Isn't there a middle ground to be had here? I am not a fan of "Noble rugby" i.e. 5 drives and a kick every time to go up the middle. But reviewing the games over the past few weeks and earlier on last season - our problem was that we could barely grasp the "5 drives and a kick" way of laying a platform - nevermind going on from that to then play expansive rugby and putting moves on near the line.



What none of us can say for sure is that Noble was forcing them to just stick with the 5 drives and a kick. And no one can say that he wasn't.



The end result, however, was a game like last night where correct platforms were set allowing for flowing and fast attacking rugby. Sam starting had a huge influence in our ability to create problems ball in hand - but who is to say he could have done that if the forwards such as Hock, Feka, Fielden (and Colely!) hadn't done their share Noble-style?



Were the first few performances the players fault for not managing to set decent platforms and look after the ball? No one can deny that the stats for the first three games were horrendous. Were the players just following Noble instructions and that's where it has all gone wrong?



I know this is a post of no real answer or view - but since this thread has become so polarised perhaps those championing Noble should hang back a bit, applaud the entire team and coach for the peformance and hope we build on it next week. The first few weeks were horrendous and cannot be forgotten so quickly and easily. Perhaps also the Noble bashers give some credit where it is perhaps due (I believe jonh has done so) but be allowed to remain cautious in how much of it is Noble's doing.

It helped massively IMO, the players seem to be running off Riddell/LuLu and Tomkins, something which they seemed incapable of doing in the Higham era.



Am I the only one who can't believe this argument regarding Noble is still raging on? The same old points are repeated over and over again!

Get off the fence

Thats just far to sensible a post .

Which all boils down to Higham's inability to distribute the ball in any way effectively.

Which therefore puts an end to the Higham lovers argument.

While I don't jump on the bandwagon and call for Noble and all the players to be sacked every time we put in a bad performance on the flip side I don't think we should over-react to a good performance. I think Saturday is as good as it gets. Everything stuck and we were helped out by Bradford's poor discipline giving us decent field position.



Also when we put in a bad performance I lay the majority of the blame with the players therefore when we win I think the majority of the credit needs to go to the players. I thought Sam Tomkins was bossing the game brilliantly and didn't look out of place whatsoever. There's always that worry of burnout but while he's firing he has to be in the starting 13. Gaz Hock was brilliant just as he can be brilliantly bad in defeats with his offloads that don't always come off. All 17 were on top of their games.



Coming back to the general discussion re Noble, at the risk of repeating myself, I don't think there is a better coach out there (that is available). I do disagree with his selections at times but unless you are the coach yourself it is highly unlikely you will agree with everything the coach decides upon.



This myth of 5 drives and a kick that has been peddled so many times by some that the bandwagoners start believing it rather than actually watching the game and forming their own opinions, is exactly that, a myth.



This season, even in the poorer performances we have shown some promising signs in attack. The main problem in the poor performances was the defence out wide which has been somewhat rectified by Bailey being put to centre and Smith taken out the side.



I believe there are still question marks over Noble and whether he can take us to the next level but what worries me is if he can't (with his record) who can? I think Leeds are still the benchmark and I think we are emulating the way they have gone about becoming the benchmark by investing in the youth set-up in the hope that some gooduns come through which in Tomkins and Ainscough it certainly looks like they are.



Can I just ask if (and probably when) we lose to Leeds on Friday can this thread not be rectified. Some of the fans opinions are more Jekyll and Hyde than the players performances

Good shout Woody



The major failing this year rests on Lenagans shoulders in not signing an experienced prop

Up until last Saturday we seemed incapable of doing it in the Riddell era too. Please explain how our poor performances up to the Bulls game were the fault of a player now employed at a different club.

Distribution was poor. I'm not against Higham, I think he's a decent player but IMO something seems to have changed in the side since Riddell found his feet in SL. Maybe it was Noble's tactics change, where if so, have nothing to do with Higham, I don't know. But whatever it is, the team are scoring tries for fun with the constant support play and the run's off the half-backs and hooker.

I don't want to rain on your parade but we have "scored tries for fun" once only so far this season. Now I enjoyed it as much as the next man but we did have the odd, occasional great performance in seasons gone by, so I for one won't be getting too excited yet, though the indicators are very promising.

The tide can quickly change in RL and especially for Wigan. Right now we are on a high from the performance against 'Bratford' but things could change if we have a poor performance against Leeds.



Then we'll be looking at 2 wins in 6. Terrible start. However a win against Leeds at Leeds would be something special!