on many accounts I agree, Manfredi was on fire before his injury, and deserves his spot in the team, however there is a much bigger issue to manage if Wigan step back and consider future planning.

Currently out of

Hampshire
Bowen
Burgess
Charnley
Manfredi

2 of the list are on their way next season. Burgess is in form and a massive asset to the team but in the long term the improvements he makes this season are more likely to benefit the Roosters rather than us, in the process we could lose Charnley who we need to get upto speed as in theory he'll be one of our two starting wingers next season.

If anyone is dropped it should be Bowen. He's not a long term development and quiet frankly is a FB who makes glaring errors which cost us points if not the game, especially in big games. He's patchy, one game looks the part, the next is full of costly errors.
The natural replace as we've seen is Hampshire, but is this a good thing? He's a 6, been tried and dropped as a FB on numerous occasions, this is not the way to develop Rocky mentally or a a first teamer, if you are going to give him game time, rest Smith and let Rocky and Williams play 6 and 7, even if it means spelling him off the bench or moving Smith to 9 for a period of the game giving Micky a rest.

So who for FB? Keep Manfredi, Josh and Joe on the pitch, one of them to FB, all fast, great runners from broken play, all big lads who can catch.

Let's not alienate the players who are going to serve us in the long term.

I feel for Josh. It looks like he's carrying the can for a very poor team performance. To exclude him from the 19 is unfair.

I can't agree with people about his form. He's hardly had a pass since he's been back apart from at Huddersfield, where I thought he was excellent.

However, Manfredi has earned the right to be in the team when fit. It really is that simple.

Bowen was shocking last week, but on the back of two outstanding performances against Leeds and Huddersfield, deserves another chance.

It might be worth putting Josh in at centre for a few games, let Joel go back in the pack. I think Bateman needs a breather after the shifts he's put in this season. We are in danger of burning him out.

I don't see why it's unfair to drop Josh. If it wasn't for Manfredi getting injured he would have really struggled to get back into the team. When Manfredi got injured he should've known this was his big chance to perform and stay in the team.

The truth is, he hasn't performed at all. He's been extremely ordinary and now that Dom is fit I honestly can't disagree with the change to the squad. Dom was brilliant before his injury and deserves another go.

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This for me this is the telling point, why make it public.

He says he can't see himself playing for any other Superleague side, so maybe he fancies his chances in the NRL or with RU.

Why was Logan Tomkins dropped for Powell then?

I'd have given him a run at centre. Joel Tomkins is lost there and I don't understand why Wane persists with him in that position. Think that has had a major impact on Charnley's form too.

He played fullback throughout juniors including the u16s scholarship, England u16s etc as far as I know. Rogues will know better than me whether he's played there much since then.



I'd imagine the logic with playing Joel Tomkins at right centre is that his main weapon is his one handed carry/offload with that big left hand fend. I've never got the impression he's a particularly strong passer on either hand anyway, so what you gain in his passing may not outweigh what you lose with his own ability to run the ball.

And...another one. Wane likes setting himself up for a fall doesn't he. www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-7316572

And...another one. Wane likes setting himself up for a fall doesn't he. www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-7316572

Quote MadDogg="MadDogg"And...another one. Wane likes setting himself up for a fall doesn't he. www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-7316572'" Wish he'd keep his mouth shut

Quote MadDogg="MadDogg"And...another one. Wane likes setting himself up for a fall doesn't he. www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-7316572'" Wish he'd keep his mouth shut

Coach in - "We are trying to win all our games" shocker!!!

So when we get beat next it'll be Wane's fault for saying we were trying to win?

I know we have different views on Wane but even you must agree there's probably a different way to go about this, one that wouldn't get everyone's backs up?

Why can't he simply say we didn't perform last week and that's happened too many times this year for his liking? All he needs to say is the goal is to find consistency and that will put us right where we want to be.

He doesn't need to say all the best in the comp stuff especially after a few games weve seen this year A win vs Leeds doesn't prove that, trophies do imo. I also don't think the heavy defeats are the sign of a champion team. Every side will lose a game but it's rare they get battered more than once.

I have to admit I preferred the Madge way of doing things - say nothing to the press but make sure the players know what they need to do. I sometimes think Wane flatters to deceive with this kind of thing where Madge played it sweet and innocent with the press but had a real steel/ruthless side to him behind the scenes.

Yes, I wouldn't disagree with you. Madge is one of the top 3 coaches in the world and he was great for us. But Waney is different. He wears his heart on his sleeve, I find this refreshing. I mean Madge was like 'Mogadon Man' at times wasn't he?

Part of Wane's job is to talk to the press. I'd imagine he is a journo's dream. When we are winning that's fine but when we are losing he can look daft.

I understand the criticisms of him this season and he does seem to have lost his way a bit. His tactics are killing the centres and second rowers whilst the props are doing nothing. His treatment of Hampshire is baffling. I don't like the way Josh has been scapegoated. Keeping Joel at centre is ruing Joel. He was almost back to his best earlier on in the season in the second row, which was to Joel's credit because not many people come back from Union just as good as when they left. So there's lots to question. I always feel with these things that he will know better than we do. After all he was proved right with Burgess and Williams after people were calling for them to be dropped.

So lots to criticise, but really, criticising him for saying we will be trying to win all our games is a bit thin. I'd expect any coach to say the same.