Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:51 pm  

tank123 wrote:

Scary thing is our side is so young compared to most if not all SL teams and with more coming through each season. Hampshire will play a lot of minutes at FB this season to rest Bowen when needed. Most sides look at our side and think our pack seems light but RL is changing and the days of impact props is over. It was the nature of the Wire pack that won us the GF last season. Could not live with us and for them having technically 2 impact props who played almost 40+ minutes, that was too much and a quick mobile well controlled pack ground them. down.

The days of the old saying a good big un will always beat a good little un is changing. RL props have to be mobile and the squad needs covering players to multi task. Given 3 out of our 4 props did a number on Wire in the GF i would take our 4 over 80 minutes than any other set in SL. Taylor started last season as an impact prop but ended up as much more than a 10 minutes spell player.

Whilst Saints have an impact prop they do not have the impact that Bitcon has on a player and for all the bluster of people on here what Bitcon can do to a players fitness is remarkable.

As for the risk on Bowen the quote on his fitness will be proved either way this season but for me it was a nice way of the Cowboys telling their fans that they wanted him off the cap as they had a player on less money to cover him. And for Bowen to leave in a dignified manner. Though i would rather have Bowen at FB and risk him than any-other FB in SL. Risk yes but risk with Hampshire covering and needing game time its worth it.

Agreed re the young players, Bowen/Hampshire and our props. Taylor is a good player already and could go on to world class IMO. He has massive potential (as do a number of others).

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:07 pm  

Deano G wrote:

So am I (the good times are well and truly back at Wigan these days ) and my post did relate to the topic we are discussing.

The question posed by the OP was "Adding James Roby to them, does it make it a pack to be feared by a young inexperienced Wigan pack ?."

You then accused Wigan fans of clutching at straws.

I said we didn't need to, had a young and improving side, had recruited well and would do our talking on the pitch, letting others make a noise in the press.

Learn to read properly. I said people were clutching at straws in order to have a pop at Saints. That has nothing to do with the Wigan squad.

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:09 pm  

tank123 wrote:

Scary thing is our side is so young compared to most if not all SL teams and with more coming through each season. Hampshire will play a lot of minutes at FB this season to rest Bowen when needed. Most sides look at our side and think our pack seems light but RL is changing and the days of impact props is over. It was the nature of the Wire pack that won us the GF last season. Could not live with us and for them having technically 2 impact props who played almost 40+ minutes, that was too much and a quick mobile well controlled pack ground them. down.

The days of the old saying a good big un will always beat a good little un is changing. RL props have to be mobile and the squad needs covering players to multi task. Given 3 out of our 4 props did a number on Wire in the GF i would take our 4 over 80 minutes than any other set in SL. Taylor started last season as an impact prop but ended up as much more than a 10 minutes spell player.

Whilst Saints have an impact prop they do not have the impact that Bitcon has on a player and for all the bluster of people on here what Bitcon can do to a players fitness is remarkable.

As for the risk on Bowen the quote on his fitness will be proved either way this season but for me it was a nice way of the Cowboys telling their fans that they wanted him off the cap as they had a player on less money to cover him. And for Bowen to leave in a dignified manner. Though i would rather have Bowen at FB and risk him than any-other FB in SL. Risk yes but risk with Hampshire covering and needing game time its worth it.

Do you not think the fact that Warrington finished the game with 15 fit players had anything to do with what you're saying? Or did you forget/ignore that bit?

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:12 pm  

Giraffe everyone is entitled to their opinion, I have seen it a few times on here when someone puts up an alternative view you don't half get shirty.

All I am saying is he is a big lad that clearly needs to work hard to maintain his playing weight. He also requires surgery on his ankle already which will put him out for the most important part of the year in terms if preparation, hardly a great start.

As for Lafranchi and LMS they will have to improve significantly for me. Very very average. Amour is a decent player but he is not a top class SL Prop and never will be. He will take it up and he wil tackle. He will not make big yards or punishing drives/tackles. If you can get Walmsley up to more minutes, in my opinion that wil be a much needed boost as he could be your bolter.

