Re: Wigan v Warrington : Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:54 pm  

I agree CM, Wigan have gone up a gear in the big games and their attack and defence is head and shoulders above the rest of us.

They do look like a team capable of doing the treble.

I'd love a day out at Wembley watching saints in a challenge cup final but I hope to god it's not against the pies!

Re: Wigan v Warrington : Sat Jul 23, 2011 7:20 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote:

I think we saw today a Wigan side that will comfortably do the double.

Wire are an excellent side, but struggled to live with Wigan.

In the big games this year that have mattered, Wigan have had the ability to turn the notch upto 11 in both defence and offence. The main challengers to Wigan be it Warrington or Saints just havent been able to live with them.

I know my fellow Saints fans will make the excuse about losing to Wigan because we have had injuries, however in all those matches and throughout the season our defence has been awful. Unless we can somehow work out how to defend in the manner of Wigan, then i fear an absolute thrashing by the pies, if we meet in the cup or playoffs.

An interesting point to note is that with Briers and Morley missing Wire looked directionless for much of the match.
They are both veteran players and this does not bode well for Wires long term future as a top team. Especially when you consider Hodgson is also abut 34 years old.
I have a sneaky feeling this match will be seen as a watershed moment for the Wire. It would not surprise me if their moment in the spotlight is now over, and they will go back to being a decent but ultimately unsuccessful club.

How wire react to this will also be interesting. They have a few tough fixtures coming up, and if Saints can get on a run, then who knows we could end up finishing second. That would be an amazing achievement if it happened, and would be very unexpected.

Agree with you that wire were leaderless. Mon did his best but the rest didn't look convinced.

Where I really disagree is the goons being on for the double. This is the wigoon team that really struggled in the last round against bratfud?
They looked very vunerable at times today around the middle and around the edges. The solomona injury was a defining moment when the momentum of the game went back to wigoon.

I think a better analysis is that neither team were much good in defence - some of the tries were absolutely awful from a defensive point of view.
I've no problem meeting the goons in the semi (providing we bear the dobbids) as they don't look unbeatable.

How richards got MOM is beyond belief - it was surely bambi's by a mile!!

I also can't agree that dire are a spent force - the league decider is against the goons the week after wembley so if the goons get there they will get the traditional thrshing that finalists get especially if the goons win the cup; by that stage the two leaders / old timers will prob be back to put some steel into their side.

Re: Wigan v Warrington : Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:04 pm  

Wigan's defence was 'head and shoulders above' but they conceeded 24 points ? I think some people are getting carried away.They are a very good side but I would love another crack at them with something like a full strength team to pick from.

Re: Wigan v Warrington : Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:10 pm  

Div wrote:

Wigan's defence was 'head and shoulders above' but they conceeded 24 points ? I think some people are getting carried away.They are a very good side but I would love another crack at them with something like a full strength team to pick from.

Agreed.

And Warrington blew lots of chances not to mention forgot how to tackle. Hodgson had a mare as well and couldn't remember how to convert tries at the time doing so would have made a real difference.

Re: Wigan v Warrington : Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:12 pm  

Bring it on

Re: Wigan v Warrington : Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:28 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote:

I think we saw today a Wigan side that will comfortably do the double.

Wire are an excellent side, but struggled to live with Wigan.

In the big games this year that have mattered, Wigan have had the ability to turn the notch upto 11 in both defence and offence. The main challengers to Wigan be it Warrington or Saints just havent been able to live with them.

I know my fellow Saints fans will make the excuse about losing to Wigan because we have had injuries, however in all those matches and throughout the season our defence has been awful. Unless we can somehow work out how to defend in the manner of Wigan, then i fear an absolute thrashing by the pies, if we meet in the cup or playoffs.

An interesting point to note is that with Briers and Morley missing Wire looked directionless for much of the match.
They are both veteran players and this does not bode well for Wires long term future as a top team. Especially when you consider Hodgson is also abut 34 years old.
I have a sneaky feeling this match will be seen as a watershed moment for the Wire. It would not surprise me if their moment in the spotlight is now over, and they will go back to being a decent but ultimately unsuccessful club.

How wire react to this will also be interesting. They have a few tough fixtures coming up, and if Saints can get on a run, then who knows we could end up finishing second. That would be an amazing achievement if it happened, and would be very unexpected.

Are we an excellent or "decent but ultimately unsuccessful club"?

You don't seem to know.

Re: Wigan v Warrington : Sat Jul 23, 2011 9:08 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

They do. They play the same plays over and over again. Then Sam Tomkins runs. And of course there is the three man piley, which always dulls down a game of rugby.

Do you know anything about RL or do you close your eyes when Wigan play??

Re: Wigan v Warrington : Sat Jul 23, 2011 9:32 pm  

Lippy wrote:

Do you know anything about RL or do you close your eyes when Wigan play??

Wigan are just too structured for me, that's all. Even though Wire lost today - in part due to their woeful defence - I prefer their less structured attacking play, especially when Briers is on the field. Wigan just do the same things every match! And Tomkins invariably does his jinking run. Mind you, without him doing his jinking runs, you wouldn't have won the number of matches you have. Him and Pat Richards must have a hand in most of your tries. It seems that way anyway.

Personal preference, that's all. Warrington at their best beat Wigan at their best hands down for me.

Re: Wigan v Warrington : Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:02 pm  

Lippy wrote:

Do you know anything about RL or do you close your eyes when Wigan play??

Mate you won't win any arguments on here from the Saints myopia association. I am with you - Wigan were awesome today and are a very very effective side. They are tough and effective in every aspect of the game and even as a Saints fan, but more so a fan of RL when it's played well, I take my hat off to them. Well coached, good players and an ethic that works.

Any team will have their work cut out to stop them winning the lot this year. If they win it in the manner they displayed today they'll deserve it.

Re: Wigan v Warrington : Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:04 pm  

Allez wrote:

Mate you won't win any arguments on here from the Saints myopia association. I am with you - Wigan were awesome today and are a very very effective side. They are tough and effective in every aspect of the game and even as a Saints fan, but more so a fan of RL when it's played well, I take my hat off to them. Well coached, good players and an ethic that works.

Any team will have their work cut out to stop them winning the lot this year. If they win it in the manner they displayed today they'll deserve it.

Totally agree!

Wane got some big shoes to fill.