: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:14 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Wasn't Edwards once an out and out 6 who became a great 7? and a FB before that?

You may also remember him playing at fullback. However, Edwards had played plenty at 7 before doing so for Wigan.

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Hanley in the backs before becoming a great 13?

As a winger, centre and stand-off. He also played hooker a couple of times as well.

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Gareth Ellis a centre before making a great SR?

I also recall him playing stand-off.

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Platt a great prop who started off in the second row?

And played loose forward as well.

I assume your point is that those players interchanged well between positions. However, that isn't always the case and it has nothing to do with the player's ability or the position.

For example, did Gregory ever play anywhere other than at 7? Dermott anywhere other than at 9? Most props are out and out props? What other positions did Offiah play?

Some players are only suited to one position and that is it, regardless of any similarities with other positions, move them and they'd struggle.

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Point is we never know till it's tried. Rushing partnerships etc will never work, everything takes time.

A nice philosophy which is often true BUT not always. Sometimes it is painfully apparent that something isn't going to work and it is no use persevering.

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

I want to see Tomkins as much as the next Wiganer.. but there's other things to consider.

We need a 6 at 6. I don't believe Nobby can be happy with a Smith/Leuluai partnership as he has played Tommy at 9 when Riddell went off and put Lockers at 6.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:18 pm  

Tomkins is more of a 7 than a 6....

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:20 pm  

[quote="shooter69
least the fat lard can tackle an run an as for nobby being happy SO WILL I u tit[/quote]

Urrghh ballll feck ar$gsgeb tiitiibum bloarrghhh

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:21 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Tomkins is more of a 7 than a 6....

6 and 7 are no different in the team Noble plays, they are both doing the same job other than the scrum.

Tomkins need a chance though, he would be happy to be playing prop as long as he gets on Im sure.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:24 pm  

That contradicts the above points!!

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:24 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Tomkins is more of a 7 than a 6....

I would disagree. He plays equally well in either role.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:25 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Heard it all now.

Anyone not turned on Nobby?

I'm sorry but after two seasons of constantly poor rugby and mixed results a lot of people are starting to see Noble's limitations. Can you honestly not see how poor we are under him? Can you not see the low standards he’s setting by not bothering about the weekly rounds? Can you not see how unfit our players are? A coach has to take the blame for all this no question about it.

Also in your previous posts you name Hansen, Lockers and Hock as the reasons why we aren't doing anything/

Hansen would get in any team in SL and he's far more than just OK. Every team needs a workhorse in there and Hansen's just that. The problem is that Noble won't play him and doesn’t have the ability to unlock his potential. Why do we have SL top tackler last season starting on the bench? It doesn't make sense to me personally seeing the amount of tries we are leaking. Also Hansen has the potential to add a good attacking edge to his game. I've seen him run some fantastic lines during his time at Wigan but we just aren't the team that utilises them due to our tactics.

I agree that Lockers is 2nd row and not a 13 but still he's a good player that has proved for GB he can play at the top level. We need to utilise him as a 2nd row also. It's not like we don't have a natural 13 in Joel Tomkins either is it? Last year’s runner up for YP of the year and our Top forward try scorer. He should be kicking on this season not starting over and having to do it all over again from the bench.

Hock along with Feka is one of the best impact players in the league imo. Yes he has brain farts but he also produces moments of genius. We need to start using these two better for the whole season not just at the end of the year.

It’s the same story all through the team the three above, Richards, Roberts, Tommy, Smith, Carmont & Fielden all good players that are underperforming under Noble.

We don't have any superstars like Trent who have that x factor as you said. If we add a true world class centre and prop next season then i'd be very happy with the make up of our squad. But i'd be very worried tho if Noble is still here next season as i can see more of the same then as well. Imo the season isn't won just in the playoffs it's won in the weekly rounds and you have to make sure you end up no lower than third or else it always one game to far as we've found out in the past few years.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:25 pm  

odemwingie wrote:

6 and 7 are no different in the team Noble plays, they are both doing the same job other than the scrum.

Tomkins need a chance though, he would be happy to be playing prop as long as he gets on Im sure.

Look at the difference when Smith arrived last season. He came in at first receiver and made plenty of room for Barrett to work in. That was a 6 and 7 working together.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:26 pm  

Red Hot Jalapeno wrote:

Although i agree with most of what you say i dont agree with the Feka bit. Whilst he cant play long spells he is very very effective and has won us many games when hes come on the field.

As for Noble i agree,it amazes me how there are so many people on here who think they know better than him. Nobodys saying hes perfect or never makes mistakes but he can do no right with most of the Wigan fans. You summed it up when you said players who think they run the club. Ive said it all along we cannot keep sacking coaches just because the players are dummy spitters. Its time they accepted that Noble is the coach and did what he tells them to.

He is devestating in bursts - no question. I would not like him defending five minutes before half time after he's alreay been out on the park for a while though. Crucial period of the game and you don't want a tired defender who is defeinately targetted towards the end of his spell by opposing teams (well then ones who are organised anyway).

I don't know what is going on at your club. You have a solid academy and can still attract top players when needed, and still great support. I have a mate who's a Newcastle United fan and I see a lot of similarities here.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:30 pm  

The Timmy - Tommy partnership was always a potential banana skin. I've said all along that if they were to play together we needed two big, fast centres alongside them.

Until Pryce is fully fit I don't think we can keep Tim and Tom at halfback.


So what are the choices?


Timmy at 7, and O'Loughlin at 6. and Tommy/ Riddell at 9 and harsh on McIlorum. Sam on the bench
Not ideal from an attacking plov but would shore up the defence.

Timmy at 7, and Sam at 6. and Tommy/ Riddell at 9 and harsh on McIlorum.

Tommy at 7, and Timmy at 6. and Sam on the bench. Riddell at 9 and interchange Tommy with Riddell to bring Sam on. Again harsh on McIlorum.

Timmy at 7, and Sam at 6. Tommy/ McIlrum at 9. Dangerous in having four relatively young players in decision making positions.

Personally I would go with the first option as McIlorum will probably get a one match ban.