Noble would say that wouldnt he. Unless Wigan make a final soon or can finish higher than just top 6 then I can see Leneghan pushing the panic button and sacking Noble.

How much higher than the top 6 can you finish?

When all is said and done if we give 110% we could finish better than top spot- maffs is for idiots who cant do English

Just heard Smith of Leeds was found guilty of putting the boot in literally on Friday but was only given a £300 fine and no ban!! Glad to see RL HQ taking foul play so seriously. Perhaps if our man had lost an eye then they may have given a one match ban but then again maybe not. Once again they are a beacon of consistency!!

Think its been a good season, 4th in the league 3rd in the competition, inproving year on year. We have let go big money players not living up to their wages and still have the spine of a good side. The two reseve sides making grand finals aswell shows the quality of the clubs youth structure. Some good summer recruietment with the spare money and we should improve again next year. But Ste is right, i think the club needs a final sooner rather than later to turn an improving team to a challenger

I agree with AndyBeattie, we don't want to end up like Ste's beloved Warrington who start each year with promises of better things to come, that this year will be the year they're challenging for honours, but in the end don't get remotely close to winning anything.

We haven't improved at all; we've gone backwards. Had it not been for the 4 point deduction, we'd have finished 4th last year, as well as this. We got fewer points, and a massively worse point difference than in 2007.
I'm not holding out much hope for top quality signings, either; we've only one quota spot available, and most of the SL talent is already contracted.

The success of the reserve and Academy sides would be a plus point for the future, if we didn't keep letting them go. In any case, Noble won't give youngsters a chance, except when he's forced to because of injuries. Joel Tomkins, nominated for "Young Player of the Year", wouldn't have got a game if not for Lockers' injury.

Wigan need to give some of the blokes out of the reserve team a good chance next year. The winger Ainscough had an excellent tour with england against the aussie school boys and he impressed in early season warm up games this season. He would slip perfectly into Calderwoods vacated place. Sam Tomkins has shown that he is good enough to step up and take Barrates place. Flanagan did well for Halifax at the back end of last year and should be given a chance too. And Josh Vievers, Lee Mossop, and Liam Farrell should all get a sqaud number next year.
However we can't just rely on kids coming through and the core of players we have left we need some experienced quality as well and Noble seems to agree. But as has already been pointed out we only have one quota place left. British players that could have filled positions where we are short like Sheriffe and Carvell have already been snapped up. That is one thing Noble doesn't seem to do he doesn't look for good players in the lower super league teams or the lower divisions (Coley and Fielden being the exceptions).

Am I missing something Brian?
We won 13 out of 27 matches which is less than we won in 2007,06 and 05?

We were 5 points off 3rd and 14 points from 1st!

In which sector of work,industry,entertainment or society would that be classed as progress.

Can someone enlighten me?

I personally feel that the top two are still well ahead of the chasing pack. I know you pushed Leeds close in the play off game but I mean consistently over the season, played in all weather conditions and utilising a squad.

Re point no 4, it was clear that Smith was never going to be banned. The RFL never allow a player to miss any final. I think someone would have to shoot another player to get a ban.

Compare that to the NRL where the Melbourne Storm captain- Cameron Smith has been banned for the semi final and final. He is one of Australia's most decorated players and yet he was banned for something quite innocuous compared to Smith.

Its because the NRL are strict and actually give meaningful bans.

Saints and Wigan contested both the Academy and Reserve GF. Won one each. Wigan were also one game off the GF so it bodes well for the future derbies between the two!!!