Rugby League - Super League 2011

Maybe. Depends what injuries they have, you'd probably back Wigan slightly more, seem to have more depth and quality in their young forwards

I think the game will be brutal on Saturday, what's the forecast, although a wet game with mistakes can be entertaining as it's usually a lot closer, I hope it's not raining
 
EdWeatherall said:
Maybe. Depends what injuries they have, you'd probably back Wigan slightly more, seem to have more depth and quality in their young forwards
I think the game will be brutal on Saturday, what's the forecast, although a wet game with mistakes can be entertaining as it's usually a lot closer, I hope it's not raining
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I've got to disagree with that. If Wigan can rotate 4 props the quality of Morley, Carvell(best prop at Wire this season IMO), Wood, and Harrison/Cooper then I'd be amazed. They probably have more depth in the back row than us but then again a cast of Westwood, Anderson, Solomona, Grix(been in superb form this season), Harrison/Mitchell isn't too shabby. Overall, I wouldn't swap our squad as a whole for theirs, although I'd expect many Wiganers to say the same vice-versa.

Can I just ask, who do you support or lean towards in RL? I've never seen you come clean on that but if I was to guess, I'd say you have a slight bias towards Wigan, am I right?
 
WireRed said:
Can I just ask, who do you support or lean towards in RL? I've never seen you come clean on that but if I was to guess, I'd say you have a slight bias towards Wigan, am I right?
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Along with Leeds, they are the only side I have been to watch live

I honestly just like the game, and love watching the top sides play against each other, and yeh, if there was one, it probably was towards Wigan, but really I just like watching the game and watching the side who play best win

Much more entertaining to watch than Union


I won't mind who wins this weekend along as it's a good game

There are plenty of sports I don't follow a team and enjoy just watching the sport for what it is, NFL is another example

WireRed said:
I've got to disagree with that. If Wigan can rotate 4 props the quality of Morley, Carvell(best prop at Wire this season IMO), Wood, and Harrison/Cooper then I'd be amazed. They probably have more depth in the back row than us but then again a cast of Westwood, Anderson, Solomona, Grix(been in superb form this season), Harrison/Mitchell isn't too shabby. Overall, I wouldn't swap our squad as a whole for theirs, although I'd expect many Wiganers to say the same vice-versa.
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Yeh, you are right, they probably would

Wigan's props aren't too shabby, especially without Fielden for so long, will be stronger when he is back, a four of Fielden, Coley, Lima and Prescott is fairly comparable

They are two very evenly matched sides, could come down to individual errors/moments of brilliance/officials or who has which players missing at what time.

No Morley will be a blow, but who knows, should be a good game
 
EdWeatherall said:
Along with Leeds, they are the only side I have been to watch live

I honestly just like the game, and love watching the top sides play against each other, and yeh, if there was one, it probably was towards Wigan, but really I just like watching the game and watching the side who play best win

Much more entertaining to watch than Union


I won't mind who wins this weekend along as it's a good game

There are plenty of sports I don't follow a team and enjoy just watching the sport for what it is, NFL is another example



Yeh, you are right, they probably would

Wigan's props aren't too shabby, especially without Fielden for so long, will be stronger when he is back, a four of Fielden, Coley, Lima and Prescott is fairly comparable

They are two very evenly matched sides, could come down to individual errors/moments of brilliance/officials or who has which players missing at what time.

No Morley will be a blow, but who knows, should be a good game
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Wigan's props aren't too shabby but they are no great shakes either IMO. Fielden had a good season last year but that is being measured against the last 4 years of dire-mediocre rugby from him, Fielden now isn't even a shadow of Fielden at Bradford until 2005. Coley is a workhorse but wouldn't get near the current Wire pack IMO let alone a test jumper, Lima hasn't lived up to the pre-season billing and hyperbole, and Prescott is a very average player IMO who when all are fit at Wigan, will be at risk of missing out on their 17. The fact they've snapped up a Leeds reject to add some muscle up front says a lot about their strength as a front row IMO. Wigan get more go-forward out of their back rowers IMO.

Agree with your views on the up coming game, If you told me Morley would miss this game at the start of the season I'd have been very concerned but he's been a bit patchy and on-off injured this season, I think we've proved we've got what it takes to win games without him over recent months, still a blow nonetheless but not the game breaker you'd have said in the past.

If we perform anywhere near our best, I honestly believe we are the better team and will win. If the conditions are wet though or we are not quite at it, I think Wigan have got the style of play to frustrate us and the quality in their own right to beat us. Should be very interesting...
 
