It's Colin Sanctuary who comes on for us with the water bottles and not a coach.

It was picked up during the Brisbane game at the weekend by the commentators, Allan Langer was on the pitch all the time coaching the players. At one point, I think it was Stirling who said that "Alfie is going to put a player through a gap in a minute".

If we still had Nigel Wright then he could do this for us, it's part of the modern game like it or not.

It won't be long until someone develops a scrum cap with built in ear phones, with a direct feed to the coach in the stands, NFL style.

Was it the same water carrier who ran in front of the kicker as he was getting ready during the Saints game, good old Mr Hampson?

It was Mike Forshaw in previous seasons who was never off.

Simple solution is that they are not allowed on unless they are carrying water, and are not allowed to speak to a player. Or something.

To be fair to Maguire, the pie eaters have been using the "14th man" to direct play since Brian Noble was there (most of the time with former Wakefield player Mike Forshaw being the "guilty" man).

when Forshaw ran in front for the saints kicker it just proves to what lengths Wigan are prepared to drop to so the can retain the league

it not difficult is it, two water boys on either side of the side line for each team waiting for players to come to them instead

I don't have a problem with in-game coaching. It's just the sight of the extra man that niggles me.

Doesn't really bother me but when Waterboys are pointing the predicted direction of play out like Albert Talipeau did then it makes the game look a laughing stock.

Rugby - whether its union or league - is dominated not only by the most skillful, strongest and aggresive , but also by the best cheats. Not your football type of cheat - sly and dishonest - but noble and sometimes admirable cheats. Blokes who are prepared to put bodies and limbs in dangerous areas, and even their place on the pitch, all for the cause of their team and mates. Of course, referees don't always recognise the craftiness so the players will get away with what they can - and that includes the 'whole team' !

With respect - my ar5e; there is nothing noble or admirable about the style of play that has emanated out of Wigan in the Maguire era; it makes for a singularly unedifying spectacle and is bad for the game.

With respect my comment was not about Wigan in particular but rather a generic comment about achieving success in a highly competitive game. You are indeed right, some of the Wigan tactics have been unsightly and unwelcome - chicken whatever its called, tackling at stationary knees - but i still stand by 'noble cheats' from both codes who were also great players - Dallaglio, Farrell, Ellery, Martin Johnson and of course many others!

well, im just glad that some teams this year have stuck the middle finger at wigan's tatics

Willie Poching was the worst for it at Leeds. He used to just run on whenever he pleased.

Must add that Tompkins the Cheat is neither noble or admirable in his actions. I look forward to the day when someone eventually flattens him well and truly!

i relish that day, be watching it with popcorn as it happens

If the 'water carriers' were provided by the opposing side then you could use tactical sledging instead of coaching. Although it would take a brave and/or stupid person to denegrate such as Jamie Peacock.... any nominations/volunteers?

Sorry, I'm not arguing for the sake of it but Fergus is correct in a way. I think by cheating he actually means slowing the opposition down by taking it to the edge of what's legal.

This has been a part of RL as long as I can remember. It was also a good part of the game IMO as it allowed lesser teams to level the playing field by using these tactics to frustrate the opposition. Didn't always work but it took a lot of guts and effort and when it did the victory IMO was well deserved.

Can I as a matter of interest ask how long you have followed the game. It's not a dig but if you have only known the sanitised game that is SL it's hard to explain. Also I do realise you have only referred to Wigan in this regard not dodgy tactics as a whole.

Sport tends to follow trends and sometimes they go to the extreme - I think the game is too child friendly at the moment and needs a bit more biff. That said I would never like to see the game decend to the levels of thuggery it reached in the 1970's. It's a hard balance to get and if push came to shove it's better now, but if you take all the biff out of the game it loses something for me.

Whether there's any validity in what Wigan do I'm not so sure as it appears to be based mainly on being petty rather than tough - but as ever they will get away with it until we all adopt it and then the powers will act.

Truth is if you want the corinthian ideal go watch Union as that's where it's supposed to exist, RL never made such a boast.