I'll be honest, what despares me more than losing the semi, is that nothing will change for next year!



This squad will not win things, we are improving year on year, but the bottom line is with no new players I don't think we will be far off the mark (agian) we are well capable of third as a squad. However we won't be able to get too the mark! It's that simple.

Next years team to be competitive needs to look like:



Phelps

Roberts

Gleeson

Carmont***

Richards

Sam

NEW NUMBER 7

NEW NUMBER 8

Riddell

Coley

Mossop

Hansen

O'Loughlin



Prescott/O'Carroll

Feka/Fielden

Flanagan/Joel

Tommy



Pryce, Goulding, Farrell, Davis, Tuson as back up.



***Carmont to stay but if we could get someone like Atkins if he leaves Wakefield then I hope we would show interest.



Ainscough/McIllorum out on 1year loan deals with recall options.



Bailey/Smith/Hock out which would easily buy us the players we need.

Flanagans off to Oz

Mossop. McIlorum and Ainscough to be in the starting 17 next season - don't care who misses out. Farrell to get some game time this season and come through next.

I agree.

Annoyed that Flanagan seems to be off to Australia - he was one of the few Wigan players yesterday who looked to take the defensive line on and try and do something with ball in hand.



Outside of Lulu's kicks and Tomkin's runs we're lacking creativity, Flanagan gives us options outwide with regards to runners and taking opposition defenders out of the game and creating overlaps. Disappointed to hear he's off to Australia - could do with someone like him at 13 or 6 rather than O'Loughlin (who's a SR - no creativity at all) and we're making do with a hooker at 7.

Lost did we?

We lost yesterday because Smith's tactics were far superior to that of Noble's. For the opening ten minutes I thought Wigan started the game well and we took an 8-0 advantage but then when the Wire got possession we started to unravel.



Every ball taken in by the forwards saw them twist in the tackle and offload the ball helping Wire make a few more yards and then play the quick PTB which threw our defence into complete disarray. Ganson for me was pretty lenient with slowing the play the ball down but we didn't utilise it (Perhaps Noble had warned them pre-match about the side's penalty count & discipline so we didn't hold down long enough.) and Warrington just steamrollered us. By the time Wigan got into the game it was too late.



We needed some leadership on the field and some level heads to calm the players down, put together a game plan and nullify the speed of Warrington's attack and block the ball carrying arm more effectively, but we didn't and thus we lost. We need some leaders on and off the pitch to take us to the next level.

I hear that Atkins is a done deal to Warrington, so he isn't a possibility.

If true and they get Myler, somethings being broken.

Both are going to Wire and Johnson to Wakey

That lad is a good prospect,,,,now here comes the question,,,,,,,Why is he going to Oz,,,,Not from the heartland so just asking....