Wigan Warriors: The 18th Man - 'We have the capability to win, and any final put before us, but we’re yet to fulfill the potential...'

After beating Warrington and then Salford, are Wigan peaking at the right time?

Alex Graham: With such a short disruptive season, games in hand and potential further Covid impact to squads, I think peaking now would be premature. I think the smart mindset would be to treat the remainder of the year in waves, such as building up momentum to St Helens, which we’ve done well, and then refocusing to end the season in good position, before taking on the play-offs. I thought the end of last season was a good example that, due to limited availability of senior forwards and over-reliance on young players, we simply burned ourselves out by the time we reached the semi-final against Salford. Fortunately, we have the squad and experience to build up to the play-offs and Grand Final efficiently this season. I think Friday’s derby game is massive for confidence as we head into the business end of the season. Beating the competition leaders and joining them on top of the table will give the players some additional belief they’re more than capable of finishing the season as champions.

Darren Wrudd: With the injuries we have had to endure as a team and the covid absenteeism, I think we have done remarkably well to be sitting in second spot, with a real shot at the top of the table. The youngsters have stood up as Wigan first-teamers and have not let us down. Yes, we have had a couple of wobbly performances, but that is to be expected when things get shuffled at the last minute, as often as we have had to. I think, however, Adrian Lam has been a mastermind of management, and has brought the best of our squad to this end of the season with a proper chance of some continuity going into the final rounds. So yes, we are certainly approaching our peak at the right time, we are not there yet, but I have the highest of hopes for our trip over Billinge Hill.

Stephen Ford: We are far too inconsistent to say. Will the Wigan who lost miserably to Hull KR and Leeds turn up, or the team that beat Warrington? For me, such gross inconsistencies must be laid at the door of Adrian Lam and his coaching staff. Maybe we have turned a corner, but unfortunately I am still unconvinced.

Jon Lyon: Friday will tell. It’s very hard to say when some teams are weakened by withdrawals or playing three games in a week, or in Salford’s case coming off the back of a devastating Wembley loss. We are certainly playing better, and long may we keep playing open rugby. Having some senior forwards back to help rest the youngsters is helping. If we can keep injury, Covid and suspension-free then anything is possible.

St Helens-Wigan – what’s your prediction ?

Alex Graham: On paper and from a neutral point of view, I’d say the game is 50/50. Our win and loss percentage is almost the same as St Helens and, although their points difference is better, I’d argue our form balances that out. On that basis, you then reflect on how clubs perform in big fixtures and finals, which is extremely disappointing in Wigan’s case. In the last two years of Adrian Lam’s reign, we’ve failed to reach three finals in three attempts. We’ve lost five derbies in a row. So other than biased optimism, I’m not sure what else I could go off to expect a win? We have the capability to win, and any final put before us, but we’re yet to fulfill the potential. Despite what I’ve just said, though, a win could put us as favourites to win the competition, which just goes to show the fine lines between winning and losing!

Darren Wrudd: Domination. I think we have been bullied in recent times by some opponents and, as we welcome back a mature pack intermixed with a splash of youthful energy, there is a real possibility we can bully Saints around the park. We simply must control the ruck with a dominant front row and out-muscle the plastic scousers to make them chase the game. They overplay far too often when under the cosh, and this is something we can take full advantage of. So for once I really do feel we have the mark of this all-conquering St Helens side, and look forward to serving up some of those glittering plays with our halves and the fastest full-back in rugby league.

Stephen Ford: I think their defence will be too good for us and, even without Alex Walmsley, their pack may still prove too strong. We haven’t even competed against Saints since Shaun Wane left – but even competing is not good enough. We need our best display since 2018, but I’m not convinced we are capable of raising our game to that level. We need to start really well to stand any chance of a win. I hope I am way off the mark as I hate losing to Saints at any time and in any competition.

Jon Lyon: We certainly owe them one, it’s five losses in a row to the old enemy. Saints have rested half their team in preparation for this match so should be fresh, although they will have to do without Walmsley after they finally had a player suspended for foul play - albeit halved on appeal. Morgan Smithies must be fuming! It’s all about the forwards – if we get on top early, I think we can win this one. I’d bring Harry Smith back into the 17 as his kicking game has been excellent and, if Bevan French can keep up his recent form, we have a great chance. I’ll go for a Wigan win by eight points.

