Re: 19 man squad for St Helens Friday : Sat Jul 13, 2019 7:55 pm  

newport dave wrote:

In hindsight, Wigan should of known it wouldn't work as Wire did it 3 times last week and still lost.....

We've had quite a few teams now who have opted for the 2 points they also kick for touch on the last tackle when this happens its as though they want a breather and gives us that mental edge, we quite often up the tempo in defence and attack to control the game on our terms.

Re: 19 man squad for St Helens Friday : Sat Jul 13, 2019 11:31 pm  

Always seems to be that 'taking the two' is a fashion: if one team does it , other follows suit. We see that in the NRL, and SL too. Few years ago it was a rarity, now it's commonplace.

Re: 19 man squad for St Helens Friday : Sun Jul 14, 2019 7:27 am  

moto748 wrote:

Always seems to be that 'taking the two' is a fashion: if one team does it , other follows suit. We see that in the NRL, and SL too. Few years ago it was a rarity, now it's commonplace.

I agree with it to put yourself level, ahead by 1 or 2, or to make it so the opposition need a further try, but going for 2 points which will still leave you behind is unusual, and far too negative IMO.

Re: 19 man squad for St Helens Friday : Sun Jul 14, 2019 8:00 am  

Only times you take two -

When down by 2

Level scores

Up by 6

Up by 12

Up by 18

Very very negative taking it when 4 behind.

Although I think lam’s theory was we had done a lot of defending just before that and the lads could do with a minute.

Re: 19 man squad for St Helens Friday : Sun Jul 14, 2019 8:13 am  

Just kept handing them field position and it’s tough enough to win that battle against Walmsley and Thompson as it is. I doubt we’ve got it in us this year to topple Saints (should we meet again) but I’m sure we could have a dig with Lockers, Flower, Clubb, Greenwood and potentially a new prop on board.

Re: 19 man squad for St Helens Friday : Sun Jul 14, 2019 8:24 am  

Negative for me...

And i thought so at the time. Field position is vital, and to have scored at that stage would have made a big difference to the mood and mindset. Crucially, Saints would not have expected us to go for a try, so that would have worked in our favour, they would have expected the kick, and not for us to play for 6!

But then, i always feel i can win, no matter how unrealistic. You have to have a belief in yourself, and your team, or you may as well go home.

Re: 19 man squad for St Helens Friday : Sun Jul 14, 2019 9:10 am  

Going for the two is not always the wrong decision, but there are definitely times when it tells the opposition that you don't think you can score ... especially if the alternative would be taking a second set of six right on their line. Sometimes it's even a relief to your opponents.

Back in the day, there were stories that Shaun Edwards used to deliberately stand off-side if he felt Wigan were tiring, in the knowledge that the opposition would go for goal, thereby reducing the risk of incurring six points by sacrificing two instead.

It's a moot point whether it encouraged Saints on Friday night, but I'm in no doubt whatsoever that a similar decision cost us the Grand Final in 2014. It was midway through the second half, Saints were rocking and we were camped on their line - and, quite ridiculously, we let them off the hook by getting a penalty in front of the posts and going for two.

Re: 19 man squad for St Helens Friday : Sun Jul 14, 2019 9:24 am  

In this situation, you had to accept that Saints were the better team from the off, and times that you would have field position, limited. I would have pressed for a try attempt.

Its an old sporting maxim, let the opposition worry about what you are going to do. If you are too concerned about the opposition, much stronger in this instance, you are destined to get the outcome expected, which we did.

Re: 19 man squad for St Helens Friday : Sun Jul 14, 2019 1:28 pm  

To be fair with so many missing from your pack gaining territory was always going to be an issue.