Re: Cas Game : Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:36 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Could well be, it did seem strange that he played so few minutes with both Singleton and Ellis out.

He’s going to divide opinion is Mago but I think we have enough steady forwards to then use a guy like Mago very wisely. We just need to get a few more minutes from him IMO.

I don't recall ever seeing an interchange prop being held back until after halftime before so I can only imagine that was the reason. Mago is easily capable of long minutes. We saw that in pre season when he did an hour straight. Full 40 then first 20 second half.

As you say, we have more than enough minutes in the forwards though, especially now Havard is back (who I thought went really well last night after such a long lay off). 2 good short spells where he goes all out would be far more effective.

Re: Cas Game : Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:37 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I’m confused with how Mago was and is being used as well. I’d want him on the field for as long as possible and I don’t believe that is all he’s capable off. He looks shattered granted, but he looked shattered in the warm up and I still honestly just believe it’s his style.

I don't understand this. Its not that he looks shattered and is still doing what you'd expect from a top front rower. His lack of fitness is seriously impacting his game. I watched him quite closely last night and there were numerous occasions when he was only one walking back after a Castleford kick and at times he simply gave up trying to get square at marker after a tackle involvement. Its not as if we can say he offset all of that through some big runs or offloads - they managed him pretty easily.

The reality is our big money overseas front rower who was playing regularly for Souths last year is now playing a support role to two young kids (and not doing a particularly good job at that in my opinion).

The only possible mitigation for me would be if he was carrying an injury, like Peet said a few of them were.

Re: Cas Game : Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:38 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

I don't recall ever seeing an interchange prop being held back until after halftime before so I can only imagine that was the reason. Mago is easily capable of long minutes. We saw that in pre season when he did an hour straight. Full 40 then first 20 second half.

That definitely did not happen. If you're talking about the Newcastle game he played about 12-15 minutes before being taken off - then he came back on a few minutes before halftime.

Re: Cas Game : Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:42 am  

jonh wrote:

Another solution at half could be Jake Trueman, he has stagnated at Cas and needs a move. He is a quality half though and lots more to come from him and he offers that threat ball in hand, plus he isn't quota.

.

I thought about Truman last night. I wonder if cash + Smith could see us win that signing?

Re: Cas Game : Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:47 am  

jonh wrote:

I think Hardaker and Tommy will go. As mentioned earlier I don't think Smith is the type of half Wigan can rely on now or in the future so he needs replacing.

Both those lads will be on good money, one issue we have though is the use of quota spots, we have again painted ourselves into a corner here. The only 2 spaces we have from lads OOC are Field and French, we need to do everything we can to retain 1 of those lads. Maybe Field can be our answer at half to replace Tommy but I would like to see him get some big minutes under his belt there this year if he is expected to be our starting half next year.

Tommy and Cust are both organisers and I think we need a bit more of a running threat to combine with Cust so Field could offer a solution.

Another solution at half could be Jake Trueman, he has stagnated at Cas and needs a move. He is a quality half though and lots more to come from him and he offers that threat ball in hand, plus he isn't quota.

At Warrington next year to replace Widdop is what I've heard.

Re: Cas Game : Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:48 am  

MadDogg wrote:

That definitely did not happen. If you're talking about the Newcastle game he played about 12-15 minutes before being taken off - then he came back on a few minutes before halftime.

My apologies if that was the case. I thought he played the full 40 but I'd have to check.

Re: Cas Game : Fri Mar 18, 2022 11:01 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

My apologies if that was the case. I thought he played the full 40 but I'd have to check.

No need to apologise. But he would have collapsed on the field if they'd made him play 40.

Its just one of those things that I can't really accept as a fan. There's no excuse for turning up unfit and this is only a couple of years after George Burgess (I know there were different factors at play there).

Re: Cas Game : Fri Mar 18, 2022 11:07 am  

MadDogg wrote:

At Warrington next year to replace Widdop is what I've heard.

It is the rumour and has been since Powell joined them, however believe Powell has a few issues to deal with at Wire and I know he has never been the most popular coach with the dressing room so there may be a bit of wriggle room should someone else show interest.

Re: Cas Game : Fri Mar 18, 2022 11:29 am  

One other thing, Farrel's defence, been pretty shocking these last 3 weeks, very unlike him.
I'm not demanding he gets dropped but he needs to up that aspect of his game.

Re: Cas Game : Fri Mar 18, 2022 12:12 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

I don't understand this. Its not that he looks shattered and is still doing what you'd expect from a top front rower. His lack of fitness is seriously impacting his game. I watched him quite closely last night and there were numerous occasions when he was only one walking back after a Castleford kick and at times he simply gave up trying to get square at marker after a tackle involvement. Its not as if we can say he offset all of that through some big runs or offloads - they managed him pretty easily.

The reality is our big money overseas front rower who was playing regularly for Souths last year is now playing a support role to two young kids (and not doing a particularly good job at that in my opinion).

The only possible mitigation for me would be if he was carrying an injury, like Peet said a few of them were.

The thing is regardless of him looking shattered, he’s making the most ground out of our props, certainly on an average per carry basis and I’m yet to see him ripped apart defensively (I don’t think they scored when he was on last night did they? I’ll need to watch the full game again). Could he get fitter? Absolutely (I actually think he’s slimmed down from the pictures I saw of him at Souths but granted that doesn’t mean he’s physically fitter) but I still think he’d be wobbling around looking like his legs are due to give out.

I’d also question if he is a ‘big money’ signing and a Souths ‘regular’. He played in some games and his minutes were limited and he didn’t get picked in others, including getting left out of their run to the GF. He’s probably not on peanuts but he’s not the kind of signing you expect to come in and dominate the league because you think he’s one of the leagues top earners. That is somebody like Tetevano at Leeds or George Burgess when he was here. Ellis and Mago were NRL fringe players and shouid be getting paid as such here. They’re signings that could go either way and they always were. Overall I’m pretty happy with the pair of them but there’s plenty of improvement in both.