2015 Season : Thu Nov 27, 2014 9:17 pm  

Preparations are in force for the new season. Fixtures out, Kit publisised and the pre-season press releases have going for a couple of weeks.
In one of those press releases it was said that the team was to hit the ground running and the training would be going with that in mind. That is easy to understand. Our first six fixtures are -
Widnes (a) Hudds (h) HKR (a) Cas (a) Hull FC (h) Leeds (a).
In the same fixtures last season we only picked up three league points from those matches. That was the draw at HKR and the win at home to Hull FC. So the club are clearly looking for a far better return than 3 points this time.

We do have a massive squad and are covered for injuries etc in most positions. Waney has already spoken about playing with a different style in 2015 so that will be interesting. We had a lot of pace last year and have added to it with Patrick who is a pacey prop and Hampshire who will figure a lot next season probably prior to him taking over from Bowen.

Hopefully the size of squad will help overcome the injuries that hampered progress last year. The Cas Cup game with 9 out and Saints at home with 7 missing were the prime examples. We also have better strength in depth with the two former London lads who have improved massively from the start of last season to the start of next.

We could, should and probably will compete well for all three trophies. I think there's a very good chance of us finishing in the top four, although that most certainly can't be taken for granted.
Our main rivals for the four will surely be Catalans, Huddersfield St Helens, Warrington and possibly Salford who may have their act together this year.
All those clubs have recruited well and some have also made significant changes to their backroom staff which could improve them again and in addition to the player recruitment.

I do think we have a pack that can manage and beat any other on most days. We have an abundance of props, a back row that is better than most if not all, halves that can steer the team around and by far the fastest backs in the league some of whom can score trys for fun.
The only reservations are for the hooker to interchange with Micky and who will go to 6. We could not have any better options than maybe Logan to 9 with Powell, Williams or Hampshire at half back to play alongside Matty Smith.

With the depth and quality of the squad there's every reason to believe that a trophy (s) can be won in 2015 after the first blank year since 2009.
It will be a great season and I'm looking forward to it.

Re: 2015 Season : Fri Nov 28, 2014 5:10 pm  

I've never been as confident going into a season as this to be honest. For the first year since 2011 we have improved our squad man for man, on top of that we have a young team which means the majority ought to be better next season than last. Meanwhile Leeds look to be on the decline and Cas shouldn't be as big a challenge this time around. Anything less than winning one of the two trophies would be a failure IMO.

I really hope Hampshire gets plenty game time this year. I think he is too good to leave out now and could really tear it up if we give him a crack at stand off now rather than solely focusing on bringing him in at FB. Hopefully Mossop stays injury free as well, but I wouldn't really class him as a risk as he isn't integral to our plans. Flower (post-ban) and Clubb are the main guys we want fit most weeks, whereas Mossop can be replaced by Crosby, Patrick, Tautai or Pettybourne without too bad an impact

Re: 2015 Season : Fri Nov 28, 2014 5:34 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Anything less than winning one of the two trophies would be a failure IMO.

Has the hub-cap been thrown in the bin then?

At the risk of jinxing all the self-congratulatory back-slapping we're probably in as best a condition pre-season than we've been for quite some time.

One request I would make however, that we have a serious look at SOL's replacement. He won't last for much more than a couple of years longer and we need someone to take over directing traffic as well as he does. Not sure there are many takers at the moment (at least those who are going to be here long-term).

(although a decent kicker would also be on the wish list)

Re: 2015 Season : Fri Nov 28, 2014 5:53 pm  

We've lost players as we always do but aside from Green they all feel a bit like they've been on our terms rather then the players which makes a change.

The squad is strong and has real depth. The only question mark to be answered is that stand off spot but one of the youngsters will smash it and nail it down IMO.

We'll be there or thereabouts in the hunt for trophies again.

Re: 2015 Season : Fri Nov 28, 2014 9:23 pm  

CyberPieMan wrote:

Has the hub-cap been thrown in the bin then?

At the risk of jinxing all the self-congratulatory back-slapping we're probably in as best a condition pre-season than we've been for quite some time.

One request I would make however, that we have a serious look at SOL's replacement. He won't last for much more than a couple of years longer and we need someone to take over directing traffic as well as he does. Not sure there are many takers at the moment (at least those who are going to be here long-term).

(although a decent kicker would also be on the wish list)

I don't count the hub cap to be honest. Teams aren't going all out to win it like they are with the Challenge Cup and the Grand Final, with teams happy to risk giving up league points if it puts them in better shape for knockout games, so I don't really think it's an accurate measure of the best team like it is in the Premiership, for example. In fact I can't even remember who won it most years.

