To be the new Wire we would be alot further down the league. You could say we are the new Wigan. Wigan spent a few years bobbing under the top teams and then making some decent runs in the playoff's to semi's etc.
I don't think we are at the level of Wigan, Wire or Huddersfield for week in week out performances. However I do think that on our day we can match them. Hence the playoff's not being too insummoutable.
(If you read further you will find me to be the slight polar opposite of saddened)
I don't think there is a need to buy in anyone else. For a starter, I don't think there is anyone else left to buy. Most of the decent players are already tied down and we are full on the overseas status. Someone like Manu from Hull would be good, but is such a move realistic?
I think the team maybe in need of a mid season reinvigeration and although not our best player (IMHO) Leon pryce and too some extent Clough maybe the players to do this for us. Clough will give us some bulk and much needed grunt, he is a player who does not tend to stop before the defensive line to see if he can shimmy around them or pass the ball to a2nd rower to get smashed. (Something there was alot of on Friday).
Leon will give a break to one of the half backs probably Gaskell who I reckon is just about 12 months ahead of where he should be. The experience will be good for him, but you can't expect top class every match from a teenager. What he has done so far is give us a long kicking game which we have missed for many a year.
I have fallen in with Saddened on the fullback idea, we do need to try someone else but a new purchase would not be nessasary IMO. Nathan Ashe, Leon Pryce or Lance O'h would all be suitable in that role. And it would give us another quality back rower in Wellens. Result all round.
I don't think Royce comes from the same coaching philosophy as Brown and Maggy at Wigan. To say there is only one way to play in the NRL is a bit narrow. There is more than the one coaching style and if we are all just going to follow the one style the game will not develop. You need to counter your opponents not just copy them.
Given the disruption so far this year if you told me we would be 4th, in the CC draw, and only 4 points off the lead I'd have snapped your hand off. Now we are in this position sure it would be nice to get top, but I think Wigan pretty much have that. I can't see them losing 3 times in the last 10 games whilst we win all our last 9 games. However, I can see us putting a run together from now to the end of the season. Lets not forget even last year the Wire finished below us and still did not make the GF. So league wise, there is still alot of season to go.
But yes a win against Wire is sorely needed, otherwise the stats voodoo dolls will come out saying well you haven't beaten a top side all year so it can't be done, in the playoffs or CC.
For fans this weekend is crucial, for Royce and the team, I'm not so sure.