Last Son of Wigan wrote:It's clear to see where things went wrong.
Mathers was overrated at the club during the summer, he was seen as a true FB who is good enough to start at Wigan, this didn't work out. Ainscough was underrated, the club didn't see him as a starting winger, hence why they brought in Roberts, so they'd have Roberts and Richards on the wings. Look at it this way, what does it say for a young man like Ainscough who saw a 28yr old winger being brought in on a 4yr deal when Ainscough would have already known Richards had the other wing spot.
We are now having to work with 3 good wingers, and no true full back. The club is no contracted to the 3 wingers and scared of getting rid of one of them because they are all good players. But this is at a cost, the cost of the team as we don't have a true FB.
The club should have looked at the progression of Ainscough and realised he was on the verge of 1st team rugby at the back end of last season and not signed Roberts, remember at this stage we already had Phelps who could cover on the wing when Ainscough needed a break or was injured.
Roberts wage would have gone in the pot towards a new prop.
Bad vision from Wigan on this one. now they have to be ruthless to sort it for the good of the team.
Joined: May 24 2005 Posts: 1619 Location: exiled in Manchester
Hindsight is a wonderful commodity.
No one (not even the club) could have known that Ainscough would make the step up - it was a possibility but there was absolutely no guarantee - what if the club had gambled on him (and not signed Roberts) and he turned out to not to be good enough - the club would then have been in a mess with only one winger! As it is the club have actually gained by having three good wingers (and lets face it you need more than two to cover).
The biggest mistake was not siging Roberts but going with Mathers - this is where the FB issue has really come from.
The Roberts situation was complicated by the fact that he becase available a year ealry which was not in the original plan.
Personally I don't think full back is the top issue at the club by any means - we have players who can cover, the reallity is Nolel needs to decide which player is going to cover FB abd stick with that player not keep changing. Maybe then the chosen player can actually make a decent job of it - for this season at least- with regular training for the position (and maybe gets Radders teaching them).
exiled Warrior wrote:Hindsight is a wonderful commodity.
No one (not even the club) could have known that Ainscough would make the step up - it was a possibility but there was absolutely no guarantee - what if the club had gambled on him (and not signed Roberts) and he turned out to not to be good enough - the club would then have been in a mess with only one winger! As it is the club have actually gained by having three good wingers (and lets face it you need more than two to cover).
The biggest mistake was not siging Roberts but going with Mathers - this is where the FB issue has really come from.
The Roberts situation was complicated by the fact that he becase available a year ealry which was not in the original plan.
Personally I don't think full back is the top issue at the club by any means - we have players who can cover, the reallity is Nolel needs to decide which player is going to cover FB abd stick with that player not keep changing. Maybe then the chosen player can actually make a decent job of it - for this season at least- with regular training for the position (and maybe gets Radders teaching them).
The club should have recognised Ainscough's potential, plus we won't have only had 1 other winger with Phelps already in the team.
FB isn't a top issue, but the money paid to Roberts could have gone towards a new prop.
exiled Warrior wrote:Personally I don't think full back is the top issue at the club by any means - we have players who can cover, the reallity is Nolel needs to decide which player is going to cover FB abd stick with that player not keep changing. Maybe then the chosen player can actually make a decent job of it - for this season at least- with regular training for the position (and maybe gets Radders teaching them).
Defiantly…..
Although FB is an important position in the team and if used correctly like Radders, Webb or Withers at Bradford they can be one of the stars of the team imo it’s not as critical for achieving success as what other positions are.
This is especially true when looking at Wigan for next season. We’ve got a few top earners coming off contract but imo we’ve got more important areas of the team which require strengthening with truly world class players,.
We can’t cut back and try to spread the wealth next season as we’ve got a lot of good players but we just need an injection of one or two world class players and sadly they won’t come cheap.
Would I love us to sign a new FB? Yes most defiantly but can we really afford one? No as we need to sign some truly world class players at HB and prop which are more of a priority imo.
3 World Club Challenges 19 League Titles 17 Challenge Cup wins ONE CLUB WIGAN RLFC
Although FB is an important position in the team and if used correctly like Radders, Webb or Withers at Bradford they can be one of the stars of the team imo it’s not as critical for achieving success as what other positions are.
