I don't know what your issue is. I am sure you heard IL and Wane say what their expectations were at the press conferences when Wane was announced as coach as well as I did.

Neither of them expect to be taking a step back but are expecting improvements on 2011. These statements had nothing to do with Joel leaving (he had not left at the time) and were simply what both IL and Wane said their expectations were for Wigan under Wane in 2012 and beyond. They were also not glib PR BS comments either but detailed discussions of what they expect to achieve which was further progress and improvement and the expectation of at least being in a final every year. "We have a target which is to win a trophy ever year. We have not had a problem with those sorts of target for the last couple of years. I don't think we will have in the next couple of years. " That is a direct quote from IL on 13th October you can find by watching the SL TV video on YouTube on Wanes appointment. He and Wane have reiterated their ambitions for 2012 and beyond several times.

This was already a tall order when they said it because we had lost Coley, Deacon and Hoffman and had not announced any new signings at that point in time. Now we have and they are basically players for the future it is still a tall order made even harder by Joel's departure.

My only problem with the squad as it is (including Gelling though not confirmed), is I would have preferred to keep Tommy at hooker with a genuine stand off coming in. Hopefully Joe Mellor will step up this year and become a first team regular so this can happen.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImBBUfWcbN0 Interviews with Lenegan, Harris and Flower. We've also signed according to Harris, a kid by the name of Rhys Pugsley.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImBBUfWcbN0 Interviews with Lenegan, Harris and Flower. We've also signed according to Harris, a kid by the name of Rhys Pugsley.

Another backrow forward

Only that he played for Wales U16 v England U16 earlier this year and had a decent game. I'll need to check Bilkos site too see if he played for Crusader U15 or U16 v Wigan this year. There were a couple of players in their teams that looked very good prospects.

Edit.
Just checked, he didn't play in any of those games, but I hope Wigan are looking at some of those who did.

So is it your suspicion that they were being deceitful when they gave these detailed interviews?

Because otherwise I'm not sure what your point is.

Hes a big lad that Pugsley

No, is it yours?

The point was they were being completely honest in that those [iare[/i their ambitions and they do not see 2012 as a "take one step back to go forward" season as some people are suggesting but with the players we have lost and given those we have recruited, it will be hard to deliver on what they say. I think that is being completely realistic.

I think it's always going to be hard to deliver one trophy a season, or at least one Cup Final appearance a season, regardless of who your personnel are. But I don't see any harm in a chairman and head coach being open that this is their ambition.

Neither do I but if you are going to say that you need to have the squad to do it otherwise the words are empty and I do not think they are intended to be. IL has not just said he wants a final appearance a season but that the plan is to improve in team performance year on year with 2012 being no different and there is not supposed to be a step back.

I think we are all realistic enough to realise with two knock out competitions anything can happen so nothing is guaranteed in terms of finals despite the stated ambition. However given who has left and the recruitment I think it will be tough to maintain the year on year improvement and do what Wane has said he wants which is be more consistent winning the games we drew etc never mind getting to a final.

I hope not but i think the team will not be as good next season