Superleague countdown - 8 days to go
Well, whether it’s 8 or 9 depends on what part of the world you’re in. I, for example, will be getting up at around 4:45am on the morning of Saturday 10th February to listen to GMR online and coverage of Wigan’s first Superleague match of the 2007 season. It will be a home fixture against Warrington Wolves and there is a huge crowd expected. Most think around 20,000 and there are some saying it could be close to a sellout. That would be an awesome start for the season and would set the tone for the rest of the year. It’s very possible though: last year was a struggle as any Wiganer would confess, but the crowds were there every week supporting the team, even when it looked like relegation was on the horizon for us. Now that we seem to have the makings of a decent team, they should get even better and I can see the team pushing for silverware, or at the very least get to a final this year.
But what is the Wigan team of 2007 going to be? Well, judging by squad numbers I have tried to show you below. Bear in mind that I’ve been out of the country for 2 and a half years now, so if I make any mistakes with my details or judgments about players, please comment and let me know! The player pictures are courtesy of the Wigan Warriors official club website
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1. Chris Ashton - Came out of nowhere last year after Kris Radlinski’s shock retirement. It has to be said that he did a sterling job too at full back. Good, if not outstanding in defence, and excellent in attack, his pace and good running on angles brought him 14 tries in 200. He’s only 19 though, and will need to improve his defence (hopefully learning from Michael Withers) if he is to become a great. I think we should get Kris Radlinski to coach him in defensive positioning as he was one of the best in the game. Maybe a season in the centres would do Ashton a world of good.
2. Mark Calderwood - Signed from Leeds for the start of the 2006 season, Calderwood struggled with form through the season. He got 6 tries, but the lack of a quality centre giving him open space to run in held him back. He did improve when Nathan McAvoy was signed mid-season, but will need to work hard this year to get reward. His weakness (as always with Wigan’s wingers) is under the high ball.
3. Phil Bailey - Signed in the off-season from Cronulla Sharks (incidentally, my favourite team in the Australian NRL), Bailey is a strong second rower/centre who looks like he’ll be plying his trade at Wigan in the backs. He reportedly looked very strong in defence last night in a friendly at Salford and scored the winning try. Hopefully he’ll be able to make sure breakers and give his wingman some quality ball.
4. Michael Withers - A man who seems to have been playing for almost as long as Stanley Gene, 30-year old Withers was signed from Bradford in the off-season and looks set for the centre spot. I would personally like to see him at full-back, so Ashton can learn from him. However, keeping him in the centres does mean that David Vaealiki is kept on the bench. Not a superstar, but someone who will always put 100% into his performers and who rarely has a bad game. Can see him being an important player this season, despite people’s initial disbelief when we signed him.
5. Pat Richards - An awesome player for Wests Tigers during their Grand Final winning campaign of 2005, 
Pat Richards never won over the fans at the JJB, despite scoring 12 tries in his first year with Wigan. Taking over the number 5 shirt from Brett Dallas, Richards has also got a lot to live up to. The only natural goal-kicker in the team, Wigan will need him to find form and stay injury-free this season. Maybe the latter won’t be so hard: I would have more chance pulling Scarlett Johansson than he would of pulling a muscle, considering the effort he puts in! But I’m hoping Brian Noble has instilled some urgency in the lad this season, as he could play an important role for us.
6. Trent Barrett - Easily the biggest signing we have made during the off-season, and someone with a big
reputation to live up to. Barrett comes to Wigan from St George Illawarra Dragons He is world class, with an excellent attacking and kicking game. Already, coach Brian Noble as said of him, “He (Trent Barrett) does remind me of Wally Lewis… he thinks a lot about his game, is a very steadying influence and a fine distributor of the ball”. Not sure about his defence as I haven’t seen much of the NRL in recent years, but if his partnership with Thomas Leuluai can click, then this halfback pairing could be devastating in 2007.
7. Thomas Leuluai - Can’t comment on this guy much because I don’t believe I’ve seen him play at all. He’s certainly gained a big reputation down at Harlequins, although he is injury prone which does seem to be a bit of a worry (especially considering our recent form with injuries. 21 years old and with bags of potential, he’ll be hoping to link well with fellow halfback, Trent Barrett. If he does then sparks will fly. I do hope the crowd gives them time to settle in and learn each other’s game though.
8. Stuart Fielden - A huge season in prospect from Fielden and one which could define his career. A
stand-out prop forward in Superleague and one of the enforcers in the game, “Mr 80 Minutes” was put squarely in his place by a Willie Mason punch to the jaw in the Tri-Nations last year. Fielden didn’t have a good Tri-Nations for other personal reasons, and now opposition packs will be eager to see just how strong he is when the punches are flying. This could start as early as Round 1 of Superleague, with Adrian Morley in the opposition squad.
9. Micky Higham - Quickly established as a fan favourite at the JJB, former St Helens hooker Micky Higham 
was one of the few people who had a decent season for Wigan in 2006. 6 tries and always a lot of effort gained him favour with the supporters, and he was one of the few who seemed like he was really trying to lift the team out of the rut it was in at the mid-season point. Giving credit to the fans, Higham recently said, “I think we owe the fans something this year. In desperate times the supporters were still here singing. We played Catalans here last year, we were bottom of the table and still had over 11,000 fans backing us. They deserve something back and hopefully we can deliver”.
10. Iafeta Paleaaesina - “Feka” Paleaaesina has the dubious honour of having the most expensive name to 
have on the back of your replica shirt, but it’s a name well worth being associated with. According to the official club site, Feka is a “Blind prop” which is a little harsh… sometimes his offloads are a little wayward but most of the time he was on target! Feka is the powerhouse of the Wigan pack. Always taking at least 2 defenders to bring him down, he’s bound to create gaps on the field that hopefully the backline will be able to exploit. The only downside to his game is the relatively short time he is on the pitch. Hopefully Noble will have been working on his fitness in the off-season.
11. Gareth Hock - Hampered by injury in the first half of the 2006 season, few wondered if he would come back the explosive player that he was in 2004. But boy did he answer the critics! A strong runner and fierce tackler, Hock was picked for the Great Britain Tri Nations team and was one of a handful of players who didn’t disappoint. Another big season will be expected of him by the Wigan faithful.
12. Bryan Fletcher - Seasoned second-rower, 33 year old Bryan Fletcher may be asked to play at prop at some point during this season. Unless one of the academy players can make the step up to the first team, we are looking a little light on backup props. Although scoring 10 tries last season, Fletch doesn’t seem to be the player who will always grab the headlines. But he does work hard in defence and attack and frequently gets reward for his efforts. He would also be my first choice for vice-captain, although the rumours are that Stuart Fielden will get the nod.
13. Sean O’Loughlin - completing the team we have loose forward and captain, Sean O’Loughlin. A few people questioned his ability at rousing the team during the dark times of last season; his form dipped and he seemed to be lacking in any confidence. But as the team started to improve, O’Loughlin’s performances began to improve with it. This year we will hopefully see what he’s like playing with a pack that is dominating the performance. Many feel it will bring the best out in him.
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And there we have it. I think I have used most sporting cliches in the book, and I apologise for that! But you now have a look at what the 2007 Wigan team will look like. I honestly feel we can push for silverware this season, and I heartily look forward to waking up in the middle of Friday nights to tune into GMR on the net and the voice of Jack Deardon. Until then, take care, dive safely and get ready for a great season of rugby league.
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