This is especially true when looking at Wigan for next season. We’ve got a few top earners coming off contract but imo we’ve got more important areas of the team which require strengthening with truly world class players,.
We can’t cut back and try to spread the wealth next season as we’ve got a lot of good players but we just need an injection of one or two world class players and sadly they won’t come cheap.
Would I love us to sign a new FB? Yes most defiantly but can we really afford one? No as we need to sign some truly world class players at HB and prop which are more of a priority imo.
I agree 2 new props and a HB is the key. Maybe IL thinks he has a 7 in Tommy. I hope not, I wanna see a class act take control of the team.
Last Son of Wigan wrote:I agree 2 new props and a HB is the key. Maybe IL thinks he has a 7 in Tommy. I hope not, I wanna see a class act take control of the team.
And we need props like never before.
I can't see Tommy at 7 next season tbh.
He's played some of his best stuff for us and NZ when he'd dropped in at DH and even tho Noble has an inability to see it Tommy himself must see his best chances for a long international career lie at 9 rather than 7. If Tommy wants to continue his international career he’ll have to demand more time at 9 imo and I think this has probably already been discussed when he signed his new deal.
I agree with the ‘we need two props’ statement but I think we’ll only get one this season and then another the season after that when Stu leaves. Even one new prop providing they are of the highest quality will make a huge difference to our team. Just look at the likes of Graham & Peacock and the difference one player makes to the whole pack. If we could get at least one player of their quality in the off season we’ll see a big difference.
3 World Club Challenges 19 League Titles 17 Challenge Cup wins ONE CLUB WIGAN RLFC
Do none of you think the props we have now, could do the work?? I actually really believe they can...
Feka and O'Carroll are good props and on a match night can win us games, got to keep O'Carroll, he'll be awesome in a few seasons. I think Fielden needs a good smashing off another prop and then challenged to go out there and do the same or drop him so he realises he‘s reputation is no-more. Would anyone agree and say he's also lost a hell of a lot weight since his move to us?
Now it may sound daft, and a lot won’t like this but at the end of the season let Bailey, Phelps, Coley, Prescott and CARMONT go, surely we could buy a decent prop and No 6 with the available £££
Bailey to go, plenty people can fill in for him -- Hock, Hansen, Mossop, Locker’s (because that’s were I’d play Locker’s) with J. Tomkins at loose forward..
Phelps because Roberts and Ainscough (Wingers) Gleeson and Goulding (Centres) Richards (FB) and Thornley and Pryce (Back-up for injuries)
Coley and Prescott - Coley be no space for him at the club with the new prop and Prescott is he now to old?? Liam Colbon age, hit their peak not going to get any better?? no good enough for us, in my opinion.
Carmont, yes he’s very, very good, but he’s a big-ish earner and we need the money, I think Goulding would fill the position not as good I know, but he’d do well! 2008 stats --- Goulding 21 Apps 8 Tries --- Carmont 33 Apps 14 Tries
But lets be honest people, next season is the same!! A challenge to get a play-off place, the 2011 season will be our challenge for the title!!
Joined: May 27 2003 Posts: 20436 Location: educating League Freak on all things rugby league
exiled Warrior wrote:Hindsight is a wonderful commodity.
No one (not even the club) could have known that Ainscough would make the step up - it was a possibility but there was absolutely no guarantee - what if the club had gambled on him (and not signed Roberts) and he turned out to not to be good enough - the club would then have been in a mess with only one winger! As it is the club have actually gained by having three good wingers (and lets face it you need more than two to cover).
The biggest mistake was not siging Roberts but going with Mathers - this is where the FB issue has really come from.
The Roberts situation was complicated by the fact that he becase available a year ealry which was not in the original plan.
Personally I don't think full back is the top issue at the club by any means - we have players who can cover, the reallity is Nolel needs to decide which player is going to cover FB abd stick with that player not keep changing. Maybe then the chosen player can actually make a decent job of it - for this season at least- with regular training for the position (and maybe gets Radders teaching them).
If nobody in the club could see the ability of Ainscough they should all just pack in now.
The lad was made for first team last year never mind this!
Unofficially the most boring poster on Cherry and White.
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