That was a depressing performance. We could have attacked for two days without getting the three tries we needed in the second half.



As has been in evidence in all of our close games this year, we don't have any direction from the halves at all. We need a game-controlling half back (someone like Finch) so badly it's embarrassing to watch at times. Our kicking game is dreadful, our decision making is worse and our last tackle play defies description.



I was annoyed by Mike Rush suggesting that our defence was okay. It was poor. Our line speed was nowhere near Wigan's, even after 10 minutes of continuous possession. We were generally passive and looked very fragile on the fringes. The fact is that Wigan only scored 18 points because they had an off day with ball in hand. If Pat Richards had been on the wing instead of Gelling they would have scored at least 12 more.



I don't think it's by any means a genuine solution, but I'd have Gaskell back in the side from here on.

Nope!









Don't worry you sent Millward to us and he did a damned good job of un-ravelling us!





Neither team was at it's best today but you'll come good again on that I have no doubts at all

I'd seriously take briers on a one year deal. He's experinced, clever, good kicking and a saints lad.



He'd be great for likes of Gaskell and lomax to Learn off. Wigan did it with deacon and it paid off.

Our defence was very very poor. Wigan could have scored 4/5 more tries if they didn't keep losing the ball.



Every time they moved it wide we looked terrible.

I'd be happy with that.

Good shout, but would Briers go for it, he didn't like what saints did to him all those years ago.

He still lives in st Helen's, he's a saints lad. Of course he's come back if the money was right.



We should do what the pies did with deacon. Give him 1yr deal as a player and offer him a job on the coaching staff.



He's got one of the best rugby brains in the game, the likes of lomax and Gaskell will buzz off him learning them.

In case you didn't notice, Royce Simmons was sacked a few months back. The coaching decisions are now down to Rush.

He brought the fullback to play standoff and he brought the backrow to play prop.





Still think lance is the great stand off ?

Marty smith would at least give us a kicking game

Not the smartest player tho.



Briers for me

This season is done for me now. We're out the cup and we've got alot of catching up to do in the league. Leeds won it from 5th last year but I can't see us doing it simply because we don't have the class to do it IMO. Put us up against Wigan, Warrington and Leeds in a do or die game and I don't think I'd back us.



We rely so much on Roby creating things around the ruck and if he is nullified (which Wigan have done twice) then we offer very little elsewhere. Our half backs are awful. Lomax tries hard and at least commits defenders and brings runners into the game, but his kicking game isn't good enough and he doesn't have the range of passing or the brain to be a midfield general in my view. He'd be a very good full back and I've always seen him as Wello's eventual replacement. On the topic of Wellens, been a class servant for us and tries his b*llocks off but he's far too slow and pedestrian in attack. He had a decent game today but near the line the moves died with our 6, 7 and 1 combination. As for Hohaia, whilst he tries hard, he's simply shocking and has been pretty much all year. Doesn't take the line on, doesn't organise and dictate the game, has an average passing game, doesn't commit defenders, he has a terrible kicking game and doesn't really have the speed to trouble defences. He's not the answer to our half back problems, no way! This is the biggest problem with our team and unless we sort out our 1, 6 and 7 combination we've no chance of lifting silverware anytime soon even with the greatest coach in the world.



Two other problems for me are the lack of a dominant forward or two, someone who can test the defence and make the hard yards constantly - Perry was very poor today, he's so half hearted, he's stealing a living. We're short of someone creative in the pack too, someone who can offload the ball and create 2nd phase play where our nippy players like Roby, Wilkin and Lomax can take advantage of. The other problem is a fast Centre who can break a tackle. Wheeler is a good player but had a really poor game today. Shenton has again flattered to deceive and I'm starting to wonder what cutting edge he brings to the side out wide. I've seen little evidence of any real strike from him, whereas the likes of Meli, Wheeler, Gardner and Makinson have all shown they are capable of making breaks from time to time. We're being linked with Turner and maybe he'll be a better option on the right side for us.



You can't fault the effort and commitment, but we're just not good enough. Too many try hards and not enough quality, leaders and inspiration in the team to lift silverware I'm afraid.