WireRed said:
If we perform anywhere near our best, I honestly believe we are the better team and will win. If the conditions are wet though or we are not quite at it, I think Wigan have got the style of play to frustrate us and the quality in their own right to beat us. Should be very interesting...
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Well, we've no excuses regarding the weather as it's dry and fine.

Can't wait now. Should be a brilliant game, and I'm going for Wire by 8 points.
 
It's quite odd really, we got beat and Wigan are in the semis but I think we can take more from that game going forward than them. To lose Briers so late in the day to injury on top of Morley and Harrison and still produce that sort of performance(post first 20)and push Wigan to such lengths is great credit to Tony and the boys. If they have to dig so deep to beat a depleted Wire, then I can't wait to see them tackle a full strength, rested up Warrington as they will in the league game and most probably in the play-offs too. Take their most creative player(S.Tomkins), their loose forward(O'Loughlin), and their best prop(Coley? Lima?)out of the side which is their equivalents to our absentees and I don't think they are getting as close to us as we got to them today. Result was also heavily influenced by the injury to Solomona and the stoppage it brought, we lost a guy who was wrecking havoc and Wigan got a minute or so to regroup.

Well done to both teams on a great spectacle, if that game doesn't entice a greater following and coverage of the game, I honestly haven't a clue what will. Outstanding stuff.
 
Can't believe Richards got BBC MOM, George Carmont was by a ridiculous distance IMO. Big mention also to Solomona and Mike Cooper who I thought had superb games for Wire.
 
John Kear is a bit of a fool though
King had a huge game as well

Think he just went for Richards has he did a little bit of everything and was on the winning side
 
EdWeatherall said:
John Kear is a bit of a fool though
King had a huge game as well

Think he just went for Richards has he did a little bit of everything and was on the winning side
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He actually didn't though, that's the thing. He scored a couple of walk-ins(as a result of Carmont's fleet of hand and foot), did his usual with the boot and apart from that dropped a right boo-boo with the high ball. Leuluei, Carmont, King, Solomona, Cooper, Myler, Monaghan, Hoffman, and Deacon all outperformed him comfortably.

Most dissapointing player on the pitch was Hodgson IMO, way below his usual standards.
 
He scored tries and kicked his goals
Made a save on Monaghan
Did his kick-offs which seemed to cause a lot of problems

I don't disagree, there were others more deserving
 
WireRed said:
Most dissapointing player on the pitch was Hodgson IMO, way below his usual standards.
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Yeah without a doubt. He did actually create a couple of tries with outstanding pieces of play but overall he was disappointing, and his kicking was also below par.

What a great game though! Warrington were clearly disadvantaged by the loss of several players today, especially Briers in my opinion, and Solomona getting injured at a time Wire were getting on top was a blow as well.

Fair play to Wigan though, they were excellent on the day and deserved the win.
 
So

Crusaders drop out. Didn't see that coming
Methinks it was quite a let off for Wakefield
What now for Keith Senior

Warrington sign Ratchford from Salford
And anyone else not surprised by the Wigan-Saints draw, winner of that will beat Leeds in the final
 
EdWeatherall said:
So

Crusaders drop out. Didn't see that coming
Methinks it was quite a let off for Wakefield
What now for Keith Senior

Warrington sign Ratchford from Salford
And anyone else not surprised by the Wigan-Saints draw, winner of that will beat Leeds in the final
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Hadn't heard about the Ratchford signing but it's a very good one for Warrington. They've also signed Daniel Bridge, Chris's brother, from Wigan. No doubt this will trigger more debates about how Warrington are managing to stay below the salary cap.

And no, I wasn't surprised by the draw! I agree with you about the winner most likely coming from the Wigan - Saints game.
 
Northstand said:
Hadn't heard about the Ratchford signing but it's a very good one for Warrington. They've also signed Daniel Bridge, Chris's brother, from Wigan. No doubt this will trigger more debates about how Warrington are managing to stay below the salary cap.

And no, I wasn't surprised by the draw! I agree with you about the winner most likely coming from the Wigan - Saints game.
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Indeed, from fans of club's who, irony of all ironies, have broken the cap numerous times unlike the club they are accusing without any evidence whatsoever.

