Deacon only only became captain of Bradford in 2007.

I think this has been done to death in the past. He's just not vocal enough and while the usual response to that is he leads by example that isn't always enough. The best captains do both.

Too often in previous seasons when the side has been playing badly he has been one of the players stood under the sticks with his head down instead of doing the captains job. That said I do think he was a bit better in this regard in 2009 than previously.

I think he will actually get the captaincy again and at least if he does MM will have been shown to have gone through a selection process which would be a good thing in itself. It's just part of the meritocracy MM clearly wants to institute here so on the off chance someone else gets the job no one should complain IMO.

I always thought Millward appointed him as a young player to be captain just to be controversial and get some media attention and that Noble kept him as captain because Noble never rocked the boat with his first 17.

I have also always thought not being captain would make Lockers an even better player and would suit his work-a-holic ethic better. He can just get on with his 100% commitment to playing and not have to bother about being captain as well.

Dave

Captain is only a name tag.

There is no reason why other players such as Bailey, Richards, Carmont and Deacon cant do the shouting behind the sticks, even though when people say Lockers just puts his head down, thats just a myth.

Lockers is an ideal captain and he does what captains do best and that is lead by example. I just think DaveO is using it as another opportunity to have a moan.

No offence Meyt N Prater because I know you're only passing on what has been reported in the paper but I can't believe the Lockers Knockers are back....





Just when things were looking very, very good for next season:

1. New coaching team

2. New fitness regime

and last but not least

3. A really strong squad with strength in depth for the first time in years

we get the nonsense about the captaincy stirred up all over again.



Lockers did a decent job last season in what at times were very difficult circumstances. He showed good leadership skills despite coaching failures and the failure of some key players to take responsibility and in some cases a failure to achieve even a basic standard of fitness.

His personal performances were excellent and a more competitive and consistent Wigan side next season will give him a real platform to show what a good player he has become in recent years - if he can stay injury free he is likely to be a very strong contender for MoS.

The only good news is that when I clicked on the voting form I was very happy to see that nearly 80% of those who voted backed Lockers. He has the overwhelming support of Wigan fans and should continue. I can't believe for one minute that MM would change our captain. This is just nonsense instigated either by a small minority of misguided Wigan fans or more likely Wigan RL hating Latics morons or Stains or Wire fans spreading foul rumours....

O'Loughlin all the way, Bailey as vice.

Signing Deacon as Player, Coach and Captain in his first year here? Christ talk about pressure.

I really think taking the captaincy off Lockers would cause a lot of trouble with little reward at the end of it. McGuire could alienate the team in one fell swoop, and for what? Most of the potential captains (Carmont, Deacon, Bailey) will retire in a year or two, leaving the successor looking like sloppy seconds. That's not the kind of forward thinking I want from a coach. The captain should be Lockers with Bailey as vice if/when he signs a new deal, if not then Leuluai.

To way to think about it is this:

If there was no current Wigan captain, and they were picking from a clean slate, who would be the main candidate?

O'Loughlin by a country mile.

I'm 100% sure McGuire will pick him as captain, and he would be right to do so.

To give it to anyone other than Lockers would be daft IMO

Lockers as captain but what about Gleeson as vice it might work out if needed?

I would have had Fielden as captain but as it is looking like he will be coming off the bench again, I would have to stick with Sean as long as he keeps leading from the front and growing in stature, a little extra talking and he will be great.

you need to select a player who is defo first choice in his postion and is going to play the full game...and that imo is to Lockers....

anyone but Lockers ffs

Because unlike oloughlin (nothing against him btw), sam is a natural leader and already directs the team around the field and has something we have been missing in a captain since farrell, vision.

Giving him his head would just make him better at it IMO and the team would start to play off him more and more, improving this aspect of his game further. He already guides the team around massively anyway and it would be a natural step

Tomkins is already plays a captains role in the team now, look at all the ordering around he did last season despite being a rookie and in a new team. give him the opportunity and you'll see more of this.

You only have to look at how rudderless we are without sam to see what an impact he brings to the team, what organisation he brings to the team, and what tactically he gives the team....all qualities of a natural captain IMO

And whoever said he was too young









a certain Mr Farrel was captain of his country only 1yr older than sam!!

Farrell had played many more games than Sam has to date at first team level. I would think it is far better to let Sam gain more experience at this level and concentrate on his own game rather than trying to lead the entire team. As a HB he will be doing a lot of direction on the field anyway - that's part of his job. Sam may well be team captain one day - but not for now.

Leaving aside the fact that Farrell was once in a lifetime player who was a first team regular at 16 and became the youngest ever GB captain IIRC, don't you think you're heaping too much on Sam? He's not even done a full season as 1st choice in his position yet! The amount of bollox posted about Sam is ludicrous IMO. He's a future captain without a doubt but to give it him now would be irresponsible in the extreme.

Interestingly, when asked about who he goes to for help and advice, Sam replied "Sean O'Loughlin". That's the stature he has around the club. There's more to captaincy than shouting at the players from behind the sticks!

Well that is pure speculation isn't it? How about alienating the players because instead of going through the process of deciding who he thinks is the best man for job (which could well be Lockers in MM's eyes) he just sticks with the current captain while at the same time telling all the rest they must earn their spot in the team?

If you are going to run the thing based on merit you have to apply that principle to every decision you make and that includes choice of captain.



Such considerations about how long players are going to be here might be factors in his decision but even so, if he thinks we stand a better chance with Carmont (for example) as captain than Lockers the fact Lockers will be here longer is no reason to stick with him if MM decides he does not provide the right sort of on field leadership. That sort of "there no one better" thinking does not address the issue (if there is one). The captain needs to be chosen as captain for positive reasons not just because the alternatives might be leaving in a year or two.

Dave

And who is your choice, Dave?

I'd say it's a fair comment, he's a local lad and been captain for years now so lots of players are bound to feel loyal to him.


Even if there is a better long term candidate (which I doubt) it would quite probably be too much too soon



Picking anyone who's leaving in a year two would be ridiculously short sighted.

Lockers should be captain. I thinkhe was a bit too young when he was made captain initially, but now he's getting a bit older and he is one of the players that the younger lads seem to look up to.

I will leave that up to MM. Anyone he chooses is fine by me including Lockers because if he goes through the process then I am happy to accept his choice. I do not think Lockers got the job originally for any other reason Millward was being Millward and I think Lockers kept it because Noble was being Noble. I am sure you know what I mean by that.

If he qualifies for the job under MM then he will be the first senior coach since he became captain who will have given him the job based on his ability as a captain in my opinion.

If I was pressed for an alternative I'd give it to Deacon provided he gets 7 and Riddell is number 27



Dave

sean is the player for captain the only player who would be captain is phil bailey. i suppose paul deacon was captain of bradford but he is new to the side but long term sam is the future captain but not for 3-4 years too young. i know andy farrell was captain at 21 but had played in the first team for 3 years before being captain