Absolutely immense once again. Quite simply the most complete forward in Superleage at the moment. (I would go further but I can't be ars*d arguing with a load of trolls! Haha)

head and shoulders above at the minute

really leading by example, and i think taking the ball in more than he normally would do

Personally I dislike this notion of leading by example. I don't think it works at all when the team is on the wrong of the game. More is needed of a captain when the proverbial has hit the fan IMO. However contrary to that I reckon what I saw tonight could not fail to inspire the young players in the side. It is as if the young team we have has given Lockers an even greater purpose on the pitch and an even higher sense of responsibility. Absolutely fantastic.

MOM by a long way.

Sir Kev can't get a look in in the same position

Tremendous performance from Shirley tonight.

Obviously all opinions are valid but I think leading by example is absolutely th best kind of leadership. It all depends on the people you're leading though, of course. There is no one right or wrong way to lead. It all depends on what the people around you respond to. I think it fair to say though that the team as it stands is most definitely in the 'responding to example' camp. We're punching way above our weight. You couldn't be more right when you say "absolutely fantastic' though. Tough in defence, high workrate, strong when taking the ball up and sublime hands. Some of his offloads/passing tonight was a joy to watch!

A massively underrated player and captain. One of the greatest servants of the Wigan club.

I think that is my point but also that circumstances dictate what sort of leadership is required.



I completely agree. I also think it is working both ways. I think Lockers has raised his game even more because we have the injuries we have and the young players in the side. Leading by example is working.

You will however never convince me it is the de facto way to lead a side 100% of the time.

have you ever played the game seriously????

I know I won't Dave...we've had this discussion many times before! Haha. However I would say that leading by example anything less than 100% of the time is not good captaincy either and on that score Lockers is definitely second to none. He's certainly not the 'shouting' type of captain but I think that's overrated anyway and something that [usome[/u fans rather than players want to see. It's also true that many great captains weren't/aren't shouters either. In terms of respect, influence on and off the field, professionalism, temperament, loyalty and the ubiquitous 'leading by example' Lockers is outstanding by anyone's standards!

Agreed. Thankfully the underrated part of that is quite righly starting to disappear. I think most people who were once critics have now seen the value that Lockers brings to the club and team. Even many opposition fans are now giving him the praise and respect he's due. It similarly took Ben Westwood quite a long time to get the respect he now universally gets. For some reason this seems to happen with certain players. In O'Loughlin's case I think it was the fact that he was Andy Farrells brother in law that was the root cause, something I always found a little bizarre if I'm being honest. Andy Farrell was a one off. Lockers is a different type of player and charactor but no less effective for it!

Absolute quality player for Wigan & on the international scene when he's been fit.

That being said I don't think he's head and shoulders above Sinfield like some people make out. Both are top quality players and it's a little sad that Wigan fans bang on about Lockers being underrated but slate Sinfield with their next breath.

I don't think Sinfield could put the defensive shift in that Lockers does but also at the same time i don't think Lockers could control a game like Sinfield did against us in the playoffs. His rugby brain & experience killed us that night and it was a master-class in playoff rugby. Find a weakness, exploit it and then convert every chance into some type of points.