It’s not a case of getting carried away but more a case that the lad comes in to the side at a time when the bar is set pretty low in regards to Wigan’s scrum half’s performances over the past few seasons.

One game doesn’t make a career but I’ve always been impressed with him for the u19’s, at Swinton and in his limited first team games to date. The fact that his strengths compliment Williams so well is what excites me.

Fingers crossed he kicks on.

Williams is missing, and the halves click.... Worth a ponder.

he regularly is....

As an outsider I thought Powell stepped up when Tommy went off and he shifted to 9

Pretty much sums up my views on this.
Good to see Woods throw out a couple of good passes and score a pretty decent try too.

I feel a bit sorry for Powell at times. He was bulked up to cover 9 when it was needed and he seems to have lost a bit of nouse for a half at times. I also don't think that he is the long term answer to our number 7 issue but can understand to a degree why SW persists with him because he is a good club man and will do whatever is required for the cause.

I made a point of watching Powell last night and he's just not a half back anymore and he was overshadowed by rookie Woods. There was one incident that highlighted it for me in the first half. Bateman had the ball on the right and Powell was right next to him when he set off, he took it up about 8m or 10m and was in the process of being tackled but there was a gap on his inside. He was looking to offload. Where was Powell? He'd just stopped still where he was when Bateman began his run and was a spectator. Support play totally non-existent. No one was in his way, there was plenty of room and he had not himself been tacked in the previous play or anything to prevent him supporting the man with the ball who was taking it in. The play ended with Bateman tackled.

Woods only carried the ball four times for a total of six metres!! If we wanted someone to just pass and kick we may as well as kept Matty Smith. Last nights half back pairing must have been the slowest for Wigan since Dave Walsh and Adrian Foster.

Yet from those four carries he made one half break and one break for his try. Two more breaks than Smith in literally any game. I also seriously doubt Smith could have made some of those passes last night. Plus he's only made a handful of appearances and still has some physical development to go.

Its a relative weakness absolutely but he has great qualities and hopefully there is scope for improvement in his running game.

Im not suggesting Woods is in Williams' league but I enjoyed the skilful passing of Woods last night far more than Iv enjoyed Williams running around like a headless chicken in some games this year.

Luckily there's more half backs out there, more than just Woods, Powell, Williams and Smith. None of which are particularly good all-rounders. All seem to have glaring weaknesses.

Could any British half back be described as a good all rounder?

Why does our half back have to be British?
Most half backs will be better at some areas of their game than others, but some have more glaring issues. I.e; Woods and his pace. It's way off. I'd prefer a 7 who scares defensive line with enough acceleration to keep the defensive guessing, Woods like Matty Smith doesn't have this. Does the half need Shaun Johnson pace? No, but they do need enough to cause issues.
Williams game management is way off. How many times is he called a headless chicken?

Look at Luke Gale, is he rapid? No, but has enough to break the line, he has great passing, top game management and a good kicking game.

You want another good British all-rounder? Gareth Widdop.

Matty Smith could not pass though? And kicking was average.

Our halfback doesn't have to be British, just pointing out that he's no different to 99% of the other British halfbacks who come through the systems in this country. Plus its getting increasingly difficult to attract top quality Australians.

Widdop is a good all rounder but came through an Australian youth system. I would say Jake Connor and Danny Richardson have the potential to develop an all round game in the future. But maybe we have to accept that the players available to us in that position will inevitably have weaknesses. Point illustrated by us playing Johnny Lomax at 7 for England - another player with little pace. As well as being a poor defender - see NZs first try.

I don't think the answer is with any of our current HBs, as I pointed out they have glaring issues with their game. I like Williams and think he will develop his all-round game. Not convinced with Woods (he's not suddenly going to get any faster) Powell or as discussed Matty Smith.

I wonder if Woods will eventually fill out (or bulk up) and make a loose forward. He has a decent passing and kicking game but I do feel his lack of pace (and that's being kind) will prevent him being a top class half.