Exactly, and seeing how far we are ahead of you men, and think how much you struggled against them. It shows that there are no easy games at all for you nowadays.

Though I have to say that the attempt at trolling by SomersetSaints was very poor, even I'd give him 0/10.

Sam Tomkins is 20 this year. If he isn't ready to play by now he never will be. Other clubs play players younger than this regularly and successfully.

If Noble does not think they are ready then why are they on our books at all? The Cas game won't be an easy game but which ones are?

I don't think Sam Tomkins will be Wigan's saviour but I do think we might play better with Smith at 7 and him at 6 with TL hooking with either Riddell or McIllorum. I'd like to see it tried by our esteemed coach because I don't think he knows what his best formation is.

He played him once last season and along with Ainscough let the games against weaker teams go by without giving them a run out. He looks to be doing it again and only including Ainscough in the 19 because of injuries.

This is not the way to develop these players or retain them at the club and is one of Noble's biggest failings IMO.

Dave

Just like he did with Joel - he prob would be out at the end of this year if we hadnt had the injurys last year. It seems like he is afraid to take the risk - you would have thought he would have learnt with Joel that it is worth the risk. I just dont understand

I really can’t see what Noble can offer us anymore. I really think he’s taken us as far as he can.

Say what you want about finishing third two seasons on a row I really don’t think we’ve progressed as much as some Noble lovers say we have.

We are 2 inconsistent during the season and play an error strewn brand of boring rugby which has zero plan b when one is needed. We aren’t the fittest team in the league and have a 2nd rate backroom staff imo.

Our juniors don’t seem to progress at the levels other teams youngsters do even tho our junior teams seem to be a cut above the rest of the leagues bar Saints and Leeds?

Noble has to take the blame for all these IMO and it’s time for us and Noble to move on to new things.

Our U18's got beat in the Grand Final last year by Saints.
Our reserves beat Saints convincingly in the Grand Final last year.

Leeds U18's didn't even make the playoffs.
I think Leeds reserves went out in the first round to Huddersfield.

Wigan had seven ex. academy players in the 17 last Friday Saints had six.

I'm hoping there will be eight in Wigan 17 on Friday.

I fully agree with this, after watching them last season; if we lose them, they surely will come back and run rings around us with the right club.

From a cas fans point of view i hope noble sticks with the older so called trusted players cos to them its just another game against a lower club and thats were i feel you fall down.
The thoughts of a couple of very talented local youngsters who would see playing cas as a great challenge worries me more.
We may well get beaten tonight but the likes of westerman and owen will be out on the field proving age is no barrier if you have talent.

I wonder what Goulding/McCollorum/Tomkins/O'Carroll & Ainscough will be thinking then?

My point was the names you mentioned and others dont seem to get as much of a look in when everyone is fit.
It wasnt meant to be a dig saying we are better cos we have our own over paid past it imports
it was just an observation that your coach favours the tried and trusted approach.