Not sure what to make of the capture of Ratchford, we are well stocked in the three quarters both now and with future talents coming through, the halves are sorted for 2012 in Briers and Myler, so I'm not sure where he fits in tbh. You could argue that he might be groomed as Briers successor but I just don't see that in him. He's not even shown enough potential to become a permenant halfback at Salford let alone a trophy hunting club like Wire. Anyway, in Smith we trust...
 
Great win for Warrington tonight by the sound of it..25-12 at Catalans. That puts the Wire on 999 points for the season.
 
Great cup final. Leeds were so unlucky though; Wigan got the better of the major decisions and the bounce of the ball today.
 
Northstand said:
Great cup final. Leeds were so unlucky though; Wigan got the better of the major decisions and the bounce of the ball today.
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Not half! Not being funny or owt but the last two decisions of the game, Charnley/Burrow last touch and the try being awarded were an absolute joke and a disgrace to the game and it's standard of officiating.

You know your name is on the cup when you get the decisions and strokes of luck Wigan have had all through the competition this year. The entire spine of Wire missing for the QF, the dodgy decisions in the Saints semi, and now that sham of a refereeing judgement in a final they were second best in after 25 minutes.
 
WireRed said:
Not half! Not being funny or owt but the last two decisions of the game, Charnley/Burrow last touch and the try being awarded were an absolute joke and a disgrace to the game and it's standard of officiating.

You know your name is on the cup when you get the decisions and strokes of luck Wigan have had all through the competition this year. The entire spine of Wire missing for the QF, the dodgy decisions in the Saints semi, and now that sham of a refereeing judgement in a final they were second best in after 25 minutes.
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I think the try was fair, it's not clear he lost control to me, got to give benefit of the doubt to the attacker

But the decision to not refer the touch decision for the restart was a joke
 
EdWeatherall said:
I think the try was fair, it's not clear he lost control to me, got to give benefit of the doubt to the attacker

But the decision to not refer the touch decision for the restart was a joke
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I think it's quite clear he lost it, I fail to see how it can be seen otherwise. Ball left his grasp and hit the floor, he then got downward pressure on after contact with the ground.

The decision your referring to that gave Wigan the ball for that set in the first place was indeed a joke, not as big a joke as the mile forward pass the officials missed for Lima's try which was again a huge score to take Wigan 8 clear.

This Wigan side is class, a monstrous defence with a clinical attack and some special rugby league players(Sam Tomkins, Leuluai, Hoffman), it doesn't need leg ups from refs, video refs, and touch judges like it had today and as it's had previously against this Leeds side this season.

As for the aforementioned Mr Tomkins, he needs to grow up and fast before his attitude overshadows his talent. Disgraceful, shameless actions towards supporters who payed good money to travel down and support their side and the occasion. It's not the first time that his petulant, snide side has come racing to the surface.
 
WireRed said:
I think it's quite clear he lost it, I fail to see how it can be seen otherwise. Ball left his grasp and hit the floor, he then got downward pressure on after contact with the ground.

The decision your referring to that gave Wigan the ball for that set in the first place was indeed a joke, not as big a joke as the mile forward pass the officials missed for Lima's try which was again a huge score to take Wigan 8 clear.

This Wigan side is class, a monstrous defence with a clinical attack and some special rugby league players(Sam Tomkins, Leuluai, Hoffman), it doesn't need leg ups from refs, video refs, and touch judges like it had today and as it's had previously against this Leeds side this season.

As for the aforementioned Mr Tomkins, he needs to grow up and fast before his attitude overshadows his talent. Disgraceful, shameless actions towards supporters who payed good money to travel down and support their side and the occasion. It's not the first time that his petulant, snide side has come racing to the surface.
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What happened with tomkins? I never saw anything.
 
WireRed said:
I think it's quite clear he lost it, I fail to see how it can be seen otherwise. Ball left his grasp and hit the floor, he then got downward pressure on after contact with the ground.
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I don't think it's certain that he doesn't lose it with contact with the ground, it's impossible to tell, which is why benefit of the doubt had to be given for that one, I don't think Leeds can feel too aggrieved about that one...but yeh, the forward pass and failure to go upstairs on that touch decision were terrible, the touch one more so than the other.

