Mathers and Phelps only played 1 game. Coley I would agree with though.

And they were shocking!!!!

Maybe he is injured - I remember Gene Miles being a big disappointment at first but when he regained his fitness he was absolutely incredible, so you never know, but Smith's been with us for a while now and it isn't looking good for him...

Smith is quality, you can see that, but is taking a little while to get into it. Defence is ropey that's for sure! Smith, Tommy, Piggy and Lockers have played 3-4 times together so it'll take a while to (hopefully) see the benefits.

very harsh on pryce he did look good in spells again st cas very strong running with the ball alls thats up with pryce is match fitness,



as for smith i ve just took this of the net =

In 2005, he won the prestigious Dally M Rookie of the Year award after leading the NRL in try assists. He also received much acclaim from Parramatta legend Peter Sterling, who "handed over" the Eels #7 jersey in an episode of The NRL Footy Show in the middle of 2005. Tim has been touted as the most naturally skilled halfback in the NRL with the ability to land precsion kicks and passes with incredible accuracy. With 40 try assists in his debut season Smith entered the NRL scene with a bang, he was labeled as the next 'Joey' and 'Sterlo'.

Bit harsh on Tim, Wigan need stability now and we're slowly getting there.

Personally I thought Sam looked good enough to start and play a full 80 without any issue, and for me this could be the key.
Tim allowed the chance to be a true 7 playing with Sam at 6 could improve Tim. He could focus and passing and organising while Sam takes care of being a good number 6 getting SL experience playing with the first team.
Remember, when Tim was top notch over in Oz he was a true 7 playing along side a 6.

Getting Sam and Tim playing together regularly is what we need, we all know they're both very good players, just need the right setting.

So this for me leaves Tommy at 9, who for me, has been the best number 9 we have this season. He was very good at 9 in the WC, if he is spelled playing week in week out at 9 he'll only get better.
My issue Riddell, whether he is carrying a knock or just unfit he is not firing on all cylinders. Maybe time to get over an injury or to get match fit in the reserves, the issue is he isn't doing it. So, who is spell with Tommy is the issue for me-Riddell or McClorum, if Sam or Ainscough would have started as slow as Riddell they would have been dropped by now, is there a different rule for big name imports?

My team for next week:

1 Richards (Best FB we have)
2 Roberts (Speedy winger)
3 Bailey (Solid in defense, I thought he did well against Quins, better than Goulding or Phelps)
4 Carmont (Best C we have)
5 Ainscough (Quick step Robinson esq winger)
6 Tomkins (Ready to start, to play with TS)
7 Smith (Out and out 7, let him play that why to get the best from him)
8 Fielden (Why not)
9 Tommy (Best 9 we have)
10 O Carroll (Better than Coley, young lad who is getting better with each game)
11 Hansen (Tackle machine)
12 Lockers (Tackle machine)
13 Tomkins (Best Loose we have)
----------------
14 Feka (Impact! interchange with O Carroll)
15 Hock (Impact! Runs like a prop, interchange with Fielden for me. Hock, Lockers and Hansen on the field at one time is solid enough)
16 Riddell/McClorum (Take your pick)
17 Pryce (Could play across the backs or in the pack for size if needed. Offers something else for injuries to the backs and for impact. give the lad a go!)

Smith is a quality player in attack and I have no doubt that he will start to show his class in this area, but his defense is aweful, we cannot afford to have someone who cannot tackle in our team, I fear the worst when we play Leeds or Saints and they target him. Imagine if we had played Manly last night, they would of put 70 on us with Smith on that side.

Whether 6 or 7 he still has to make tackles. That's the problem with Smith.

Without doubt Tim needs to work overtime on his tackling. Lets hope he is in practice. He's already been found out by other teams.

He needs to tackle low, its as simple as that for me. The number of times he goes for an upper body tackle, gets shrugged off and then tries the exact same thing again next time around is baffling to me.

Sounds Ok to me Would have Riddell in as Mc is to slow at the play of the ball

I agree with Bailey at centre he is better there than anyone else atm just for his defense, he is useless and wasted in the second row, he will also score afew tries at centre close to the line due to his strength, Goulding had an oppertunity at Hull and didnt score close to the line but Bailey would have.

I think I agree about Sam Tomkins aswell, can he really be any worse than anything else we have? he is no kid anymore either.

I would have Prescott on the bench instead of Pryce though. Im sure Pryce could play prop though

Exactly. As daft as it sounds he should learn off Sam Tomkins as he has got the art of tackling players, that are much bigger than him, down to a tee.

It is weird he can't defend. How the heck did he survive in the NRL? Manly's tackling was brutal/slightly illegal at times last night against Leeds.

I've not seen it for myself but I've heard Prescott isn't exactly setting the world on fire in the reserves. I thought he was a cracking prospect b4 he was injured last season, thats my reasoning for putting Pryce on the bench.

Looking at the likes of Tomkins, Ainscough J Tomkins, O Carroll and hopefully Prescott I'm more than pleased with the young Wigan lads pushing through. Hopefully the likes of Farrell Flanny Mossop will push through giving us a strong young wigan 'backbone' to our team. That with some intelligent signings we could have a good structure, for me, the signs are beginning to show.

Maybe for next season

1 Richards
2 Roberts
3 (New centre)
4 Carmont
5 Ainscough
6 Tomkins
7 (New 7 Dobson?


8 Fielden
9 Tommy
10 O Carroll
11 Hansen
12 Lockers
13 J Tomkins
------------------
14 Feka
15 Hock (like to see Hock made into a house prop?)
16 Riddell/McClorum
17 Pryce
----------------------
Mossop
Farrell etc pushing on for places
-----------------------
No room for

Phelps
Bailey
Coley
Mathers (Sooner take the cash their cap space will leave)
-----------------------
Smith will probably go regardless.

I think he's only played one game in the reserves and that was a friendly.

Well he did survived, and survived well until his health troubles.

If he couldn't tackle - there's no hiding place there.

Maybe he has an injury? Confidence issue?

Who cares because when we see him in the first team, he is often our best forward.

I agree with 99% of that, But, if Tim picks up the form he showed in his Parramatta days then i say offer him a new contract, if he rejects then we go for someone like Dobson, who has a quality kicking game, which IMO we are lacking this season. IF, and it's a big IF, we have the cap room I would go after Moi Moi, imagine Feka, Hock, Riddell and Moi Moi on the bench, that would scare the life out of any team.

Moi Moi won't get a visa.

We need more of a leader as well otherwise we might as well just get Lynch. Petro is one of the more viable options imo.

Lynch is a good call, don't think we'll get Petro, he'll want a huge chunk of the cap

Just feel Smith (But who knows) won't want to be at Wigan for another season.

If Prescott is ready maybe he deserves a call up, but doesn't Pryce? Only 17 spots..

Moi Moi on the interchange with Feka would be awesome. But where does this leave the likes of Prescott and O Carroll with Feka and Fielden already in the team? I would love Moi Moi, but maybe the buck would be better spent on a good HB to play with Sam and a top quality centre.

when smith learns to tackle properly he will be a valuable asset to this wigan team

Fielden will leave next season anyway if he doesnt start performing.

so sam tomkins dont go out does he, amos roberts was out last week maybe we should drop him aswell ey, stupid