I’d go like this for the run in when we get the short term injuries back


Sarginson
Davies
Hankinson
Gildart
Marshall/Manfredi
Williams
Tomkins
Flower
Leaulai
Clubb
Bateman
Greenwood
O’Loughlin

Isa
Powell
Naverette
Sutton

This gives us a running threat at 1, 6 and 7. Tomkins to do the long kicking.

Gildart was reportedly out for 6 to 8 weeks which would only give him 1 possibly 2 games befor semi finals.

Neat but not a chance of happening, Tomkins will always be FB - he may switch at times in games but will not start there.

In the system set up by Maguire and then by Wane Tomkins position suited the rigid structure, however as we all know this system is well past its used by date and he now needs to move to the halves. Otherwise, it's just the "same as" routine. I trust Sams vision and reflexes to spot the weakness in the oppositions defence and to make the right plays, I can't really say that about any other player.

I wouldn't disagree but he will not move to the halves except as a change during games - he will always start as a FB - we are crying out for some creativity and pace in the halves but moving Sam there will not happen - from reports both Wane and Sam are against it. In the second half against Saints it looked to me late on that Tommy was playing more as a 7 than Powell.

Irrelevant by the end of this season though.

the system isnt past it, its just there is far less pace in it and the passes in it are terrible, its still being used to very good effect in Aus

3000+ Wigan fans that no longer turn up as a result of it being used well after its sell by date would disagree.

May I ask which aussie teams are using it?

most, and all still use the full back run around that Madge brought in and we still use but it still works as they do it right in Aus.

Other than the Gildart issue, mentioned later, I certainly like the look of that. Assuming we hit a good run of form at the right time, we are certainly capable of going all the way.

Melbourne have been doing it more than ever this season with Billy Slater now that they have lost Cooper Cronk.

Adam O'Brien getting mentioned in Aussie press as a contender. He is assistant at Melbourne and credited with the improvement in Storms attack.

Quote ="Down by the Duggie"Adam O'Brien getting mentioned in Aussie press as a contender. He is assistant at Melbourne and credited with the improvement in Storms attack.'" Do u have a link mate? The last I read he was backed by Craig Bellamy to be their next coach. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/bellamy-bac ... -successor

Quote ="Down by the Duggie"Adam O'Brien getting mentioned in Aussie press as a contender. He is assistant at Melbourne and credited with the improvement in Storms attack.'" Do u have a link mate? The last I read he was backed by Craig Bellamy to be their next coach. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/bellamy-bac ... -successor

I like the team that NSW proposed. The problem for me is that Sam has been at his most effective this season operating at fullback. I know people will say he hasn't had much of a chance in the halves, but when he has been there he's not really done anything.

Yeah lets play Sam in the halves. Let's limit our best ball player and attacker to one side of the field only. Let's make him do twice as much tackling to boot.

Clear madness to think of moving Sam from fb.

Included in this article about Trent Barret https://www.sportingnews.com/au/amp/rug ... anly-sea-/

Included in this article about Trent Barret https://www.sportingnews.com/au/amp/rug ... anly-sea-/

I’m gonna put this in my diary mate, we finally agree on something!!

Haha! You secret love my posts buddy, I've always know this

Ha, you got me! I never start to shake my head when I’m ready your posts!!

Adam O’Brien would be a very good coach for us, I imagine he’d only be here a few years but Edwards could take over after

I know nothing of this O’Brien bloke but somebody with fresh ideas who could bring improvements out of players in the way that Holbrook has at Saints and Maguire did here in 2010 would be very welcome.

Agree with NK about O'Brien. No previous connection with Wigan and able to put his new ideas into practice. Recent stints of Aussie assistants over here with Holbrook, Price and Woolford suggest these guys have plenty to offer.
Lam seems to be the name in the frame, O'Brien would be my choice over Lam and Furner anytime as they are "going back".

Yeah he’s the assistant at Melbourne, he was the one who was tasked with improving their attack after they lost to Cronulla in the GF, last year they played some very good rugby and he implemented new attacking structures that saw them score over 630 points in the regular season, would be a breath of fresh air at Wigan and would certainly help Williams

Sounds perfect!

I don’t catch a great deal of the NRL but I saw a little bit of the Souths vs West’s game at the weekend and the difference to our recent games was night and day. The bodies in motion, the ball movement and intensity were so far in advance of what we’re seeing in superleague it’s untrue.

No wonder these Aussie coaches are coming in and seeing success just from implementing some basics. I looked at Saints last week and it wasn’t anything overly complicated that set them apart from us. It was Australian like basics. They ran hard, tackled harder, moved the ball accurately, supported the ball carrier in attack and covered their mates backside in defence. All the small things have a knock on effect and break down the opposition all over the field. I’ve not been caught up in the Danny Richardson hype just yet but he could’ve played in a dinner suit last week. He’s being given the freedom of the field via the culmination of those basics. He’s not terrorising teams and his basic skills aren’t perfect but it’s doing a job.