It wouldn't just be disrupting an attacking threat, either. If we moved Meli onto the wing now we'd be reintroducing one of our biggest weaknesses just in time for the playoffs.

Keep the Meloster combination, it's been great for us this season.

Oops. On my phone so I can't be bothered fixing it. It might be the tactical masterstroke that can take us to glory.

To be fair buddy, that assesment is pretty similar as to what you'd use for Lomax last year.

Wigan? I'm afraid they know the best way to play us in attack and defence. Unless we come up with something slightly different, then its going to be the same old story, I'm afraid. I don't think we can rely on powering through like Wire can do against them, in fact the chance of that is near zero if TP isn't back.
Maybe we'll get a couple of peices of magic that will take us through, but I wouldn't hold my breath?

As an aside, isn't it nice to be able to talk about different potential combinations rather than just shoving whatever 17 are fit onto the park?

I'm quietly confident about next Sunday, no excuses this time if only Ade/Perry/Magennis are missing.

I, like other, am a big fan of Wheeler, so I ceertainly wouldn't mind him being picked. I agree with what you say, but if I were coach I'd probably err on the side of caution and stick with Meli at centre.

T'is. I think if Royce is bold with his selection planning for next year, we could see some very exciting attack for the Saints.

The only thing that gives me hope for this Saturday is the fact that we're "due a win" against them and the exertions of winning the cup may catch up with them. I'm afraid I just feel that the McGuire smarts are keeping them one step ahead of us at the moment.

Is Puletua fit for this one?

No official word, but we're hopeful of him lining up.

If he's not we might as well field the reserves and focus on week 2.

Did everyone forget the absolute stormer that Wheeler had against Wigan at the start of the season before he got injured in the game? I would gladly give him the "back on the bench" jersey.

Also would people rather TP started or came off the bench in this game? Its a straight choice between him and LMS for me, but i think LMS will get the start.

1.Wellens
2.Makinson
3.Shenton
4.Meli
5.Foster
6.Pryce
7.Lomax
8.Graham
9.Roby
10.LMS
11.Soliola
12.Flannery
13.Wilkin

Subs: TP, Clough, Moore and Wheeler.

Yep, would be an unwinnable game like Warrington in the play-offs last year with Smith/Wilkin in the halves.

Why bother turning up? It's not as if this is some sort of sporting contest where teams can have off days or play above themselves or something like that.

Not sure why Royce would risk putting Meli on the wing? He has been outstanding at centre for us, and we all know that dealing with kicks is his main weakness which will be targeted by Wigan (and be a big risk of repeat sets/conceding tries) if he was there. Makinson has played very well this season, can finish a try, has pace and most importantly is quite safe under the high ball.

Providing all are fit, my 17 for Sunday would be:

Wellens
Foster
Shenton
Meli
Makinson
Pryce
Lomax
Graham
Roby
LMS
Soliola
Flannery
Wilkin

Moore
Clough
TP
Wheeler/Eastmond

I agree. Sport would be much easier if the winners were crowned at the start of the year rather than the end. It would save so much money.

With the positivity on this page i think we might as well stop posting and focus on next season then by march the following season.

Where in the play offs and anything can happen......Trust in Mr Simmons.

if all fit i would go with 1 wellens 2 makinson 3 shenton 4 meli 5 gardner 6 gaskell 7 lomax 8 graham 9 roby 10 tony p 11 moore 12 sia 13 wilkin 14 pryce 15 clough 16 lms 17 flannery

Ok my personal choice taking accout of the resality that Royce will not drop Wellens for eastmond and gaskell will not get a game.

Wellens
Foster
Meli
Shenton
Makinsdon
Lomax
Pryce
Graham
Roby
TP
Sia
Moore
Wilkin

LMS
Clough
Flannery
Wheeler

I think Gaskell is some one you need from the start. Hes not san impact back for mine. He's some one who can peg a side back and apply pressure over the course of a game. I would actually go Lomax Pryce Gaskell to start with either lomax or pryce at fb. But Royce will not drop wellens and will not play gaskell ahead of pryce dispite form and the lack of a kicking game.

Id agree with this, Wheeler must play if fit. He was completely bossing wigan on good friday until he was taken out.

I don't know why some fans insist on harping on about Wello. He is our most experienced player and superb last defence cover. Also he organises the defence. We need him for those reasons alone with so many inexperienced players in the side. It's so obvious that I am amazed some fans do not see it. Defence is vital in big games. Some say it wins them.

As for Pryce, his attitude since deciding on the Dragons has been a disappointment but not really surprising. Whether he can be motivated into playing well on Sunday I don't know but I'm fairly sure that Simmons would have little trouble dropping him if he thought an alternative was a better option. He's benched Eastmond for most of the season.

I'm amazed you cant see that wello is past it. He's never been the fastest, but his positioning and tackling more than made up for it. Now however his defence is becoming questionable. 28 missed tackles this year is average for a fullback, but terrible for wello who has no other real facets to his game

I'd certainly have Wheeler in the 17, possibly 6 at Pryce's expense, but wouldn't even consider moving Meli back to the wing. He's been a revelation at centre, Foster has had some dream service and we've witnessed hardly any of the brainfarts that used to haunt him defensively on the wing.

As much as I know it won't happen, I'd love to see Simmons really mix it up by having a genuine attacking threat at FB, Pryce or Lomax, with Wello as the 'bench back' if we need to go safety first. That's not intended to be a sleight on Wello, more that we'd be introducing a new dimension to our game that Wigan are unlikely to have prepared for. Play off rugby is exactly about those brave, unpredictable and potentially match winning calls.

To begin with you conveniently bypassed my use of the word 'experience' which, given our season, has been vital. Wello hasn't been in the best of form since his injury at Wigan at Easter (prior to which he was fabulous). He isn't 'past it'; he's just suffering from a lack of form and some of that will be down to him playing with injury as have many of our players.

I'm sure we will see him back to form next season. Meanwhile, he has managed to pull off some great try saving moves even when off form and he brings vital experience to the field as a member of a team which is very much lacking in experience.

Pryce hasn't been an attacking threat since he decided to go to the Dragons and Lomax isn't fast so I don't think he would be much more of an attacking threat from fullback than Wello is especially given his tendency towards panic and his lack of experience. Makinson is looking more like a potential fullback IMO than Lomax. But all that is for the future. What we don't need next week is massive changes. We've had enough of those throughout the regular season. It's far too disruptive.

Pryce is one of the few matchwinners we have. If you're defending Wello on the basis of 'poor form after injury, surely Pryce is allowed the same mitigation. Chiming into the line from FB would allow him to drift in and out rather than carry the organisational responsibility. When he's free to roam, you get the best from him.

Lomax is far more pacy than Wello and certainly elusive. I'd love to see him on a kick return.

Makinson is also an option, but I'm liking him on the wing and I'd prefer to leave him there - safe hands on either flank with the ability to finish. Nice.

I take your point on massive changes. I wouldn't make them. But I would chance my arm a bit, and hopefully catch Wigan a little cold.