As for the aforementioned Mr Tomkins, he needs to grow up and fast before his attitude overshadows his talent. Disgraceful, shameless actions towards supporters who payed good money to travel down and support their side and the occasion. It's not the first time that his petulant, snide side has come racing to the surface.
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Yeh, inexcusable what he did really, but things like this will happen when he takes dog's abuse all the time from opposition fans, that's going to take it's toll, he just needs to realise it's because they are worried about how he will hurt their team

I think he'll go to NRL myself fairly soon, he's too good really to not try it
 
EdWeatherall said:
I don't think it's certain that he doesn't lose it with contact with the ground, it's impossible to tell, which is why benefit of the doubt had to be given for that one, I don't think Leeds can feel too aggrieved about that one...but yeh, the forward pass and failure to go upstairs on that touch decision were terrible, the touch one more so than the other.



Yeh, inexcusable what he did really, but things like this will happen when he takes dog's abuse all the time from opposition fans, that's going to take it's toll, he just needs to realise it's because they are worried about how he will hurt their team

I think he'll go to NRL myself fairly soon, he's too good really to not try it
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That's not much of an excuse really, just as the same excuse for Rooney's tirade into the camera last season wasn't. Professional sportsmen get reactions off crowds all the time and should not react to it in a negative way, they earn double/treble/or in footballers case, millions more than the people they are showing disrespect to and who pay their wages, the least they can expect is for the paying public to express their opinions during a highly charged game.

Tomkins doesn't get subjected to the nonsense he gets from the terraces because of how good he is, he gets the bird simply because he acts like a complete twat at times, something that probably runs in the family judging by what a wankstain his brother behaves like aswell. The best players in the game past and present, the likes of Cunningham, Long, Edwards, Sculthorpe, Radlinski, Farrell, Gregory, Sinfield, Roby etc get nothing but respect and admiration from opposition and their own fans alike, it's the gobshites like Tomkins brothers, Graham, and the young Lee Briers that get abuse because they have unpleasant aspects to their game/character that taint/have tainted their RL ability.
 
I suppose that's a fair point on that he's done stuff to earn it, it made me laugh when I read him saying about diving in football, when he's definitely someone who, I wouldn't say dives, but certainly makes the meal of things

EDIT
I think your lot will beat Wigan on Friday, think those extra games will take their toll
 
EdWeatherall said:
I suppose that's a fair point on that he's done stuff to earn it, it made me laugh when I read him saying about diving in football, when he's definitely someone who, I wouldn't say dives, but certainly makes the meal of things

EDIT
I think your lot will beat Wigan on Friday, think those extra games will take their toll
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Yeah, that arm trap technique he uses to buy penalties is another distasteful part of his make-up which winds up opposition players and fans alike. He needs to clean his act up for the sake of his own reputation more than anything, if he wants to clean up on the trophies but be looked upon as a disgrace when he's hung up the boots, that's his call. But if he wants to be remembered fondly as the great player he is and someone who left a great legacy to RL, he needs to take a long look in the mirror and change a few cnutish facets of his game and general demeanour.

As for the game next week(think it's been moved to Sunday), I'd be dissapointed if we get beat after two of the last four weeks off and the typical post CC hangover teams experience after the final that Wigan will go through(which we've suffered from in the last two years). If ever there was an opportunity for us to kick on and pick up the trophy at OT, this is it. We are good enough, we are fresh enough, and although Morley and Westwood look to be gone for the season, we have enough quality and strength in depth. If we fall short this season, I'd worry that the ship may have sailed with King and Anderson going, Morley rumoured to be retiring, and a fair few key players edging towards 30+.
 
WireRed said:
As for the game next week(think it's been moved to Sunday), I'd be dissapointed if we get beat after two of the last four weeks off and the typical post CC hangover teams experience after the final that Wigan will go through(which we've suffered from in the last two years). If ever there was an opportunity for us to kick on and pick up the trophy at OT, this is it. We are good enough, we are fresh enough, and although Morley and Westwood look to be gone for the season, we have enough quality and strength in depth. If we fall short this season, I'd worry that the ship may have sailed with King and Anderson going, Morley rumoured to be retiring, and a fair few key players edging towards 30+.
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How big wages are those guys on?
Is there cap room to replace them

But yeh, this may be your best shot
This game is somewhat irrelevant, I'm sure Maguire will want the league leader's shield, but otherwise could be some value in throwing the game with some younger players to allow them a bit of a rest....
 
