I think all players from all team will have moments of opportunistically trying to 'buy' a penalty.However, don’t think that we are averse to the dark arts. I noticed Walmsley last night jump onto the floor to fake interference as he was getting up to play the ball....... and not just once either!
The issue with the piescum is that they have stretching the rules as an intrinsic part of their gameplay.
I noticed a few dishing it out and rightly so, one thing Woolf has done is toughen us up. I'd have loved to see Lomax flatten that player that took him out late. Thompson and Bentley had a few niggles too. I don't see why we should be a nice team just because we're better than most, it's almost like adding another string to our bow.
The thing is now, we pile in and the ref will have his red card out before a punch has been thrown. It's a stupid rule really because sometime a bit of fistycuffs used to take the tension out of the game. Now it just keeps boiling. I didn't actually think that particular challenge was any worse than countless others but clearly Lomax did. Maybe that's what it needs, a half to proper lose his shit and start swinging at the offending player. Most likely though he'd cop a sizeable ban while the other party receives a slap on the wrist.
You have to be careful not to stray into stupid penalty territory, like we have done in the past. Players like Scott Moore liked to niggle, and cost us in big games. Jason Hooper was probably our most niggly player in recent years and often cost us yardage. Clever niggles are good, rile the opposition, cost them penalties and concentration. But you need a clever player to be able to do that successfully. Think Shane Cooper rather than Sonny Nickles!
Signed for Wests Tigers for 2022
https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/04/18/...ade-long-mire/
Was hoping he left the scum in the lurch this season, but they'll have a long while to sort out a replacement.
Hopefully this year he wraps himself in cotton wool to keep from getting an injury that could wreck his NRL return. I wouldn't be surprised if he missed a lot of games this season.
Hopefully.
The odd part about it is this from the article:
"The Tigers are eyeing the 24-year-old, who represented Great Britain in four Tests in 2019, as a ball-playing utility/small forward, similar to Connor Watson’s role at Newcastle."
Sounds a little odd. Probably politics as they have a Scrum Half on contract for 2022 already.
Hopefully he’ll do a Barba
Watson was a utility and running half at The Roosters before moving to West Tigers. Mainly plays at 13 now. Hastings runs the ball as much as any other half and isn't afraid of being tackled, so I think he could do similar. He will also put pressure on their current halves too.
Looks like Wigan will be hoping Harry Smith can be his natural successor- https://www.skysports.com/rugby-leag...-year-contract
Regards,
STEVO
The question for me is purely and simply where his head will be at, and will he fancy it?
He’s not a Wigan fan, he went there because there was no NRL gig, no other reason, so is he going to put it all on the line? He’s already won MOS and a LLS plus competed in two GF so it’s not been completely fruitless being here.
Can't stop the spirits when they need you.
This life is more than just a read through.
I see both sides of this.
He signed for 6 months at Salford
He signed for a year extension at Salford
He signed for a year at Wigan
He signed for a year extension at Wigan
None of these strike me as a fully committed player, just someone taking the shilling whilst he waits for the next opportunity (West’s Tigers as it seems, with a 2 year contract with an option for a 3rd)
At the same time, just playing the game at this level is a huge ask and putting your body on the line at this level is a hard game.
But as you say, two losses might drive him on?
Can't stop the spirits when they need you.
This life is more than just a read through.
Im not sure he’s big enough to play that role and even if he is, who would want to play that role?? Connor Watson, Victor Radley, Cameron Murray. They are all mobile skilful loose forwards on the small side likely to be physically busted and punch drunk by the age of 30 IMO
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...6c67d9e498d7da
Maybe this is his replacement
His partner who is also from Wigan is pregnant so may want to come home for family reasons, just like Bateman did.
Williams will be in BIG demand over here. Wire, Leeds, Saints and Wigan will all be looking for at least one halfback next year. His relationship with Lenagan and Radlinski was good so that should give Wigan a bit of a start. We will almost certainly lose Gildart to Aus as he is desperate to try his hand over there, Hastings, Leuluai, Clarke, Clubb will probably all be gone so money shouldn't be an issue. I also expect Bevan French to return to Aus as a couple of his family have serious illness problems, to be honest I was surprised he came back at all.