Exiled Wiganer
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Posts posted by Exiled Wiganer
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I thought the Bulls' turn over had dropped significantly, hence their being unable to spend up to the cap? I think SL without the Bulls would be awful and an injustice, but if they get 1 point for abiding by the rules (which everyone will get), and 1 for junior development, which I had not particularly seen the evidence for, but am happy to concede, then I still can't see where the rest of their points would come from if everyone got new grounds. Of course that is v unlikely, but I could see 2014 being a nervous year.
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If Cas, Wakey and Salford score new stadia points, and Cru and Quins/London/sarf stay in as expansion clubs, isn't Bradford the bottom club - old ground, crowds less than 10k, youth development no better than anyone else, turnover low, not finishing above 8th on average. Would they score any points?
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They have the additional motivation of 2nd place to aim for now as well I suppose. I would be surprised if they won comfortably, but they still have plenty of been there done that players.
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Incidentally, having watched the game again (a couple of times, shame on me) I think Sam was playing 6 for a fair bit of the game last night, when Piggy was off the pitch. The comparison with Hodgson (last year's vintage) is a fair one.
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Perhaps this might be no bad thing for the Wire. For so long as finishing top was a real prospect, they could have been playing to win every week. Now that seems a remote prospect they could target next week, to leave themselves second, the Cup semi and final without bothering too much about the other 3 games. Indeed, if Saints finish 3rd and Leeds 4th finishing top would leave that team with probably (depending on Saints' injuries) a harder first game in the play offs. Better to lose tonight and adjust accordingly than lose the following 2 games and be out of the Cup and nervous about finishing 3rd.
I simply cannot see Wire losing either of the next 2 games now, and when people are booking their Wembley tickets a defeat far from home will barely raise a frown.
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I think that is a superb idea and one that we should embrace with enthusiasm. I like the idea of a heritage round and I am sure the kits would fly off the shelves. We sort of have a local derby round over Easter, but another one at another time would be good. Women in league also sounds good to me. There should also be community rounds, where all the clubs have a game that celebrates the schools and clubs that play the game. We can leave moneybags Wood to come up with a few more...
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If you want to have a Briars love-in start a thread on him. Start 20 threads on him. Leave this one alone.
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God, this thread is heading south if Briars for Golden Boot is taking it over.
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Quoting something written 3 years ago (and god knows what the context was) is really creepy.
3 years later we are top of the league having made it to within 80 minutes of OT in the last 2 years. That represents fantastic progress from the DV era. If the point was to illustrate how perspicacious I was thanks for that. Given the psycho tendencies of the quoter it must presmably serve some other point.
Perhaps we could have every quote in the last 3 years about how Wigan were going to sell all their young players, so we can do a compare and contrast with the 15 home grown players on our books who have played SL this year?
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Sam's performance made me wonder whether 1 is his best position for England just now, as we have an abundance of good halves - Eastmond at 7 and McGuire/Pryce at 6 perhaps?
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I wouldn't like to read a post where you did attempt to undermine Wigan, bw. There are blow out scores even in the NRL. As regards FC's prospects, and to give bw and 3tools a lift by allowing them to reminisce about sadder times for Wigan, in the same year Wigan lost 75-0 to Saints and 70-0 to Leeds they also beat those teams. At full strength either team would hold their own in the NRL.
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I think that Wigan picked the right team tonight. With Deacon at 7, Sam at 1 and 4 props we look much better. FC will be a different team once O'Meley, Long and Fitzgibbon are back. They are huge losses.
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I long for the day there are no more average Aussies. Phelps or Charnley? Sam or Tim Smith? That level of recruit makes my blood literally boil. Watching Jamie Lyon from behind a pillow on the sofa is something that lifts the heart - we should have more of those (not that there are many).
I wish more teams had entertainer type players - Willie Manus, Fecas (though he is overall a liability, he certainly provides brief bursts of entertainment). Let's have more Fijians and razzle dazzle players to supplement our own increasing numbers of talented yoofs.
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KC*, Morley, Senior or Peacock for mine. Though luckily they have all been handed immunity from prosecution. I think it is a raging against the dying of the light thing.
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If the test is the extent to which a team's performance exceeds my expectations, as opposed to which team would win if everyone had all their players fit (Leeds), then it would be Wigan for mine, as I would have placed their first 17 around 5th in the competition. Our one chance of glory is the Minor Premiership, but even if we don't win that the level of performance MM has got from the same squad as lost as many as it won last year has been superb. Crusaders actually have a good squad with plenty of players with pedigree - as has been noted they have played a surprisingly open style though. I thought Cas would be right at the bottom, and their recent form, and scintillating attack has impressed me greatly.
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I think PS is making a reasonable point insofar as these are proven performers, and winners, in positions where Wigan are weak, replacing worse players and thus improving the top team in the league. Equally, any predictions at this stage as to others strengths are hostages to fortune. At this point, they look like excellent no risk signings. 2012 was always going to be a big year for us with Fielden and Feca's money largely off the wage bill.
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I think this is the sort of game that is ripe for an upset (or a crushing defeat for Salford). Leeds can't get much higher in the league and will be all set for the semi in a couple of weeks, whereas Salford are a dangerous side. How good were Broughton's tries last week? Where did they get that gem from?
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Could be good, might not be. Not a super coach, but has had some good jobs. I wonder whether he will be able to persuade Eastmond and Graham to stay?
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This is a superb idea.
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I still think that if the club are honest and open about where they are then they can try a different tack in terms of entertainers and young lads. People are far more forgiving when they can see young lads improving and a team throwing the ball around a bit. Of course best of all is to be top of the league but that isn't going to happen just yet.
I think razzle dazzle players are there if you look for them - the likes of Uate and Mead from Fiji and PNG are unlikely to command the same wages as Orford, in part because they have razzle dazzle instead of steadiness, but they would provide something to get the crowd on its feet every week...
It's not my club, but I think the game owes Bradford a massive debt for SL being as good as it is today.
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How has he fared in Test series/State of Origin series, aside from being a World Cup winner?
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If the Bulls had someone better lined up though that wouldn't be the end of the world would it?
One way for the Bulls to go is to promote themselves as a young exciting glamourous team. They could say - look, it will be a while before we are in 5 consecutive Grand Finals but we continue to produce some excellent local talent and will add to them entertainers and people with charisma. Orford isn't that - a young Benji type could be. I have watched plenty of rubbish london sides but they have had some entertaining players who have made the experience bearable. Orford is a crafty player and experienced, but he isn't going to win that many games if the rest of the squad stays at its current level.
Find some razzle dazzle NRLers, promote youth and manage expectations and a new day could dawn.
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Wigan's selection will be interesting, with Pryce and Feca in the 19. With Amos out I think we'll go back to having Pryce on the wing and Pat at full back, but Feca's position will be instructive. Had Wigan had Feca and Coley last week would they have made a difference in those conditions against that opposition? Feca has done little to justify his recall but size can matter. It is a key moment for the coaching team - pick on form/fitness or overall need/history?
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We have fatal flaws in one off games. Our collective endeavour, and balance of flair and efficiency makes us less prone than anyone else to have an off day, hence we are top, but we lack a dominant organising character (hence Finch) and nasty forwards (hence Lima and Hoffman and Hock), and all the other top 5 teams have those - Peacock and Sinfield, Briers and Morley, Long and Fitz/O'Meley and Eastmond and Pryce. I think if FC get their men fit they are a better bet.
Wakefield Wildcats v St. Helens
in The General Rugby League Forum
Posted
44 6 is taking a big bite out of the points difference deficit for 2nd, with 3 easy fixtures to follow next Saturday's game...