As for Lockers, it's an interesting one, I can't really see anything other than Bateman-Farrell-Tomkins when he retires, probably with Connor Farrell on the bench. Perhaps our style will change and rely more on the halves and hooker for structure

Re: 2015 Season : Thu Dec 04, 2014 9:58 am  

My concerns for this season

a) Who will play 6
b) Interchange 9
c) Injury to Smith
d) Goal Kicker

These issues where highlighted half way through last season, Smith had to play ever game and in some games the link didnt work as it normally does. In my opinion when Green was out, SOL got heavily involved trying to make things happen, he either didn't trust the young half back or Wane instructed him to do so.

Interchange hooker it needs to be Logan, i know Williams/Powell did ok in that role but they are half backs and have been all the life. Putting them i the middle to get knocked about will ruin them as half backs which is what Wigan signed them up for.

Re: 2015 Season : Thu Dec 04, 2014 11:35 am  

King Johns II wrote:

My concerns for this season

a) Who will play 6
b) Interchange 9
c) Injury to Smith
d) Goal Kicker

These issues where highlighted half way through last season, Smith had to play ever game and in some games the link didnt work as it normally does. In my opinion when Green was out, SOL got heavily involved trying to make things happen, he either didn't trust the young half back or Wane instructed him to do so.

Interchange hooker it needs to be Logan, i know Williams/Powell did ok in that role but they are half backs and have been all the life. Putting them i the middle to get knocked about will ruin them as half backs which is what Wigan signed them up for.

But what about Logan? He tends to get steamrolled in defence and IMO doesn't offer as much as Powell/Williams in attack when he comes off the bench.

Hampshire at 6 with Powell/Williams on the bench for me. I think Powell could do a good job deputising for Smith if he got injured as well, they have similar attributes.

Re: 2015 Season : Thu Dec 04, 2014 11:44 am  

Grimmy wrote:

But what about Logan? He tends to get steamrolled in defence and IMO doesn't offer as much as Powell/Williams in attack when he comes off the bench.

Hampshire at 6 with Powell/Williams on the bench for me. I think Powell could do a good job deputising for Smith if he got injured as well, they have similar attributes.

Logan isn't liked or rated by Wane that is obvious, loan a player out and let them play against you???

Hampshire at 6 isn't going to happen but I agree would be a good idea but he is going to be full back for sure if Wane has his way.

Williams / Powell are the future 6 & 7 for Wigan like McGuire and Burrow have been for Leeds but being player at hooker they are going to get steamrolled. Williams was knackered in the second half of the season after the batterings he had taken and wasnt selected towards the end of the season because as my Dad would say he was punch drunk

Re: 2015 Season : Thu Dec 04, 2014 12:12 pm  

King Johns II wrote:

Logan isn't liked or rated by Wane that is obvious, loan a player out and let them play against you???

Hampshire at 6 isn't going to happen but I agree would be a good idea but he is going to be full back for sure if Wane has his way.

Williams / Powell are the future 6 & 7 for Wigan like McGuire and Burrow have been for Leeds but being player at hooker they are going to get steamrolled. Williams was knackered in the second half of the season after the batterings he had taken and wasnt selected towards the end of the season because as my Dad would say he was punch drunk

That wasn't the reason Williams wasn't selected in the latter part of the season.

Re: 2015 Season : Thu Dec 04, 2014 1:23 pm  

We have improved the squad since last season, but so have Saints and Wire. Saints will miss Soliola and Manu but have probably the best half back pairing. Wire have toughened up an already decent pack with the addition of Sims. Clark doesn't have Monaghan's creativity around the ruck but adds explosive pace, so all in all they are stronger. They finished the season well after finally overcoming the loss of Briers.

Leeds are on the decline, but may have one last hurrah for their 'golden generation'. Cas have lost Clark and Sneyd, but have a good coach and have recruited well in Roberts and I think Moore can do a job if he stays out of trouble.

No-one will fancy Salford much after last year. And this may in fact work in their favour. They have the makings of a good pack, and Dobson is a quality half back. It's a big 'if' but if Chase can play with him then Salford could surprise a few.

It may be Huddersfield's last chance, with Brough the wrong side of 30.

My pick of the rest will be Catalans. Strong at home. The deciding factor will be the class of Todd Carney. I for one, can't wait to see him in Super League. Possibly the best import since Trent Barrett. I hope Carney overcomes his demons.

Having said all that the top four will be Wigan / Wire / Saints / Catalan. With any one of 7 teams for the cup.

I can't wait, because I think that the season will be a genuine contest. I hope the new system works for the sake of the sport. And I would love a repeat of this year's GF at Old Trafford in 2015.