Wigan Warriors: The 18th Man - 'Get well soon, Jai, and come back healthy...'
Our panel of Warriors experts run the rule over last week’s win over Leigh Leopards, the injury blow to Jai Field and Saturday’s trip to Toulouse Olympique…
Glynn Bradshaw:
What a fantastic performance on Thursday night. I love the intensity we are playing with at the moment. We are smothering teams and giving them very little opportunity. I honestly can’t remember Leigh creating a scoring chance, to be honest. It was hard to pick a Man of the Match with so many outstanding performances, but my vote went to Harry Smith, who had one of the best games I have seen him play for the Warriors.
Leigh were impacted by injuries before and during the game, but you can only play what’s in front of you, and we never let up, doing wonders for our points difference.
Three wins from three, though I think the opening fixtures have been kind to us. It’s still a very encouraging start, and the next four games are all winnable, before the big test against the auld enemy.
It’s impossible to under-estimate how important Jai Field is to us. He is a special player, and even by his high standards, he has made a fantastic start to the season. He has more try assists than any player in Super League, and only Charlie Staines of Catalans Dragons has made more metres thus far.
Potential replacements for Field… Well, an impossible act to follow. Personally, I would slot Noah Hodkinson in at fullback to cause minimum disruption to the side, but I feel Matt Peet will move Bevan French to fullback and bring in Jack Farrimond. It will be interesting to see the squad.
A trip to Toulouse is a bit of a banana skin. Last time we were there, we only won through a Harry Smith one-pointer… We just need to be switched on and focused, and not become complacent. Fingers crossed for another victory before the visit of Bradford Bulls next weekend.
David Bailey:
The Warriors head to the sunnier climes of Toulouse with a spring in their step and a perfect record in Super League.
Of course, the Battle of the Borough didn't pass without another statement from Derek Beaumont. Virtually no promotion of the game from the Leythers, and then 40 minutes before kick-off, another statement complaining about last year’s play-off semi-final. I am not sure how I would feel as a Leigh fan, player or coach. On balance, he has put his money where his mouth is and presided over their most successful period for over half a century.
Anyway, my last point on that matter is that if anything was going to happen on the independent review, the RFL/RLC would have nipped it in the bud after the Ashes. The fact that we are approaching Round Four and nothing has been forthcoming means that Derek needs to let it go, and if he wants control of semi-final tickets, he needs to let his team do the talking and secure a top-two finish.
Derek mentioned the inhumane treatment of the Leigh supporters last season (not sure searching fans in the rain counts to be honest, Wigan didn’t make it rain). Sadly, for him, it was the Warriors players providing inhumane treatment for the Leopards. After another blitzing start, Wigan never looked back. The pack once again rolled forward, and Leigh, shorn of a few of their most influential players, just didn’t get a look in. Wigan once again were relentless, and Adam Keighran was impressive and nailed nine conversions. Jai Field and Bevan French caused havoc, but once again, the forwards really dominated.
This week, we travel to Toulouse, who surrendered their 100 per cent record at fellow promoted side Bradford Bulls. Wigan will be full of confidence, but this will be tempered by the loss of Field to appendicitis. Let’s hope Jai recovers well, and whilst no one wants to see players sidelined, it could have been a worse situation for the Warriors, as the next four fixtures are about as friendly as you can get. I am sure Field will be targeting an Easter return, but for now, Wigan have a job to do. With Hull KR losing yet again, Wigan must really try to accelerate away. I would imagine young Jack Farrimond will get the nod to step up with Bevan French to move to fullback. There are a couple of other options, but I feel this is the most appropriate. Let’s try to maintain that unbeaten record, lads!
Darren Wrudd:
The game against Leigh itself was as near to champagne rugby as I remember seeing, and it was largely about attitude in defence and taking chances. Leigh were not at full strength, granted, and they lost a couple of players during the game too, but when we perform like that, it is hard to imagine any other club keeping up.
Over the last couple of years, our pack have sometimes been bullied by other teams, and it has cost us important points and finals chances, but there seems to be a spirit of determination in this set of players who want to fight for one another and put in that extra effort on even the smallest of details. Add in the toughness that runs in their veins, and I cannot see us being bullied anymore.
The last play setups in both attack and defence have improved beyond recognition, and huge credit must go to Paul Deacon, as he and Tommy Leuluai have been working hard on that aspect. Harry Smith once more had the team and the ball on a string. A young professional in every aspect of his game, Harry is in my eyes the glue that holds it all together. Is it too early to mention Man of Steel? He surely must be a contender.
This week is the tricky journey down to Toulouse. A tough team to play last time around, and they have improved their squad further with some astute signings for Super League. With an extra couple of days to prepare this week, we should be rested and ready, and I am really looking forward to this game.
We will, of course, be without our full back Jai Field, who was taken into hospital for his appendix out, and so that will be a loss for a few weeks. However, there is a ready-made solution with the talented Jack Farrimond waiting in the wings and Bevan French to fullback, although there are other options also available to Matt Peet.
Get well soon, Jai, and come back healthy.