[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/video/player.php?id=20397[/url

Thats how.



Although turning over possession over and over again in the first twenty minutes will do us no favours, lets hope we don't have a similar start on Friday night! Don't think I've ever been more frustrated and nervy for the first twenty minutes of a game since then. Last July was one of those games that could of gone either way being honest about it, although I always thought we had the edge to get the two points and it was great to get one back over them having beaten us at the HJ. However if you look at the video, the way we played that day was through attacking down the fringes and we scored tries on the back of that, and our back-line finished very well. That was mainly down to our fine strike centres Atkins and King (who tend to play well in big games and will be missed) as they won't be available on Friday night, so lets hope Bridge and Blythe can match their performance to that day. Actually from 1 to 5 in the backs we will shape up new compared to last year, Joel for Hicks and Hogdson for Mathers. While young Evans will probably get the nod ahead of Riley due to Rhys' rapid development and impact on the side.

Apart from St. Helens, this is probably our biggest game so far this year, and although we were pretty ruthless against Quins on Sunday, we all know it's not going to be that easy. Wigan, although we love to hate them have been the best side in the SL for over a year or so now, like us they have a few key players missing. But having watched them last week against Huddersfield they have a solid roster of young talent to dip into. They defended well, dominated the ruck and struck at the right time. What Huddersfield failed to do was take their chances, a few times the Giants had half-breaks/breaks or put Roberts under pressure with the high bomb, but failed to have the cutting edge to finish the chances off.

If we are to win tomorrow, I believe it will be in a similar fashion to last July we will need to have one of our better defensive performances and have that classy finishing touch on the fringes, thats why I feel it's going to be essential that Evans and Blythe continue their good form if we are going to win. As this game is a probably going to be the biggest game of their careers so far given the crowd, expectation and attention surrounding the game. Lets hope they can handle the pressure along with the rest of the 17. Good luck lads.

Great preview. I think Wigans defensive mentality will be hard to break. If you look down their squad there are alot of average players, but Maguire has instilled a great discipline and belief in the squad. It seems to be running straight through the club as you see when the youngsters come in they have the same attributes.

Just out of curiosity, who do you think are the average players in the Wigan side (a lot according to you)

Alot was probably a bit of an exagertation. I'd say Goulding, Carmont, Leuluai, Hansen, Coley and McIlorum are all average. Wigan are succesful by having a great coach and a great set-up throughout the club. Three outstanding world class talents in Richards, O'Loughlin and Tomkins. Saints carried players like Arnold, Jonkers, Edmondsen, West etc for many years. The same is happening at Wigan. I think your core three are better than most others.

Some of those names were not players I expected to see there.

Carmont is and has been a consistently good centre. Granted, he's not in the World Class bracket, but average is harsh for a classy player like him.

Leuluai can be too inconsistent for me, but does an average player get into the New Zealand team all the time, and win the World Cup and 4 Nations with them?

Coley is a lot, lot better than an average prop. He's improved immensely over the last 2 years

Not one of those players would get into our seventeen man squad. They all do a job, I just don't think they'e integral to what makes Wigan succesful.

Perhaps not, but that doesn't necessarily make them average.

Each team will have good players that wouldn't get into their opposition's 17 given the strength in varying positions.

McIlorum is a better hooker than Clarke or Higham.
Hansen is better than McArthy or Harrison
Leuluai and Carmont would get into any Superleague squad.

All IMO of course.

Comedy genius.

I'm worried the bubble will burst on Rhys this friday, the kid's has a few good games but let's all remember when Kevin Penny was the next best thing til he made a few 'balls-ups'.

I really hope not though, he seemed pretty focused against Leeds, which was a pretty huge game for someone so young to feature in!

Actually, would like to see him have a blinder.

I laughed heartily.

pretty sure that Wire, Saints Leeds, Hudds and maybe Hull KR wouldn't want Leuluai and Carmont. IMO of course.

I disagree with the original post on what won us the game last year. It was the dismantling of the opposition forward pack that won us the game. We showed them up to be a lightweight side playing very good tactics. This year they have corrected the lightweight part. We are very capable of beating them I think we will have to be better than we were last year to do that.

And IMO

Clarke and Higham are internationals and still not our first choice hooker
Harrison is an international
and Leuluai and Carmont may get into any other superleague squad but not ours

So perhaps the Wigan players are average after all??????

Should be a great game, looking forward to it. Hoping for a Wire win just because they play the more entertaining rugby. Also disagree with Leuluai being average, I think he's a top player.

In the first team, possibly not given most sides in the top 8 have a good quality Scrum Half. But the initial point was that he wouldn't make the squad.

I'd imagine Rovers would like him in their squad given his versatility and the fact that they're missing their SH for a while. Ditto St.Helens. Hudds and yourselves have plenty of players for that position, so he wouldn't get in there.

I rate Leuluai quite highly, but as a hooker not a scrum half. Mcllorum is just a distributer, and whilst he's a solid defender, I don't think he's the type to take control of the ruck.

Also the guy who thought Hansen is better than Harrison is a little blinkered. I'd put them on a par at best.

My intial point was them not making the seventeen man squad. They'd probably get a gig at Keighley away or if we had a run of injuries. There are players in our team that wouldn't get into Wigan's. Swings and roundabouts, it isn't against the law to amdit that all of your players aren't world class. Unless you're Saints.

McIlurum is a top hooker, wouldnt call him average. Leuluai a bit over rated IMO. BRING ON TOMMORROW ( and hopefully its beer garden weather for the pre match drinks)

Who would you say were the average players in the Warrington 17?

To be honest, there aren't any
OK, there are some who aren't as good as others, but that's life
Higham isn't the best player in SL, but is still agood SL player
Clarke is at the twilight of his career, but is still more than effective at what he brings to our game (distribution, backing up, tackling)
Grix is far from average
Mitchell is growing in confidence in our set up again, after not getting into our 17 man squad for a while

They are probably the nearest that you'd call our "poorer players" from our 17, but NO WAY, would you call them even average.

Chris Riley
Ryan Atkins
Richie Myler(only 20)
Mickey Higham
Simon Grix
Lee Mitchell
Matty Blythe.

Alot of our players are made to look better by the supporting cast as well. All do a decent job and what is asked of them. Not saying they're bad players.

What this guy said!
When STomkins, Finch, Deacon, Leuluai & McIllorum are all fit, I think we'll find McIllorum dumped to the bench. He's average at best.


More than blinkered, that's just Cherry & S*ite trashtalk!

do me a favour

That's why I didn't disagree with your description of Goulding, for instance, as 'average'.

More comedy genius.

Whilst Carmont's signing at the time could have been questioned he has provied an excellent acquisition and would be a shoe-in in our squad and possibly ahead of Atkins on form. Leuluai would also be a welcome addition to our or any other SL squad (but not on the wages he gets at Wigan).

I purposedly left Rogues' statement on these two (and his reference to McCarthy) out of my quote.