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:13 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

Do you not think the fact that Warrington finished the game with 15 fit players had anything to do with what you're saying? Or did you forget/ignore that bit?

Actually we only had 14 fit players. Lee was injured and if it were not such a massive game & we had already lost 2 key players then he would have been subbed.

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:18 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

Do you not think the fact that Warrington finished the game with 15 fit players had anything to do with what you're saying? Or did you forget/ignore that bit?

Is that clutching at straws to have a pop at Wigan?

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:26 pm  

jonh wrote:

Giraffe everyone is entitled to their opinion, I have seen it a few times on here when someone puts up an alternative view you don't half get shirty.

All I am saying is he is a big lad that clearly needs to work hard to maintain his playing weight. He also requires surgery on his ankle already which will put him out for the most important part of the year in terms if preparation, hardly a great start.

As for Lafranchi and LMS they will have to improve significantly for me. Very very average. Amour is a decent player but he is not a top class SL Prop and never will be. He will take it up and he wil tackle. He will not make big yards or punishing drives/tackles. If you can get Walmsley up to more minutes, in my opinion that wil be a much needed boost as he could be your bolter.

I think you are doing Amor a disservice there mate. He is better than what you make him out to be.

Interestingly, you say he doesn't make big yards but his average yard gain last season was higher than all of the Wigan props. What do you think of that?

I agree on Laffranchi, he has been disappointing. LMS is very hit and miss, goes from excellent one week to frustratingly poor the next.

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:27 pm  

Orrell Lad wrote:

Is that clutching at straws to have a pop at Wigan?

Haha no. It's me responding to somebody who was making out that their young mobile pack completely dominated Warrington.

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:47 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

Do you not think the fact that Warrington finished the game with 15 fit players had anything to do with what you're saying? Or did you forget/ignore that bit?

No as they were done for before the major injury issue to the FB. Early in the second half they were gone and it was obvious. No one mentions that SOL was playing on one leg and Green had one good eye to see out of. Typically you ignored that fact.

Difference was that SOL had cover in Flower who plays as a prop. Thats where the game is now changing and impact players have no value anymore. Deciding factor in the GF was that we played at pace for 80 minutes. Both Leeds and Huddersfield could not match us either. Another fact you seem to not see. Giants a big pack got mauled by us. Our squad now has so much depth that Wane will do the same as last season play until we get top 4 and rest players and get as close to a fit squad as possible. And that was the deciding factor Wane did not care about results after we got guranteed top 4 spot.

If we lost Sam and Richards we would have coped with it. Same as we did when Richards went off in 2010. Injuries are part of Rugby and players need to play more than 20-30 minutes per game or otherwise it will cost you. Covering injuries is part of the game and boy We are truly the best at that.

Re: Power Packs. : Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:51 pm  

tank123 wrote:

No as they were done for before the major injury issue to the FB. Early in the second half they were gone and it was obvious. No one mentions that SOL was playing on one leg and Green had one good eye to see out of. Typically you ignored that fact.

Difference was that SOL had cover in Flower who plays as a prop. Thats where the game is now changing and impact players have no value anymore. Deciding factor in the GF was that we played at pace for 80 minutes. Both Leeds and Huddersfield could not match us either. Another fact you seem to not see. Giants a big pack got mauled by us. Our squad now has so much depth that Wane will do the same as last season play until we get top 4 and rest players and get as close to a fit squad as possible. And that was the deciding factor Wane did not care about results after we got guranteed top 4 spot.

If we lost Sam and Richards we would have coped with it. Same as we did when Richards went off in 2010. Injuries are part of Rugby and players need to play more than 20-30 minutes per game or otherwise it will cost you. Covering injuries is part of the game and boy We are truly the best at that.

Nice to see your recent success hasn't made you arrogant!