If Flower plays at prop I think it has to be alongside either Mossop or Prescott because they are players who really make an impact on the defence. Lima doesn't have quite the same impact because he's not as big as he used to be but his work rate is incredible. Lima and Flower are too similar in terms of style to compliment each other in my opinion.

Sorry I meant he's starting Lauaki over Lima.

I'd start Lima with Prescott, but make sure one of them was on the field at all times. Prescott did the first 30 minutes I think and Lauaki did 20.

You're surely not putting that down to Gaz Hock are you?

Surely it was the fact we got shut of Noble and brought in the best coaching setup in our entire Super League history that made that difference?

It's a tragedy that Hock didn't get to spend more time with Madge.

Pongia and Smith weren't "nasty pieces of work" - certainly in the sense you are referring to Lauaki as.

They were two big experienced hard-hitting forwards who performed to the highest level in the big matches. They would never have conceded two outrageous penalties in such a massive match. They had far more sense and experience than to go around doing that. And both players were light years ahead of Lauaki in terms of ability too.

Agree with most who say Lauaki has been good up until that 10 minute spell on Friday. Think he will deservedly miss the next couple of games out which we could have done without with fielden and Mossop injured. Will enjoy seeing Spencer get a chance though.

Can see it being more than a couple... Time for Mr Spencer to take his chance methinks...

hes a **** cost us the game, the guy should be ashamed

Spot on. Lauaki - average player who can't handle the pressure of big games, Pongia and Smith - class forwards who were hard as nails.

In our current team at prop Mossop, Prescott and Lima are all better players than Lauaki and in the back row Hock, Hansen, Farrell and of course Lockers are better.

With Flower and Tuson doing OK as well with Spencer knocking on the door I don't see the need for a hot headed forward like Lauaki.

He either needs to sort himself out (which I don't think he can) or ship out (which won't happen because we gave him a four year deal!). So we have to hope this was a one off but given his past record I am not optimistic.

how can you blame 1 player for a loss! he had a mad 10 minutes and everyone wants him out!
There were 70 other minutes in that game were we were dominant but when it gets to the 4th and 5th tackle we are clueless. We have no strike outside, i think carmont and pat are past their best and goulding offers very little.

He was a fool, and will get a ban but to blame him just pathetic and think a few wiganer's should start watching without the blinkers on!

Lauaki is still an issue regardless of whether some blame him for the loss. He was to blame for the 2 points which led to the loss, but the team should have won in spite of that.

That doesn't alter the idiocy of Lauaki though. The penalties he gave away were ridiculous. It surprises me that some are saying that it's the first time he's really looked a liability because of his aggression because he showed glimpses of that indiscipline against Leeds, Catalans and Widnes so far.

He is capable of much better than what he has shown, and his performance against Bradford shows exactly what he can do when he puts his mind to it. He needs to become consistent and keep his cool. Hopefully a ban will give him a wake up call but you've got to have your doubts about a player who seems to have had that same problem throughout his time in Super League.

Issues like players ageing or not having a talent for kicking are impossible pretty much to sort out. A player being an absolute moron shouldn't be and that's the difference. It's easy to tell him to stop being a prat, it's not as easy to tell Carmont to freeze time or to tell Finch to put his kicking feet on the right legs.

We made plenty of errors in the game and have plenty to work on but it's impossible to get away from the fact that Lauaki ultimately cost us the game. Errors, penalties, negative penalty options and intercepts kept Wire in it but Lauaki was Wires hero at the end who saw them over the line.

He has a lot of hard work to do to repay his teamates, coaches and the supporters.

I don't know about it being easier to coach idiocy out of players - particularly if it comes out in high stress periods of big games. Hauraki at Leeds seems to become error-prone in high pressure situations - the exact opposite of a 'big game' player.

If it can't be coached out of him he doesn't play and it's as simple as that. To me asking somebody to not spear tackle an opposing player infront of your own sticks with the scores tied at 20-20 should be easy enough.

He should have 2 choices.

If these issues are IMPOSSIBLE to sort out I think were in trouble!
I think if wigan did have a kicker in the team much of super league would struggle to contain us. The fact we don't leaves us very open on kick returns and give easy yards to opposing teams. Finch can kick you don't play halfback for NSW if you cant, just hasn't done it for us yet. As regards to the aging players, it's not that there not up to the job, we tend to rely on them a little to much, and only having 1 out and out centre this problem wont go away. I've nothing against goulding just think he's a winger, maybe swap him and charnley around was impressive when he played there for hull kr.

Our problem is that we don't have any pace at half-back. Tommy and Finch are both strong players but we need one half back with pace...a Maguire, a Lomax or a Dureau. Someone to frighten the opposition like Sam does. Our forwards were on top, despite idiotic penalties and our backs didn't take advantage.