I am curious as to why so many people on here think that Hansen offers nothing in attack and are so quick to write him off as being below all our other backrowers in terms of what they offer to the team.

So far this season he has scored as many tries as Hock, Bailey and Tomkins. He is making more metres per carry than Bailey, Tomkins and O'Loughlin, being about 1/2 a metre per carry behind Hock.

Last year proved that he is defensively our best backrower and IMO he should be starting down that left hand side with Hock on the bench for impact.

Thoughts?

I honestly never used to rate Hansen one bit but now he’d be my first back rower on the team sheet! Top tackler last season and imo the best defensive 2nd row in SL. I’ve also seen Hansen carve a few defences up by running some excellent lines, he may not be knocking defenders off like some of the larger 2nd rows but he’s hardly ever dominated in the tackle and makes modest yards which you said in your original post.

I honestly don’t think Noble knows how to get the best of him as he’s not the biggest player and is more agile than strong. He’s defiantly not an impact 2nd row yet he seems to have found himself occupying that role in the team? Very strange decision that considering we have an impact 2nd row starting the game and having a number done on him by fresh defences.

Hansen is the kind of player who could realistically play for 80mins and get though a bucket load of tackles and maintain the same level of performance for the whole of the game. A definite keeper

Good post.

I don't want to turn this thread into another thread about Noble, but Hansen is a good example of BN and the club failing to develop players properly.

Hansen is a genuine talent IMO, good defensively (when wearing the headguard he has recently reminded me at times of a young Phil Clarke, which is quite some compliment) and decent in attack.

I'm just not convinced though that he will develop to his full potential under the current regime. Hopefully I'll be proved wrong.

Agree completely. He is solid, dependable, consistent and a very good trainer.

Just the sort of player we don't want at Wigan.

I'm not sure why you're criticising Noble - he seems to be getting a good deal out of Hansen. Good defender and good attacking runner - sounds pretty good to me.

Maybe we are seeing more of him in attack because he is coming on as a sub rather than starting?

I also think Hock has been our best player so far this season - I'd much rather him be on the field for longer and from the start. He can help us score early tries - which as we saw against leeds is prett important in killing a game off.

But then I suppose if you are Noble you get blamed for everything.

I think he's a player who does his best attacking moves coming from deep on a good angle. Unfortunately the flat attack means that we only see him do it close to the line.

From an oppositions perspective would Hansen worry you at all?

Certanly in attack he just doesnt really cause enough headaches for the opposition, he doesnt hurt them and we desperatley need players that take the gas out of the opposition.

Having said that i dont think he is a bad player but if he left Wigan tomorrow would he be highly sought after by one of the top clubs? I doubt that.

Needs to add a lot more aggression into his game along with the rest of the Wigan pack.

I think the work Hansen gets through makes him one of the most underrated players at the club.

Solid, dependable yes. But has next to no aggression and no great (or even good) physical attributes. I'd have him behind Hock, Lockers Tomkins and Bailey.

i think his work rate and defensive capabilities merrit him a place.
You can't have a team of hocks, throwing the ball aournd here there and everywhere. Don't get me wrong it can be very effective in attack and you need attacking players (though sometimes hock has me ripping my hair out). You need solid players to build an attack from and i think Hansen can do this. in the mold of cassidy, no he doesn't have oppositions shaking in their boots, however he has them ed off when he makes a try saving tackle on the line, or back to back tackles seeing them only make 10 yards.

Lets not forget for a forward he's also quite young.

Runs the best attacking lines at the club

thought this would be another thread slating him but was pleasantly surprised with the OP.

He is very under rated by some people on here - yeah he may not be the show pony in attack like solomona or hock but he gets through a hell of a lot of work and scores plenty trys. I would love to see him get the number 12 shirt when bailey leaves, mick cassidy mk 2.

Harrison Hansen has definitely benefitted from being consistently selected for the first-team. His defence has been excellent and I hope he will now take the opportunity to continue to improve.

If people on here can't see the merits of someone like Hansen, I despair. Workhorses are essential and he's the best one we've got. A la Potter, Cassidy etc in previous Wigan teams. He also happens to arguably offer more in attack then those two

obviously not only harrison, but just received the super league news letter and we've made more yards than any other side.
we've also made the second most tackles and scored the second most tries.

And played at least a game more than everyone bar Wakey

2 more than bradford and quins.

Fair enough but based on what exactly?

Hansen
+more agression
+more speeeeed
= Best Second Rower. Need him on at the start to stop us getting killed by breaks (usually past Hock) de to his defence. If he added more support play into his game, and also maybe be utilised more in passing movement. i supoose (tangent)

I cant really call him underated by myself as I have always rated him highy. Still think it's just Tomkins ahead of him, Bailey is innefective at second row, and Hock is just a player who is not worth the trouble. His skills can be trained and taught but being an idiot at his age is something that we just cannot get rid of.

Keep it up Hansen!

Good post mate

Hansen should be starting in the 2nd row every week IMO

His defence and workrate is fantastic and he would have helped stop some of the early tries we have conceded this season so far.

He also seems to be making some useful metres so far this season and scored a decent amount of tries for us last season as well and I am sure he will repeat this again. I think he has a bit of deceptive pace and is probably our best supporting back rower(see his second try against Bradford). Some of the lines he runs as well our fantastic (see his first try against Bradford)

One of the most under rated players in super league IMO

I've posted my reasons with regards to Hock, Lockers and Tomkins i.e. physical attributes.

I'd have Bailey in front for his experiance and leadership qualities which I think are under estimated by a lot of people.

I know it's coming across as though I don't rate Hansen which isn't true, I just think there are better options.

Your point about aggression is very valid, not just with Hansen but also with the Wigan pack as a whole.

Your point is summed up nicely by the way that Manly met Leeds with so much aggression in the World Club Challenge game - they didnt just better Leeds with skill but also with aggression, at times Leeds looked like they were being bullied out of the game.

I don't see how there size matters when we know that he is better in defence than all 3 of them and I've already posted the bit about metres made.

He is clearly doing a good job, better than some but people don't seem to rate him above our other backrowers because he's smaller. It baffles me!

I have always liked Hansen, he showed last year the kind of work he does for the team. A lot of people seem to think you have to be massive to be a good second row. Watmough, Glen Stewart, Paul Gallen, arguably 3 of the best 2nd/back rows in the world and all well under 6 foot.

I would be starting Hansen at 12 with OLoughlin and Tomkins fighting it out for 13. As neither of the 3 set the pitch a light with dazzling skills but Hansen's workrate in attack and defence in my opinion is the better of the 3.

Just out of interest and slightly of the topic which if any of our many 2nd rows would be easiest to convert to a good centre?

None of them stand out to be honest.

The problem is, something will have to go because at present we have:
Hock 25
Lockers 26
Tomkins 22
Hansen 23
Mossop 20
Flanagan 21
Farrell 18
Tuson 21

8 backrowers, all highly rated by the club (and others) but only 4 slots (usually) in the 17. And that, is assuming we don't renew Bailey's contract.