I have to agree he was a little off last year he looked poor under the high ball, teams often kicked to him, and although chasing back his pace did get us out of trouble sometimes (which Phil Clarke often went on about), going forward he seemed to lack that killer edge. This year he seems to me to be a little bit fitter a lot keaner and a damn site better, he came with a big reputation and scored a lot of tries down under, he can be forgiven in his first year (like Richards), as long as he kicks on from now on, he has made a good start I just hope he continues because if he is scoring and Richards is scoring and Gleeson and Carmont weigh in with their fair share of tries then we are in for a good year.

No its you who are wrong - yet again because you had nothing at all to base that opinion on.

Or do you go off reputation rather than what you actually see with out own eyes?

Why was I wrong? Because he was ripping up sides week in week out and being a rock in defence? He was neither.



Well IMO the support for Roberts came from the pro Noble brigade who had to justify his selection to support the coach. It's the same now as the attempts to rewrite history that he was obviously a top player for us in 2009 show

I've mentioned this before on here. I spoke to Amos last year, and he told me that the injury he had before last season started meant he wasn't fully fit and carried that injury into the season. His exact words to me were "Give me a proper off season and I'll show what I can do." And he did start playing better in the second half of the season.

Amos WAS a good player last year, our team just never attacked down the right hand side. Has everyone forgot all the moaning that was happening about Gleeson not being the player he should be too? When the ball did eventually find its way to the right hand side and Sam Tomkins missed out his brother, Amos did as much as Richards in attack. And no one on here said Richards was bad.

The fact that our team has learned to attack down the right hand side as well now, is maybe highlighting how much better Amos is playing, because he's getting more ball.


I will say one thing though... I didn't notice the ball land in Amos' hands all that much when Hull KR were kicking to his wing. That's still something that needs work on I feel.

Better than Pat??? Just a question not a dig, but how do you come to this conclusion????

Because that is his, and a lot of other people's opinion? Because when DaveO states something it isn't actually FACT?

Big difference is, those who wanted Ainscough in the team at whatever expense used Roberts as the scapegoat to try and make that happen.

Those who Knew (In their opinion) that Roberts was a Good un and was playing well didn't need to have a pop at anyone else to justify his inclusion.

It's too easy for people to talk about him being a "Different Player" or he's playing Better because of a "Diggerent coach".

End of the day he was IMO & a lot of others, the best winger in the club last year and certainly the best right winger. His performances have got better, but I would say he's gone from a 8/10 to a 9/10 player for us.
Not the 4/10 to 8/10 that some people would, in their opinion, have you believe.

Last year certain posters claimed BN had a vendetta out against Ainscough and his non-inclusion was a disgrace and a complete mess up on BN's Part.

I asked the question, what will you say when MM picks Roberts over Ainscough? I again ask this question.
People will say oh well, that's because he is playing better than Ainscough now but he wasn't last year! Well I don't agree, I can't "PROVE" it, no-one can prove otherwise though.
All I know is that MM has picked almost the same team that BN did, he may be getting more out of them (We have a long way to go to prove this one yet) but that's a different argument.

I would say that Amos has gone from a 6/10 last year to a 8/10 this year. I hope the guy does well because he came with a big reputation as a flyer. Like I said last week I hope that this is the Roberts we signed originally, he just looks hungrier this year, faster and sharper. I think he will certainly benefit from a fit and in form Gleeson this term. As for picking him over Ainscough if he is playing better and training better and scoring like he is doing so far. I wouldn't change him, as I was always a little unconvinced by Shauns defence, this was a area that Phil Clarke used to rave on about Amos his ability to get back and make the tackle. But I just think last year he needed time to settle, this year lets see how he goes in the next 4 games, Wire, Dragons, Bulls and Long FC as these will all have half backs who will look to kick to him.

Not having a great "rugby brain", I must defer to most of the comments made here. I would, however, like to make some observations as a former winger.
BN came to Wigan to save us from relegation, not to play "exciting" rugby. To do this he implemented a policy of tight play using, primarily, the pack. In attack, the ball was passed slowly along the line and across the field. This was demonstrated by investing is Stu. Fielden, one of the world's best forwards. The price we paid was that the outside men had no space in which to move. The system worked, we were saved from the drop. Howver, our whole plan was "forward" dominated. I said at the time that even Offiah would struggle to score in this team. Poor Calderwood has been slated here, but I remember some of the match-saving defending he did. Not what he was brought in for, but all he was able to give in the circumstances he was in.
Now we have a coach who wasn't a front row forward, the relegation threat is no longer and he can see the opportunity to use our backs. The team can play more adventurously, and Amos is no longer squeezed into a foot of space between him and the touchline. He has options to attack either side and is,
making best use of them.
One thing has been explained to me too, if he was carrying an injury last year, I understand why I thought then he wasn't fast enough to be a good winger.

but we also invested in a scrum half to sort the backs out, we invested in Fielden due to our other major front row forward being knackered (seu seu).

Noble just was inept at any other game plan except route 1.

We also had a hooker who didn't have a pass in him. Isn't it strange how we managed to score more tries after he left?

Now that's a desperately unfair assessment of Ainscough as a player. He's a very agile winger with great acceleration and deceptively strong for his size, and also has great determination. Whilst he lacks a little experience defensively at super league level and does need to contest the high ball more (I believe he's been doing more since the early days last season), it's totally ridiculous to have a dig like that. Fair enough you can prefer Goulding or whoever you like on the wing or FB or whatever, but really there's knack all need to have a go at one of our own players so unfairly.

I agree. Ainscough has good acceleration, is strong and knows where the try line is. He is not as fast over the distance as say Roberts, Richards, Charnley or Marsh, but he is very dangerous from 0 to 40 metres out.