EdWeatherall said:
How big wages are those guys on?
Is there cap room to replace them

But yeh, this may be your best shot
This game is somewhat irrelevant, I'm sure Maguire will want the league leader's shield, but otherwise could be some value in throwing the game with some younger players to allow them a bit of a rest....
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We are talking top earner material. Waterhouse will replace Anderson's wage on the cap I'd imagine. The majority of King's salary is now spare with Hill and Ratchford being on comparitive peanuts, Morley is our second biggest earner after King, so if he retired due to his continuing struggles, we'd have a large portion of cap space to play with although we'd only need to bring in a prop of substance to replace Moz due to the potential of Evans, Ratchford, and Blythe to more than cover King's departure. We could also do with a hooker capable of supporting the brilliance of Monaghan when he is spelled, Higham is complete pap which places a heck of a workload on Monas. I'd hope that any cap space was dedicated to that first and foremost to be honest.
 
Fair enough. I'm sure you'll still challenge though beyond next season, but can definitely see why you think this is your best shot

I was quite surprised to read in the week that Coley was planning to hang his boots up at the end of the season...
 
Impressive performance from Warrington
Much better than Wigan today, and I don't think a great deal of that was down to the extra week off, they were just better
 
EdWeatherall said:
Impressive performance from Warrington
Much better than Wigan today, and I don't think a great deal of that was down to the extra week off, they were just better
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Just caught up with it on Sky+

Yes, good performance from Warrington, especially Michael Monaghan.To be honest the Cup Final was bound to take something out of the Wigan players.

Wonder what the disciplinary panel will make of the eye-gouge from Hock on Clarke. Minimum two match ban surely?
 
Northstand said:
Wonder what the disciplinary panel will make of the eye-gouge from Hock on Clarke. Minimum two match ban surely?
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Has to be
I don't know how much intent there was, but with the punch as well, I'd say he'd be lucky to play again this season...which would probably be a shame for Wigan, as he was their best forward...coincidence that he was rested?

He did for Wigan what Carvell did for Warrington, ran hard, spun in the tackle and off-loaded
 
So Warrington will pick up the League Leader's shield tonight

And then will surely choose not to play Saints
 
EdWeatherall said:
So Warrington will pick up the League Leader's shield tonight

And then will surely choose not to play Saints
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It'll be Huddersfield first, next week at the Halliwell Jones. If they win that one, Warrington would then get a week off, and would choose from the final three for the final eliminator.

Excellent performance tonight (how good was Atkins?) but there are some worries. Carvell was placed on report for his tackle and is likely to get a one match ban, Solomona has concussion and must be a doubt for next week along with Morley, Wood and Westwood.

The other concern is that Huddersfield and Saints already know their final positions, so have no incentive to "bust a gut" in their matches. I think this one will have taken a fair bit out of the Wire players, especially backing up the Wigan game last week. Hopefully the adrenalin and home advantage will be sufficient to see us through.
 
Warrington's to lose
I thought that before Wigan lost, great display against Huddersfield was enough to convince me they should be heavy favourites
 
EdWeatherall said:
Warrington's to lose
I thought that before Wigan lost, great display against Huddersfield was enough to convince me they should be heavy favourites
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Shut up will you, you'll jinx us :nervous:

I'm not comfortable at all with us having the clubcall, if ever there is a club that could handpick their opposition and then get beat at home by them, it's the Wire...

In all seriousness though, we should reach the GF, it'd be a travesty if we don't considering we've statistically the best defence, best attack, best points difference, finished top, the brand of rugby we play etc.

I think this weekend has shown up the folly of the current play-off format, 8 teams serves only to reward mediocrity, what is the point of having passengers that simply have no chance of reaching OT? Hull FC and Hull KR should not be part of it, it should be cut to 6 teams or even less. And then there is the nonsense of playing non-KO games with the possibility of playing the same team two weeks later(only Leeds can prevent a Wire-Hudds, Saints-Wigan rematch in the real games that matter IMO).
 
WireRed said:
I'm not comfortable at all with us having the clubcall, if ever there is a club that could handpick their opposition and then get beat at home by them, it's the Wire...

In all seriousness though, we should reach the GF, it'd be a travesty if we don't considering we've statistically the best defence, best attack, best points difference, finished top, the brand of rugby we play etc.
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Nobody could argue with those facts you've stated about Warrington this season - it's been a dominant season overall , with league "doubles" over Wigan, Saints and Leeds. Strangely, Paul Cullen made out that Warrington were a bit fortunate to finish top of the pile, as they only leap-frogged Wigan right at the end.

Great news that Westwood is back for tonight, so it'll be a very strong line-up. Come on the Wire!!
 
I do think Wigan and Warrington are quite evenly matched sides, as we saw in the two recent games, either side is capable of blowing the other one away in any given game

I expect Warrington to win the whole thing though
 
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