could have sworn you posted about performances in friendlies about... 2 posts ago

I did, friendlies.

and what was the warrington game?

ok then... who would you give the captaincy to and why?

or are you just another Lockers knocker with an axe to grind against the guy?

I'll say it again - Wigan need to concentrate on bigger issues: the massive underperformance by most of the team today and some dreadful selection and tactics by the coach.

When these crises are sorted MAYBE it will be time to have a pop at Lockers. Then again, maybe not. He's obviously making an effort to be more vocal. He's listened to the criticism and has responded. (I wonder if those players who are patently unfit or performing way below their potential will do the same. I wonder if Brian Noble will.)

I do wish Wigan fans wouldn't knock Lockers. This all started with Stains muppets and others questioning his playing ability - a number of idiots posted on this board before the Kiwi tour that he wasn't even good enough for SL, let alone GB. There's always a section of Wigan fans who fall for this kind of rubbish. (I've heard Wigan fans moaning about Faz when he was carrying the entire side.)

Sadly these people took up the anti-Lockers crusade. When he proved himself on the international stage they changed tack; suddenly he was a good player but a rubbish captain.

I'm getting sick and tired of this nonsense.

Lockers is trying to give more vocal leadership and trying hard to lead by example, he's looked good so far this season having come back from a lengthy lay-off.

Lockers should be given a chance, especially given the chaos that we witnessed today on and off the field.

Instead the Lockers knockers are out in force again. At a time when the team selection, tactics and coaching have been found desperately wanting, several key players are clearly unfit and many others in the team are playing way below par. That says it all really.

If the job isn't for him who is it?

I certainly can't think of anyone better to be Captain.

Lockers plays by the rules is a model professional and lets be honest the Captaincy seems to have just become a title now so all that matters is that he's a face that the fans dont hate and tbh I think the most Neutral player in the team is him. Unless we were to give it to one of our foreign players but the Wigan lad is the best bet.
Oh and to add he is also someone who cares about Wigan Warriors. The one thing us fans complain about most is the lack of heart and the lack of caring about the team and he's someone that could never be thought of as not caring. So there Lockers for Captain end of.

does sound a bit like you give it to him by default though. best of a not too impressive bunch.

Serious question to those who slate O'Loughlin - Who would you make captain?

The most obvious candidate is Bailey, but he is approaching Mathers in terms of getting the bread roll treatment in these parts.

Those who slate him havent got a clue why they do, maybe its his Quiet demeanor and that he's a nice guy, or maybe its his hairstyle?!?! Cos they certainly dont watch his play!

Agreed Bailey is dire, he cant tackle and generally goes missing for large parts of the game

in my opinion

What the f**k has whoever is captain got to do with how the team as a whole played yesterday?

There were far too many players below par on the field for a captains armband to make the slightest difference.

What is difficult to assess is whether the display was down to Noble's coaching skills or to the players ineptitude.

Whilst many people may question Noble as a top coach and his limited game plans, it's hard to promote that we should be playing a more expansive game if we cannot control the ball playing even the most basic style of rugby - imagine how many times we would drop it if we tried complicated stuff????

The worst outcome from yesterday is that Noble will now have to go back (and be justified in doing so) to getting the team to work on the basics of the game - further strengthening his view that we do not have the players to play an expansive game (just like last year).

So - until the team show they can control the ball and field position, we will have no chance of even attempting a more expansive style.

Sadly - the players have proved that they are not ready for moving beyond basics - and we will be stuck with the same brand of unambitious /uncomplicated play until they get the basics right - we could be in for a long wait to see some attractive rugby......................

I'm pretty sure that Nobby can coach the basics (it's the more progressive play that he's unproven with) it looks like the players aren't putting it into practice.

Given the fact we have continued to make the same errors through the same players in the same situations i am not sure he can, or if he can that he does.

I would also say that if our ball carriers were not sent forward like cannon fodder, easily identifiable even prior to the hooker getting the ball in his hands at the play the ball then the defence would not be able to apply the pressure and help force the error, if we stood a little deeper in attack we may give ourselves more space and time to take the ball, all of the above have been issues for the last 2 years and non look like improving anytime soon.

Its not an issue of expansive rugby, its an issue of playing a smarter game, and still using the basics to carry this out, i am not confident we have a coach that can provide us with this.