www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=4632 Roberts, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Smith, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Paleaaesina, Hock, Bailey, O'Loughlin, J Tomkins, Coley, Hansen, McIlorum, Prescott, S Tomkins, Ainscough.

www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=4632 Roberts, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Smith, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Paleaaesina, Hock, Bailey, O'Loughlin, J Tomkins, Coley, Hansen, McIlorum, Prescott, S Tomkins, Ainscough.

No shocks.

Smith CANNOT play. I was watching the game again the other night, he is the most useless defender i have ever seen.

Also good too see Pryce has been dropped in replace of Roberts, i have seen nothing so far so state that Pryce will offer anything to Wigan.

Smith and Goulding to miss out.

smith to miss out, i hope, and probably goulding.

Richards
Roberts
Bailey
Carmont
Ainscough

S Tomkins
Leuluai

Fielden
Riddell
Prescott
Hansen
J Tomkins
O'Loughlin

Feka
Hock
McIlorum
Coley

Goulding and Smith to miss out.

He may go with Smith on the bench as he did v Salford with Tommy going to 9 when Piggy is spelled and Smith coming into the halves.
McIlorum might be one to miss out again.
Moving Tommy to 9 does work although he finds it difficult doing 80 mins when he does. At the moment we need Tommy out there as long as possible.
Agree that I can't see where Goulding fits in with Roberts probably starting Bailey will play centre. Goulding and Roberts on the right would be a Hudds dream come true!

If Smith plays he will leave gaps big enough to drive the Huddersfield team coach through they will target him and if its a close game that will be the difference between winning and losing

So given Roberts is on a four year deal is that the end of Goulding at the club then?

I think we have had most trouble down the right when Smith has been hanging out on that side of the pitch and either Goulding or Roberts has had to cover for his failings.

One thing is for sure is we need to sort that right centre slot out. Bailey is a stop gap and too slow. If Goulding is not good enough then we need to do something but I would like to see Goulding given the chance in a team minus Smith !!

Dave

I like most am concerned about Smith's defence but I reckon Noble might include him in the 17.

To his credit he did set up 2 tries against Salford.

Speaking of contracts does anyone know how to find how long the players are contracted for? Bilko used to have a page for it but I can't find it anymore.

I wasn't inferring that Goulding is at an end at Wigan. Far from it!
He's a good centre and has only just turned 21.
To me he certainly has the ability and needs to improve his game as with everyone of his age.
I think he needs to learn when to pass to his wing and when not to.
Like all the younger members of our squad he could benefit most from playing behind a winning pack every week. Unfortunately he isn't and will struggle like the rest until he does.
Goulding will be at Wigan long term, unless he decides to walk away!
Just because I think he'll not be picked for a given match doesn't mean I think his career is over.

Smith and Goulding for me.

Will 'selectors' on here please stop putting Hock on the bench. It's daft.

Why? Because he's a tremendous impact player against a tiring defence?

That's your opinion, I am entitled to mine.

I think Hock has more impact coming off the bench.

what he said!

hock is an impact player, he isnt effective for 80 mins

Parroting that line again and again doesn't make it any more sensible. Hock is one of our top players and should start every time. Obviously the coach thinks so too.

OK so you're an opposing coach and Hock starts, what do you do? You send 3 men in on the tackle and make sure he's ineffective.

OR - Noble starts him off the bench like at the end of last season then bring him in for 20 min bursts against tired defences; just like he did at the end of last season wher Hock was playing out of his skin.

None of that makes either the coach or you any more right than anybody else on here.

Hock is superb in attack against tiring defences, particularly in the last 10 mins of the first half and the last 20 of the 2nd half. He gets frustrated when he has little or no impact against a fresh defence, gets knackered, makes mistakes, daft offloads etc.

More importantly, he is a lazy defender. Not only lazy but misses more tackles than any other forward at our club and most in Superleague.

We have a habit of going behind early in games and when we do, we have only come back once this season out of four games. A good defensive start is crucial. Hock doesn't provide this.

IMO, Hansen and Tomkins are a much better starting back row, with Hock off the bench.

Nobody is parrotting any line to make it more sensible, they can just see things that you can't.

I hope I don't get slammed for this, but has Goulding ever had a spell on the wing? Fast player, got strength but maybe isn't ready to play centre at SL level? He barely finds his winger and at times is sloppy in defense.

Don't shoot me, it's just a thought!

He has played winger before and has a tendency to come inside on defence. Tew right wing spot is a problem IMO. No-one looks good enough out of Roberts, Pryce, Phelps or Goulding.

As for getting shot, wouldn't it be great if Mathers could find his feet and we could get Pat back where he belongs?

I agree with everything you've just said.

The winger situation is a tricky one. Most will say give Roberts/Pryce time to come good, but for me there seems to be a lack of motivation in both players.

You would think Pryce would be dying to get a game after being sidelined for so long. I was also a little irritated by the comments made by Noble who said he wanted Roberts to have a game without 'pressure'.
If it was a 17-18 young lad I would agree, but realistically shouldn't Roberts be at a stage in his career where he can handle the pressure? He is a 28yr old Oz import with bangs of 1st grade experience. He's having to play without 'pressure' while we have 2 young Wigan lads thriving on it as arugably our best players in the first team. Strange.

Me too

Hope Smith and Goulding miss out btw