: Sun Feb 08, 2009 5:46 pm
I think most people found his team selections strange and it has come back to prove correct, however after such an abject performance it is difficult to believe a different team would have produced a different result.
Would it? We lacked fluency in the side today. If we just had a straight swap Riddell for McIlorum do you not think the side would have been a lot more organised and structured instead of having to change everytime Riddell goes off?
This is not the sole reason for the poor performance. Mathers being another reason but again who picks the side? Who extended his contract?
He deserved a chance, he has had that, im certain he wont play next week.
Why did he deserve a chance? He was poor last year and showed no sign of improvement in the friendlies.
I'll tell you who deserved a chance Sam Tomkins. He's been knocking on the door for 2 years now. Was immense every time he was given an opportunity (which is not many) He tore apart Warrington in the friendlies and wasn't given much time to impose himself on the game at Huddersfield and Leigh.
Noble claims people will get games on merit. If this is the case why did Mathers play and Sam didn't?
Agreed, we need 2 hookers in the squad, I dont see how Noble can be accused of refusing to play local talent though, we need to go longer into the season before that can be judged.
Why do we? It was clear last season that this was the case. He brought Phelps in to replace Goulding and seems to have banished McIlorum from the side. He claims to play players on merit. This has never been evident while he has been coach at Wigan.
I disagree, he was full of effort in defence, Roberts was much more of a liability.
Rubbish he was awful. He was missing tackles all over the shot and that is why Wakefield kept attacking that side. We were very imbalanced. With Hock Carmont and Richards on one side and Bailey Phelps and Roberts on the other. Wakefields second try that was ruled out was because of Smith. Jason Demetriou (sp) spotted his weakness in defense and just ran straight at him , Smith missed him completely. Roberts only looked a liability because Smith had missed tackles and there was an overlap created so Roberts has to move up on the man with the ball which leaves Gleeson (I think it was) to race over unchallenged(We don't have a fullback) and score.
Changing the key positions so many times today was never going to see us do anything different. TBH we tried many more things in attack early on, but when they didnt work, we reverted to type.
Early on we didn't have the ball. It was four drives and a kick. Poor discipline and some shocking defense allowed Wakefield to dominate. This only changed in the second half when Leuluai moved to hooker and in fairness he did try to create plays but no-one else seemed interested.
Drew was immense today, as was Dimetriu (sp), Wakefield will be nowhere near the bottom if they keep them fit.
Agreed but dont kid yourself. We should have smacked Wakefield today. They are a weak team missing a lot of key players. They just came and played simple rugby league and because we had nothing to offer and looked disinterested (FFS run to the scrum!) we made them look good. A bit harsh on Wakefield maybe but its the truth. Wakefield would not have done that to Leeds or St.Helens.
He did which is to our detrement now, noone needed to try now Trent was here, we now need leaders to emerge.
Agreed. But sadly I don't see them coming from anywhere anytime soon.
He has taken us forward though
Agreed but I think is as far as he can take us.
this season is a big year for him however
Agreed.
but to call for his head after one game is madness.
It's not after one game though it's after two years of having him as a coach. From the dire performances last year to the ones we're seeing this year.
I'll not change many peoples' minds but just keep watching then. Let's see how we go this year.
Take off your cherry and white tinted speccies.
