To add to the point NK is making, we've seen clubs including Wigan go all out in the past to win the LLS, but it has come at the expense of winning the grand final. KR are no doubt playing well at the minute and blowing sides away. Wigan up to Friday have been doing enough to win games (Just about), and that isnt disrespecting the opposition / opposition fans or a clubs own fans. Its about managing the squad and peaking fitness wise when it matters. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to the league, and believe 1st past the post should be champions i.e. if KR finish top this year, IMO they should be champions, but that's not the game we are in at the minute, and if KR dont win the GF, then no-one apart from KR fans will remember they finished top of the pile

Onto Wakey, and it looks like after a few years in the doldrums that you are getting it right off the field, and also starting to build on it. I have been very critical of Wakey in the past with all of the broken promises re new ground etc etc, but also give credit when you can clearly see that you are making strides on and off. I suppose the model to look at is KR who have developed the ground, built a squad, and over the last 2-3 seasons have been reaping the rewards (albeit it took til the CC this year for the silverware)

The point on French is well made - one of the straws that broke the camel's back in the NRL was a game where he had a total of one carry throughout the entire 80 minutes. He's clearly not the best trainer and there are clearly games which he coasts through. I guess opinions will vary on that. Some would say as a professional sportsman its your job to be giving 100% every game, others might say that as long as he performs in the bigger games then does it matter too much. Maybe there are others in the team who fall into this category - those who struggle with the week to week because they believe they will finish in the top 2 regardless or perhaps there's a lack of motivation given what was achieved last year and all of the big games that came with that. 

Regardless, its no mystery as to why French's best games this year have been Vegas and Hull KR away. He needs something to inspire him and I can sympathise that in SL you don't always get that every week.

Yup, says more about the league imo than it does of French. I'm a paying customer and it can be hugely frustrating - I get it tho. 

MOM in the WCC, CC Final, Grand Final and Vegas. 


I just wish the rest of the league understood it. Consecutive games in Dewsbury, Wakey and Cas aren't good for anyone (unless you hate Wigan). 

Fully agree, there is nothing wrong with it at all when you're that talented (guys going through the motions who aren't good enough to do that is a problem). He still is coming up with moments in run of the mills league fixtures and it's not like he's been poor by any stretch and he has proven beyond any doubt that when the big games come, he'll be as competitive as anyone and there's a fair chance he'll be the best player on the pitch. He got a bit of stick after Friday but we also can't forget rust would play a part and the lad hadn't played a game in a few weeks. 

You're point about managing different characters in different ways is spot on and something a genius like Sir Alex Ferguson is lauded for. The lads in the media from his best sides laugh about how Cantona was allowed to do as he pleased but then others would be hammered for the same thing. Some lads will need a boot, some will need an arm around them, some will need pushing along through the season and some will just need to be left to work things out for themselves and shown trust that they'll produce when it really matters. I think we have quite a few who fall in to that last bracket. I have a debate with a mate of mine who thinks Harry Smith is rubbish. Harry Smith is exceptional 'when it matters' but he can switch off and have rubbish games. Again, that is absolutely fine because when we need him the most, he is probably our most important player and he's been the same for England. 

Jesus fella, give it a rest!Wigan are a product of the same social background and play in the same competitions as the rest of the clubs and were in the 2nd division themselves when I was a kid. 
Central Park was a great stadium but was antiquated and limited just like Cas and Wakefield. You got lucky with the four owners who took Wigan to new heights, just like Wakefield have got lucky now with Matt Ellis but it takes time just as it did for Wigan. You also got lucky when needing a new stadium in partnership with Tesco and the football club so your sense of superiority and belittling of other clubs just makes you a hypocrite.


Regards your derogatory comments about Wakefield, I’m not getting into comparing appendage size, suffice to say you need to remember you’re from Wigan not New York

I suppose the risk is that we don't manage to turn it back on again, as in the Challenge Cup.