Re: Wigan Warriors - Home : Fri Feb 21, 2025 10:41 pm  

Chris71 wrote:

Disappointing scoreline and again with a big crowd. Wigan are experts at slowing teams down and they did that pretty much all game other than that bright 10mins were we managed to get and play some quicker ball. Also thought defensively Wigan were on the move as we were bending down to ptb where as we were waiting until it was played so they rolled us down the field and we just couldn’t get going.

Plenty of positives, we looked much more disciplined,looked better in the wrestle, certainly look fitter and you could see that we do have some structure to our play & Salabio looks like he may well be a pretty good pick up. Thought Barron and Martin again stood up well.

Think there definitely signs that there’s more to come but as has been mentioned we have little to no depth once we lose 3 or 4 players. Ligi is a big concern as didn’t look good, also noticed that Asiata went off in the 2nd half and don’t think I saw him on the field or touch line at the end of the game.

Definitely need some reinforcements / additions asap.

Ultimately Wigan are a class apart and were very clinical tonight and found the holes in our rejigged lines very well and punished us.

Happy to be 1 from 2 at this stage, long road ahead as we are very much a work in progress.

Asiata was in the dugout area with a bib on so I reckon he was fine. Game was well gone so I suspect Cartwright had clocked the bad luck around the place and decided to bring him off.

Re: Wigan Warriors - Home : Fri Feb 21, 2025 10:46 pm  

Saw some positives with the enthusiasm but we were just overpowered and not helped by losing Sao so early. We are going to need to use our spare cap space and possibly a transfer fee to boost the pack.

And ticket deals need to be banned, lost count of how many times we've disappointed newbies in the stands.

Re: Wigan Warriors - Home : Fri Feb 21, 2025 10:48 pm  

UllFC wrote:

Saw some positives with the enthusiasm but we were just overpowered and not helped by losing Sao so early. We are going to need to use our spare cap space and possibly a transfer fee to boost the pack.

And ticket deals need to be banned, lost count of how many times we've disappointed newbies in the stands.

It's a shame it was Wigan really, I think we could have had a really good atmosphere if it had been say Cas.
Blame the fixture planners!

Re: Wigan Warriors - Home : Fri Feb 21, 2025 10:52 pm  

I think there was always a chance of a score like this given the players missing and Wigan looking very strong. Most teams would have struggled against them tonight. Their defence is just so strong. In their last six SL / PO games they've conceded 0-0-0-2-1-4 which is crazy.

There are some signs there, Barron and Martin are such talents and agreed on Salabio, could be an astute addition to the squad. Sezer looks to be a good signing.

At the very least Andrew Thirkill will be clear about the task in hand in improving the squad.

Re: Wigan Warriors - Home : Fri Feb 21, 2025 10:59 pm  

A disappointing evening. There were a few decent spells, but we gave away far too many metres in the first half, we couldn't get anywhere near them. Different challenge next week, but not sure who will be back? Bourouh I presume will come in for Hutchinson and Ashworth hopefully in for Sao. I think I'd bring Moy in and move Chamberlain to SR with Rapana at centre. Fair play to Fash for sticking his hand up to play there, but it didn't work.

Re: Wigan Warriors - Home : Fri Feb 21, 2025 11:01 pm  

Well, we've still got plenty of work to do to reach their level.

Losing Ligi on a stretcher was by far the worst part for me. Not too bothered about the scoreline, I know where the two clubs are right now.

That one was a write-off on to the next.

Re: Wigan Warriors - Home : Fri Feb 21, 2025 11:03 pm  

Chris71 wrote:

Disappointing scoreline and again with a big crowd. Wigan are experts at slowing teams down and they did that pretty much all game other than that bright 10mins were we managed to get and play some quicker ball. Also thought defensively Wigan were on the move as we were bending down to ptb where as we were waiting until it was played so they rolled us down the field and we just couldn’t get going.

Plenty of positives, we looked much more disciplined,looked better in the wrestle, certainly look fitter and you could see that we do have some structure to our play & Salabio looks like he may well be a pretty good pick up. Thought Barron and Martin again stood up well.

Think there definitely signs that there’s more to come but as has been mentioned we have little to no depth once we lose 3 or 4 players. Ligi is a big concern as didn’t look good, also noticed that Asiata went off in the 2nd half and don’t think I saw him on the field or touch line at the end of the game.

Definitely need some reinforcements / additions asap.

Ultimately Wigan are a class apart and were very clinical tonight and found the holes in our rejigged lines very well and punished us.

Happy to be 1 from 2 at this stage, long road ahead as we are very much a work in progress.

Asiata took his bib off and was at the back of the team at the after match walk around, didn’t seem to be injured.

Re: Wigan Warriors - Home : Fri Feb 21, 2025 11:05 pm  

Was going to be tough even if we had a full team out. Squad is very thin and now with a few injuries it’s showing but who realistically could we sign..

Re: Wigan Warriors - Home : Fri Feb 21, 2025 11:07 pm  

Not bothered about the result, ae soon as I saw the two teams I knew it would be a hammering, was hoping Wigan would be a bit off, but they were fantastic.

Hard not to be downbeat about the injury situation that's 7 players put or released that you could argue would be on the 17.

Need to get a couple of players in, no idea who and we're from though.

Not even sure if Sao is out for the season and we register him what position I would look at sign, could be centre, halfback, prop or backrow. I suppose I'd go for the player rather than the position.

I'd be looking at Pryce, Livett and a quota player.

Re: Wigan Warriors - Home : Fri Feb 21, 2025 11:11 pm  

I'm fine with that tbh. It's just a reflection of where both teams are at the minute. They are a top quality team with class in every position. We are a team at the start of a long transition. We might have done a little better with our best players on the field, but in the end we tried hard and were outclassed by a much better team.

As others have said I thought Salabio showed glimpses of being an astute signing, he certainly put himself about and I think he can make an impact., Sezer played well again, the wingers continue to impress, and I thought Briscoe did a lot of good things. I am very much warming to him at centre. I think Cartwright got the selection wrong though. Fash and Chamberlain on that right hand was a always a recipe for disaster and the two of them were chasing shadows all night. Not to mention we got them some really good ball at times and they just didn't have the quality to do anything with it. It had to be Rapana at centre and Chamberlain at centre, with Moy at FB. Fash on the bench for Gardiner. With all the will in the world I just don't think Gardiner will ever be good enough.