Be honest – who’s your favourite Saints player of the current squad?

Alex Graham: One of the most frustrating things about St Helens is they have too many players who seem like decent lads and model professionals. Regardless of whether they play for our arch-rivals or not, it’s always good to see Wigan do well within the competition, and Tommy Makinson is a good product from Wigan as a town. It’s also good to see ex-Orrell St James’ Jonny Lomax become one of the competition’s best players too. Hopefully going forward they’ll start producing more dislikable, grubby players (in a sporting-sense), like Sonny Nickle and Alan Hunte who we loved to ‘hate’ growing up. I think James Bentley has potential to ill their boots.

Darren Wrudd: I have had to think long and hard about this one, but probably not for the reasons you may think. I am a fan of rugby league, and as such I can admire talent in any squad. And there is no doubt the old enemy have a fair share of excellent players in the squad. Roby has been one of the most consistent hookers in the game and is simply awful to play against, and Lomax picks through a defence with ease and shows up everywhere. But ‘favourite’ means more than who you’d like to see in our squad. A favourite has a quality you just cannot ignore for whatever reason, and often is the one you love to hate as the game would not be the same without them. To that end, it has to be Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook. His infantile celebrations and sheer joy for the game is there for everyone to see, and he makes me cringe at times with his over the top glee. But I can’t help liking him, and the game would be much less without him. So although I may ignore him in the playground if he shouted my name, you have to admire his obvious love of life.

Stephen Ford: Got to be James Roby. A top-class player for well over a decade. Seems to be a decent bloke too.

Jon Lyon: Anyone but LMS, who I can’t stand! I’ve long been a fan of Mark Percival, although his form over the last two years has tailed off through injury. Morgan Knowles and Matty Lees are two impressive young forwards, who look internationals in the making. Ultimately it’s hard to look past James Roby. At 34, he’s still one of the best players in Super League, and you can’t argue with anyone clocking up 500 appearances with that level of consistency. He’s been a credit to our sport.

Talks are reportedly taking place about restructuring the end to this season. Thoughts?

Alex Graham: As long as commercial obligations are met, I’m not really bothered. Other than watching Wigan, my approach to watching Super League this year is fairly casual, as I just want us to reach the finish line as smoothly as possible and saving as much integrity for the competition as possible. I think planning for next year is much more important. Based on this year, there should be no surprises for next season, with all scenarios and contingencies taken into consideration, while ensuring we do not repeat the same disruption and uncertainties.

Darren Wrudd: I wondered last week about this when the rumours were first mentioned, and questioned why so late in the year the current play-off plan, which had been thought out carefully, would be altered at the last minute. Then I saw who was just outside the top four in fifth place, and the mists rolled away, making the whole situation clear as day. Why don’t the RFL just offer Leeds a permanent golden ticket, a bit like Willie Wonka, so they can be in the play-offs every year anyway? It would largely do away with suspect refereeing at critical games, and then we all know where we stand – and Gary Hetherington can go to bed with his teddy still in the pram.

Stephen Ford: I hope not, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Sky is maybe behind this. Maybe they are frightened of ‘dead rubbers’, but recently Salford, Castleford and Hull KR have shown great resilience when they could quite easily have rolled over and got tonked. Personally, I would like to see as many outstanding games played and go with the planned top-four play-offs.

Jon Lyon: It’s very late in the day to start moving the goalposts again but, whatever 2020 brings, we just have to go with. I’m sure some of the lower teams will be pleased to get a second chance, but I wonder what happens if the likes of Catalans, who have really struggled to complete their fixtures, have to cry off in the play-offs? Is it a straight bye through to the next round for their opponents? Personally, I’d leave it as a top four. We’ve all known about this system for long enough, and the percentage points system is fair when some teams have played less than others. Whatever the decision, we just deal with it and move on. Either way here’s hoping for a Wigan v Saints Grand Final even if it is at Hull.

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