Actually, they were very boring under Noble. The word dire comes into mind.
I have thoroughly enjoyed our matches under Maguire. The fitness and SKILLS of the team have improved immensely.
Warrington do play some magnificent rugby but lets not pull a veil over their defensive tactics. They go out to smash the opposition so they cannot play attractive rugby. That's why their defence and Wigan's defence are just about equal.
A team always tries to defend well and restrict the opposition. Wigan do it by wrestling technique and Warrington do it by 'in your face' defence, charging down kicks, lying up in the centre positions for interceptions and ball stealing. All's fair in love and cup ties.

Melbourne's performance against the Broncos this morning was a near perfect defensive display against one of the most attacking sides in the NRL, defense will probably win Melbourne the league this season and give them a great shot at the play offs. As for the Smiths comments I was more entertained by Melbourne's display than I have been with any Warrington game this season.

Personally i think this was aimed at our squad and our fans, the south stand could easily be accused of not being in full voice on quite a few occasions 'pressure the ref' being code for keep the noise up, and the comment on entertainment is just covertly saying go out there and express yourselves. I don't think any of that was aimed at Wigan, Smith has more class than that.

He doesn't criticize wigan be refuses to talk about us and instead says what he wants wire to play like and I know he may be implying we dont do this but you can't say that for sure.

Smith is an example of pure professionalism he wouldn't get into what kear did last year.

Wigans average attendance went up when we were bottom of the league and playing some really poor rugby.

Smith argues for an expansive game . Is that why they have such a big pack ?

That doesn't even make sense.

Well get him on speaker phone now to explain exactly what he meant.

All he is saying imo is he likes his teams to throw the ball around more. Smashing crap teams isnt entertainment to me which is basically where all the wire bumming has originated from.

what ever way you look at it warrington have the best offensive team in superleague! you'd be waxing lyrically if it was wigan, get over yourself!

"Wigan are a terrific team, just ahead of us in Super League, but we've been going ok ourselves this season, so it should make for great entertainment.

"It's just about taking your chances on the day. Both teams are pretty good defenders of their try line and certainly make you earn whatever points you can score.

"Last year they were the best team in the competition and were certainly the most consistent team and they're not far off doing that this year."

Source BBC.

What a er this guy is.

That article looks like its the journalist wanting to have a pop at Wigan by putting words in TS's mouth.

He has obviously asked him a loaded question to try and get him to say Wigan are a boring team etc, which Smith hasn't done, he has just talked about Warrington, so the interviewer has inferred that 'his disdain for their style of play is obvious' and brought up the fact that John Kear criticised Wigan's 'style of play'. That has no relevance at all to tomorrows game.

Obviously a sporting life journalist with an agenda against Wigan and wanting to try and use Tony Smith to justify it.

RL is a minority sport here, it is the second biggest sport in Aus after rules - a massive difference to TV viewing figures

I would have thought even the dimmest would understand that a big pack actually centralises their gameplan. Expansive is when the play and the ball is spun out via ball playing to the threequarter line and the half backs.

Therefore 'expansive' opens the play up away from the pack. [iErgo[/i there is less use for the pack.

Smith is using an oxymoron if the paper is correct. Mind I wouldn't trust the newspapers.

Tony Smith just happens to be smarter than your average SL coach. Anyone with any political nouse (in the broadest sense of politics) is able to throw out an insult or a criticism yet still have the defense of saying "Hey, I didn't actually [isay[/i that." You can hardly blame the coach of a team that thrive on open attacking play for coming out with a veiled attack on styles of play which they don't thrive on. The comments also double as a pre-emptive rejection of defeat at the hands of such tactics: "Well, at least [iwe [/iplayed entertaining rugby for the good of RL." Thankfully, Maguire and the Warriors, as usual, will treat him with the absolute indifference he deserves.

not if the pack as well as being big is also mobile and willing to take part in the expansive game!

Am nodding approvingly at your assessment.....

I think Wigan play a good passing game, on occasions,so to say that they are predominantly a defensive team is a little unfair on their ability to attack.Still think Warrington will have a bit to much for Wigan. wire by 12!!!! IMO

Theres no doubting Maguires ability as a coach but to say hes better than Smith is a bit premature, hes not been over here to prove his full potential it will all be ifs,buts and maybes now unfortunately for you, from your point of view its a shame hes going back to Auz

The interesting thing on this is that smith previously said that he doesn't coach their attack - he lets them get on with it and he coaches defence.

Honestly why does anyone care what any other coach thinks about us?

The only persons opinion about us i care about is madge thats it Smith is trying to get the ref on side cause he knows we will show this Wire attack up

Because it's so satisfying hearing about opposition coaches who simply can't hold their nerve when they face us and blurt out something to the media. It's when they stop talking about us you have to be worried.

Amused by Smith's comments.

Madge would never stoop to this sort of thing. He prefers to go about his business quietly and let the results do the talking rather than criticising the opposition.

But then he is the best coach in the comp.