rl : Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:08 pm  

I wasn't inferring that Goulding is at an end at Wigan. Far from it!
He's a good centre and has only just turned 21.
To me he certainly has the ability and needs to improve his game as with everyone of his age.
I think he needs to learn when to pass to his wing and when not to.
Like all the younger members of our squad he could benefit most from playing behind a winning pack every week. Unfortunately he isn't and will struggle like the rest until he does.
Goulding will be at Wigan long term, unless he decides to walk away!
Just because I think he'll not be picked for a given match doesn't mean I think his career is over.

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:09 pm  

Smith and Goulding for me.

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:14 pm  

Will 'selectors' on here please stop putting Hock on the bench. It's daft.

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:16 pm  

jackdog wrote:

Will 'selectors' on here please stop putting Hock on the bench. It's daft.

Why? Because he's a tremendous impact player against a tiring defence?

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:17 pm  

jackdog wrote:

Will 'selectors' on here please stop putting Hock on the bench. It's daft.

That's your opinion, I am entitled to mine.

I think Hock has more impact coming off the bench.

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:18 pm  

WigansForeignLegion wrote:

Why? Because he's a tremendous impact player against a tiring defence?

what he said!

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:19 pm  

jackdog wrote:

Will 'selectors' on here please stop putting Hock on the bench. It's daft.

hock is an impact player, he isnt effective for 80 mins

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:20 pm  

WigansForeignLegion wrote:

Why? Because he's a tremendous impact player against a tiring defence?

Parroting that line again and again doesn't make it any more sensible. Hock is one of our top players and should start every time. Obviously the coach thinks so too.

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:34 pm  

jackdog wrote:

Parroting that line again and again doesn't make it any more sensible. Hock is one of our top players and should start every time. Obviously the coach thinks so too.

OK so you're an opposing coach and Hock starts, what do you do? You send 3 men in on the tackle and make sure he's ineffective.

OR - Noble starts him off the bench like at the end of last season then bring him in for 20 min bursts against tired defences; just like he did at the end of last season wher Hock was playing out of his skin.

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:45 pm  

jackdog wrote:

Parroting that line again and again doesn't make it any more sensible. Hock is one of our top players and should start every time. Obviously the coach thinks so too.

None of that makes either the coach or you any more right than anybody else on here.

Hock is superb in attack against tiring defences, particularly in the last 10 mins of the first half and the last 20 of the 2nd half. He gets frustrated when he has little or no impact against a fresh defence, gets knackered, makes mistakes, daft offloads etc.

More importantly, he is a lazy defender. Not only lazy but misses more tackles than any other forward at our club and most in Superleague.

We have a habit of going behind early in games and when we do, we have only come back once this season out of four games. A good defensive start is crucial. Hock doesn't provide this.

IMO, Hansen and Tomkins are a much better starting back row, with Hock off the bench.

Nobody is parrotting any line to make it more sensible, they can just see things that you can't.