Re: What is it that Wigan can see that Leeds management can’ : Tue Jun 27, 2023 8:07 am  

Neither are a great loss. Leeming will cause issues wherever he goes he is that kind of individual. His ego is bigger than his ability. A hooker in the modern game needs to be a very good defender and have the ability to read the play - Leeming had neither of these skills. He was a runner who found it impossible to link with his half backs so any kind of structured play wasn't possible when he was on the field.

Walters - to early to tell - is he prop is he a back row what is he. Sad to see youth development wasted but as has been pointed out we have benefitted from too much talent at Wigan. Is all the disappointment because we are producing so little forward talent from the academy that he looks better than he really is?

Re: OUT 2024 | Sam Walters - Wigan Warriors : Tue Jun 27, 2023 1:34 pm  

Reported that Catalans pulled out of signing Leeming because of his wage demands.They were not prepared to make him a marquee signing.If true then Wigan may have paid way over the odds for a above average nine.

Re: OUT 2024 | Sam Walters - Wigan Warriors : Tue Jun 27, 2023 1:34 pm  

fanstanningley wrote:

Reported that Catalans pulled out of signing Leeming because of his wage demands.They were not prepared to make him a marquee signing.If true then Wigan may have paid way over the odds for a above average nine.

I'm ok with that.

Re: OUT 2024 | Sam Walters - Wigan Warriors : Tue Jun 27, 2023 1:49 pm  

Leeming and Walters may both do well at Wigan. I actually hope Walters kicks on because he could be something different for England. Having said that its just as likely he'll never develop.

Leeming left because he was behind a kid who'd never played hooker till halfway through last season. If he'd been performing there's absolutely no way that would have happened. This year he just took his bat home and left on pretty poor terms with the club, not just Smith. There was absolutely no need for that, and it wouldn't be a surprise if his attitude was a problem within the squad for a while before he left. Hopefully finding that in the NRL he was still a bench player will have grounded him a bit.

Re: OUT 2024 | Sam Walters - Wigan Warriors : Tue Jun 27, 2023 2:15 pm  

Once were Loiners wrote:

Leeming and Walters may both do well at Wigan. I actually hope Walters kicks on because he could be something different for England. Having said that its just as likely he'll never develop.

Leeming left because he was behind a kid who'd never played hooker till halfway through last season. If he'd been performing there's absolutely no way that would have happened. This year he just took his bat home and left on pretty poor terms with the club, not just Smith. There was absolutely no need for that, and it wouldn't be a surprise if his attitude was a problem within the squad for a while before he left. Hopefully finding that in the NRL he was still a bench player will have grounded him a bit.

Smith made some interesting comments just after Leeming left about OConner - something along the lines of he's a player who plays for the team and not himself - I always thought that was Smith reacting to Leemings press release which was clearly a dig at Smith.

If Wigan have used a Marquee spot on him Id say that they've massively over valued how good he actually is, good luck to them.

Re: OUT 2024 | Sam Walters - Wigan Warriors : Tue Jun 27, 2023 2:34 pm  

Whatever we think of Smith, it looks like (from the outside) that both O'Connor and Walters were poorly used and developed under Agar. Thankfully they have both been able to ressurect their careers.

O'Connor's strengths were recognised by Smith, and injuries to Leeming and wayward form from Dwyer gave him the chance he needed.

Smith was the first coach to realise that Walters could be used effectively as a makeshift prop - it's a shame he had fewer opportunities this season, but it's understandable why. When used last season Walters was directly responsible for several soft tries being conceded through 'clocking off' in goal line defence or at marker. He also had a few better and more reliable players ahead of him, although I would have liked to retain Walters if possible since he has he has a bit of an x-factor about his game.

Re: OUT 2024 | Sam Walters - Wigan Warriors : Tue Jun 27, 2023 2:44 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

Whatever we think of Smith, it looks like (from the outside) that both O'Connor and Walters were poorly used and developed under Agar. Thankfully they have both been able to ressurect their careers.

O'Connor's strengths were recognised by Smith, and injuries to Leeming and wayward form from Dwyer gave him the chance he needed.

Smith was the first coach to realise that Walters could be used effectively as a makeshift prop - it's a shame he had fewer opportunities this season, but it's understandable why. When used last season Walters was directly responsible for several soft tries being conceded through 'clocking off' in goal line defence or at marker. He also had a few better and more reliable players ahead of him, although I would have liked to retain Walters if possible since he has he has a bit of an x-factor about his game.

Not only that, he is prepared to make tough calls based on the long term future. Too many Leeds coaches of recent years have been too loyal to underperforming players, and he doesn't seem to tolerate that too much.

I'm still undecided about Smith, I really swing between. I was at Wigan away earlier in the season and at half time, I thought he would be sacked after the game. Then we can back and won in the second half. The season is so unpredictable!

Re: OUT 2024 | Sam Walters - Wigan Warriors : Tue Jun 27, 2023 3:07 pm  

People on here know I like Smith and want him to stay - but opinion aside he has said numerous times that one of the main reasons he got the job was because of his ability bringing younger players through, now it may well be that once he has achieved that we get another coach to take that younger team to the next level - a bit like Powell getting rid of dead wood and then Uncle Tony coming in to get them over the line.

However I'd like to think Rohan can get them over the line in his tenure.

Re: OUT 2024 | Sam Walters - Wigan Warriors : Tue Jun 27, 2023 3:11 pm  

there's no doubt he is brilliant at coaching younger players.
it's the game plans he needs to get right. hopefully he will continue as he did last week and play a more traditionalgame

Re: OUT 2024 | Sam Walters - Wigan Warriors : Tue Jun 27, 2023 3:14 pm  

tad rhino wrote:

there's no doubt he is brilliant at coaching younger players.
it's the game plans he needs to get right. hopefully he will continue as he did last week and play a more traditionalgame

The players need to do their bit aswell, game plan aside (which having watched it back was executed to near perfection against Huddersfield) they need to cut out stupid errors.

Do that and we have a chance