Re: Cas Game : Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:18 pm  

I had us down as a solid 6 out of 10 at half time. The odd glimpse of good stuff with the odd defensive blunder.

When we went 28-6 up after our purple patch of 10-15 mins I was prepared to increase to 6 out of 10. But after switching off completely, allowing Cas to rip us apart down the middle I'm afraid its 5/10 at best overall. And I think I'm being generous.

That was awful, a decent team would put forty on us at this moment in time and it needs sorting, I may be being unkind due to us losing two forwards but it's been showing for four weeks now.

Re: Cas Game : Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:23 pm  

We are better with the ball than last year, and worse without it. Overall are we improved? Probably, but only just.

There's a long way to go, and lot of improvement needed. Luckily you only need a decent 3 weeks at the end of the season to have a chance.

Re: Cas Game : Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:28 pm  

I can't believe we took the knee for Ukraine. Damn politics infiltrating sporting events

Re: Cas Game : Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:31 pm  

As daft as it sounds we are not far away from being a very good side in my opinion.

Holding us back, I feel, is our lack of ability to consistently maintain the intensity of our play. I still believe there is an attitude issue where arrogance overtakes performance and we switch off.

Saints are the marker and they are ruthless they don’t switch off.

This year is our last transitional year in my opinion. I do believe we have poorly managed contracts, Isa and Smith for example.

Isa has been a wonderful servant to the club, but he’s a declining force and any attacking play is stunted when he gets his hands on the ball. He’s also very similar to the edge forwards we have we desperately in my opinion need size in the secondrow.

Tommy/Smith.

Not even close to a debate. We must sign a half when Tommy retires. Smith to be fair put in 2 good kicks, but once again was anonymous and also came up with the now standard pass to the floor and pass into touch.

Re: Cas Game : Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:33 pm  

Well sorry to be negative but that was awful.

Jai Field and some terrible Cas errors and discipline won us the game.

Passing accuracy was poor, our defensive line was like a sieve and we looked a confused team playing without confidence.

Marshall and Halsall simply couldn't deal with the high kicks that came their way. KPP with a couple of really poor defensive reads on the other side. Did Bateman play? Farrell scored a couple but uncharacteristically poor with his defence. Mago is disgracefully unfit - 18 minutes in total and he was exhausted for 16 of them. Harry Smith looks very low in confidence.

Aside from Jai Field, the only other positives were the hard work from Smithies, Byrne and Partington - despite their limitations they never hide.

Re: Cas Game : Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:37 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Well sorry to be negative but that was awful.

Jai Field and some terrible Cas errors and discipline won us the game.

Passing accuracy was poor, our defensive line was like a sieve and we looked a confused team playing without confidence.

Marshall and Halsall simply couldn't deal with the high kicks that came their way. KPP with a couple of really poor defensive reads on the other side. Did Bateman play? Farrell scored a couple but uncharacteristically poor with his defence. Mago is disgracefully unfit - 18 minutes in total and he was exhausted for 16 of them. Harry Smith looks very low in confidence.

Aside from Jai Field, the only other positives were the hard work from Smithies, Byrne and Partington - despite their limitations they never hide.

I have to say I thought the Prop rotation was very poor, assume injuries played their part.

Very odd to bring Mago on at half time in particular.

I’m of the opinion Harry Smith is to Wigan as Jordan Lilly was to Leeds.

Re: Cas Game : Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:40 pm  

I'm a big Harry Smith fan, but the more the weeks go by the more I don't think he is making it at Wigan. I'm clinging to the pack being no good before I judge him but how long do we do that for?

I feel like we're shooting ourselves in the foot in defence with KPP at centre and Zak on the wing. Several times tonight KPP came inside (don't blame him as a SR they tend to defend 10 yards in compared to centres) meaning Zak comes inside also and a side with someone as fast as Eden will take advantage. It needs sorting because Saints will definitely take advantage.

Re: Cas Game : Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:48 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Aside from Jai Field, the only other positives were the hard work from Smithies, Byrne and Partington - despite their limitations they never hide.

I keep asking myself, are they limited players or is too much being asked of them and, in turn, does that over highlight their weaknesses?

Byrne once again showed his potential tonight. Mago should have been doing what Byrne did i.e stepping up and leading from the front. I say it each week - there's not many 22 year old props in SL that can do that and already have the same number of games under their belt as him.

Partington (a player I've been critical of) showed what we all know - he's a good player. If we only had him and not a couple of others like him, he'd stand out and be a real crowd favourite. The issue is, he's not a meter maker so when he's alongside Isa and Smithies, we struggle to get on top of sides. That in turn makes people point the finger and ask if they are good enough.

You stick either one of Partington or Byrne in with a McMeeken or Walmsley and they are flying.

Re: Cas Game : Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:49 pm  

Egg Chasing wrote:

I'm a big Harry Smith fan, but the more the weeks go by the more I don't think he is making it at Wigan. I'm clinging to the pack being no good before I judge him but how long do we do that for?

I feel like we're shooting ourselves in the foot in defence with KPP at centre and Zak on the wing. Several times tonight KPP came inside (don't blame him as a SR they tend to defend 10 yards in compared to centres) meaning Zak comes inside also and a side with someone as fast as Eden will take advantage. It needs sorting because Saints will definitely take advantage.

About 3 more years, as that's what's left on his deal. Rightly, or wrongly, it isn't Wigan's style to let him go earlier.

He could do with a season on loan imo.

Re: Cas Game : Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:59 pm  

As a side note, if anyone thinks this is the same situation as last year - go and watch Peet break down the game with John Wells. It's on the Sky Sports app and is a great snippet into what we're working towards. You can see there's a game plan and, apart from last week, we're scoring points.