Weather For Sat : Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:47 pm  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/6691246 Oh dear not rain

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/6691246 Oh dear not rain

Re: Weather For Sat : Tue Oct 07, 2014 3:11 pm  

I'd say rain would suit us, but with our big guns Mose and Walmsley making a dry ball look like a bar of soap, I'm not so sure.

Re: Weather For Sat : Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:17 pm  

I don't think rain would be good for us. I know the conventional wisdom is that rainy weather leads to a forward battle, and therefore suits our limitations, but in the rain you also need your halves to make excellent decisions throughout the game and your kicking game needs to be spot on. Think about those rainy Grand Finals against Leeds; for the majority of those seasons Leeds were a more expansive side than us. The rain, in theory, should have suited us more than them. But as it happened Sinfield kept their play tight and kicked us to death while we ran around like headless chickens throwing the ball around in our own half. Given that we don't have half backs or a reliable kicking game I think Wigan would be able to starve us of territory if the weather is bad.

Re: Weather For Sat : Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:33 pm  

Dux wrote:

I don't think rain would be good for us. I know the conventional wisdom is that rainy weather leads to a forward battle, and therefore suits our limitations, but in the rain you also need your halves to make excellent decisions throughout the game and your kicking game needs to be spot on. Think about those rainy Grand Finals against Leeds; for the majority of those seasons Leeds were a more expansive side than us. The rain, in theory, should have suited us more than them. But as it happened Sinfield kept their play tight and kicked us to death while we ran around like headless chickens throwing the ball around in our own half. Given that we don't have half backs or a reliable kicking game I think Wigan would be able to starve us of territory if the weather is bad.

I am hoping for dry weather, but you make a good point. That's exactly what Wigan did to Hull in last years Challenge Cup Final.

Re: Weather For Sat : Tue Oct 07, 2014 5:13 pm  

One point made on our board about wet weather is that I'd trust Wellens over Bowen dealing with kicks. That could have an influence.

I'd agree though with most in that the halfbacks will be hugely important if it's wet. Leeds set the template for everyone to follow and it's all about mistake free rugby and your halfbacks building pressure with a good short and long kicking game.

I'd still prefer dry weather as a Wigan fan though. A wet night really does make the game a lottery.

Re: Weather For Sat : Tue Oct 07, 2014 5:29 pm  

Check the forecast 2 days before. In Autumn in the UK a projection more than 2 days ahead is unlikely to be accurate. If it was California USA then the weather is pretty stable, but not here.

Re: Weather For Sat : Tue Oct 07, 2014 5:50 pm  

rain is a leveller, and we need as many as we can have

Re: Weather For Sat : Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:23 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

rain is a leveller, and we need as many as we can have

Agreed, rain is not what Wigan want.

The big Old Trafford pitch will suit our backs and in particular Burgess, Sargison and Bowen who will love to take advantage of the dry open spaces and Green will be only too happy to set them up.

The wet weather will force Wigan to play a more conservative game and I think we would be in for a closer game.

Re: Weather For Sat : Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:25 pm  

dany1979 wrote:

Agreed, rain is not what Wigan want.

The big Old Trafford pitch will suit our backs and in particular Burgess, Sargison and Bowen who will love to take advantage of the dry open spaces and Green will be only too happy to set them up.

The wet weather will force Wigan to play a more conservative game and I think we would be in for a closer game.

Green is a player we need to watch, he loves to show and go, it's very effective too. The inside man should be told to make sure he creams him whenever he carries the ball to make him think twice about pushing for the gap, it'll also cover the gap should he go for it.

Re: Weather For Sat : Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:29 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

Green is a player we need to watch, he loves to show and go, it's very effective too. The inside man should be told to make sure he creams him whenever he carries the ball to make him think twice about pushing for the gap, it'll also cover the gap should he go for it.

Correct, he does seem to go under the radar a bit by some supporters but he is a class act and has proved it in the big games.

Its very difficult to shut him down though, he will stand deep behind the play and choose his moment to set up the killer plays.

Melbourne have not signed him for nothing.