did OK last year.

To be clear: I wouldn't go so far as to say that SL is on a par with the NRL; what I would say it that the top SL sides (like Wigan) are competitive with the best NRL teams, but the overall standard in the NRL is clearly higher. As for Luke Walsh, I've always liked him, I did at the Panthers. But regardless of whether the NRL is "better", I do think that English clubs generally play a more attacking style than the defence-minded NRL. Because of this, I thought Walsh would suit SL. And he has.

Roby is Roby and does what he does. Wigan and Wire know how to handle him.
The Walsh/Burns combo looks good. Walsh has to hit the top by staying injury free.
Still reckon Longy's coaching will have a greater effect than either of those two.
With Manu, Soliola and Laffranchi gone that really could affect the pack, so how the halves and backs perform will depend on how the pack goes, as with all teams.

Know how to handle him? That's genuinely funny. Good one mate!

Laffranchi won't be a miss at all. We have brought in Vea and Luke Thompson has huge potential. Don't worry about us, we'll be fine

In the League Express, Ian Lenagan said he felt this is the best squad he has had at Wigan since his tenure began. Can't say I agree but interesting to read the comment.

I think most Saints fans have been saying we'd like an extra forward in an ideal world but I think we'll be OK.

You're right about LMS, he's one of the most inconsistent and frustrating players I've ever seen. What I would say is that most of his poor games have come at prop and his better games have been in the back row. It's expected he won't play much at prop this year so hopefully we'll see the best of him for larger chunks of the season.

I think 2011 we had our best squad, full of experience.

S Tomkins
Charnley
J Tomkins
Carmont
Richards
Finch
Deacon
Mossop
Leuluai
Coley
Hansen
Hoffman
O'Loughlin

Lima
Farrell
McIlorum
Hock

Most looking forward to - seeing how Rocky has progressed.

I'd go with 2011 as well, although Prescott was generally on the bench rather than Hock, who wasn't really much of a factor until the following year. Beating Wire, Saints and Leeds one after another within a month to win the challenge cup was a hell of a feit. Even more impressive considering it fell within a 13 game unbeaten streak which also included league games against Saints, Huddersfield and Leeds.

Season ticket sales must be struggling now.