Re: What can we learn from playing Saints : Mon May 09, 2022 12:49 pm  

It was very poor defence from Wigan for the Roby try, both from Field and Harry Smith. As I wrote earlier in the thread both teams in any game will always be able to find plenty of things they could have done better but sometimes fans or even coaches frame it as if its only their side who could/will improve next time and therefore the result will go in their favour. Lots of untapped potential for Saints but also for Wigan.

Re: What can we learn from playing Saints : Mon May 09, 2022 12:50 pm  

Big Steve wrote:

They created some panic in ours through bombs close to our line and aggressive chasing - we need to improve how we protect the receiver - which they do very well.

Need to be so careful with that, though; refs are increasingly (and rightly, IMO) clamping down on escorts.

Re: What can we learn from playing Saints : Mon May 09, 2022 1:22 pm  

There are always areas of improvement Steve. Not sure we can learn much from Saints though. They play the game completely different to us and it's a rare sporting team that can do everything better than everyone else. Saints have they're own limitations which seem to be getting exposed now they have a few injuries.

Interestingly this very topic was discussed early in the season and the Saints' posters on here didn't agree that we could cope with injuries much better than they could. They argued that injuries wouldn't show as much because we'd be replacing ordinary players with other ordinary players. Well the likes of Smith were anything but ordinary on Saturday!

So, to answer your question, what can we learn from playing them last weekend? Well, firstly that we can beat them. Secondly, to repeat it next time we have to do what we do better than they do what they do. And finally that we can't afford to gift possession and position in the way we did at the start of the 2nd half.

I expect Saints will come back at us. I wouldn't want anything less. Keep improving as we are though and it'll be an interesting season

Re: What can we learn from playing Saints : Mon May 09, 2022 1:37 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

Well, firstly that we can beat them.

That's the big one. No longer need to go into these games with any form of fear.

Re: What can we learn from playing Saints : Mon May 09, 2022 8:18 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Absolutely and Woolf makes it obvious that he has no consideration for England’s needs (why should he I suppose), so I fully expect any operation will be done as soon as Saints season is done.

Surely Lomax should have a say in this. In a World Cup year it’s disgusting that it’s club before country, and even worse club before player. It does pose the question about Woolf & his international role having an influence on decisions at club level. Of course this could be said of Wane too, but I don’t personally see the he treats it in the same way. He would always want Wigan to do well, but not at the expense of giving lads a crack at Representitve rugby.

Re: What can we learn from playing Saints : Mon May 09, 2022 8:32 pm  

ralvag wrote:

Surely Lomax should have a say in this. In a World Cup year it’s disgusting that it’s club before country, and even worse club before player. It does pose the question about Woolf & his international role having an influence on decisions at club level. Of course this could be said of Wane too, but I don’t personally see the he treats it in the same way. He would always want Wigan to do well, but not at the expense of giving lads a crack at Representitve rugby.

You’d hope so but I sense there’s a club first mentality running through Saints. The English players seemed happy enough to pull out of that mid season game last season and none of the overseas lads seem concerned about being stopped from turning out for the All Stars (which clearly they are being stopped from doing so).

If we thought Woolf did his best to stop players from turning out in that All Stars game last year, I can only shudder to think what will go on this time. Obviously Lomax won’t be involved, on top of Dodd being absent but that’ll knock on to the rest. He won’t want Welsby, Walmsley or Makinson involved now due to their importance to Saints. If there aren’t a few ‘knocks’ from the game the week before I’ll be stunned.