True test : Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:43 am  

I expected Wigan to play well against Bradford but not that well. I backed them to win by 11 to 20 points but it was worth losing a couple of quid.
I also expect them to play really well at Leeds...they always do BUT the real test will be the game against Salford.
Will our form drop against one of the lesser teams. It always did last season (and this). This will be the game to decide whether we have turned the corner.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:47 pm  

Wow people really haven't taken to this thread have they? You're absolutely right though.

But I hope they don't drop against Salford it's really annoying how, saints aside, they seem to get beaten more by lesser teams.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:40 pm  

i would be happy to go leeds and give them a game and loose by 12 points as long has we beat salford and huddersfield the 2 weeks after.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:06 pm  

Consistency is the key for us now

They've shown they have the ability and due to the youth of the side they are only going to get better

We now have

Leeds (A)
Salford (A)
Huddersfield (H)

We should be aiming for at least 4 points from these games

However I think the difference from us being one of the very best sides and the ones chasing them is that the very best sides would get 6 points from these games and the chasers would normally get around 2-4 points (I know Leeds can't play themselves )

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:27 pm  

kirkamania6 wrote:

Consistency is the key for us now

They've shown they have the ability and due to the youth of the side they are only going to get better

We now have

Leeds (A)
Salford (A)
Huddersfield (H)

We should be aiming for at least 4 points from these games

However I think the difference from us being one of the very best sides and the ones chasing them is that the very best sides would get 6 points from these games and the chasers would normally get around 2-4 points (I know Leeds can't play themselves )

The Leeds game is all about performance for me regardless of the result, Salford is a mix we have to perform and have to win and should. The Hudds game is a big one and could well be that acid test, they are no mugs in 09 and i think the way we play in that game may well indicate a shift in our mentality as a club.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:33 pm  

jonh wrote:

The Leeds game is all about performance for me regardless of the result, Salford is a mix we have to perform and have to win and should. The Hudds game is a big one and could well be that acid test, they are no mugs in 09 and i think the way we play in that game may well indicate a shift in our mentality as a club.

Jonh, I agree and it's something I said to our mob in the SS bar after the game on Saturday.

That Huddersfield game has the potential to be a real cracker, two sides who are prepared to move the ball around.

It will not be easy, and a good test for our defence.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:37 pm  

kirkamania6 wrote:

Consistency is the key for us now

They've shown they have the ability and due to the youth of the side they are only going to get better

We now have

Leeds (A)
Salford (A)
Huddersfield (H)

We should be aiming for at least 4 points from these games

However I think the difference from us being one of the very best sides and the ones chasing them is that the very best sides would get 6 points from these games and the chasers would normally get around 2-4 points (I know Leeds can't play themselves )

We should be aiming for nothing less than 6 points.

Leeds are looking vulnerable at the moment and Wire should have done them by 12-18 points. Against Leeds in the past, we have matched them in the pack but always struggled for speed in the backs. That is no longer a problem.

Salford. Quite simply we should tonk them. Regardless of whether we score plenty, Nobby should be setting some pretty strong defensive targets for that game.

Huddersfield. Looking much better than in recent seasons but we can more than match them in tha pack and if we keep it simple and basic, we'll have taken 10 points from 5 games.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:50 pm  

Bridger wrote:

We should be aiming for nothing less than 6 points.

Leeds are looking vulnerable at the moment and Wire should have done them by 12-18 points. Against Leeds in the past, we have matched them in the pack but always struggled for speed in the backs. That is no longer a problem.

Salford. Quite simply we should tonk them. Regardless of whether we score plenty, Nobby should be setting some pretty strong defensive targets for that game.

Huddersfield. Looking much better than in recent seasons but we can more than match them in tha pack and if we keep it simple and basic, we'll have taken 10 points from 5 games.

I think we defintely have the capability to beat Leeds but it is almost impossible to call this one IMO. No doubt it will be a cracker though

Salford will be tough especially after a game with Leeds but I think we will win this one. Although ya never know

Huddersfield will again be another tough one but home advantage will be there but again its hard to call

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:55 pm  

Huddersfield is the key game. Performance on Friday is important; win and performance are essential at Salford; Huddersfield is the real banana skin in terms of long term form. We "should" lose Friday (not saying we will) and we "should" win next week (again not a prediction!) but Huddersfield are on our level totally - and given the friendly I feel sick thinking about it! Very exciting!

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:56 pm  

It's been mentioned heavily on the other thread, but I think the real test to how far we've come is in games against the best, ie. Leeds, Saints.

If we play like we did on Saturday at Leeds we should win, but if we play well and just miss out I don't think anyone can complain.

St Helens for me will be the true test.