Only 1 winger named and no obvious cover for Jacobs Mullaney...

Although if the past few weeks have said anything there may be changes to the 19 man squad named.

That seems certain, although an outside bet may be Purtell or Nielsen to sure up the defence out wide? With Baile or Ryan coming in at centre?

Wakey squad:

Max Jowitt
Reece Lyne
Bill Tupou
Joe Arundel
Tom Johnstone
Jacob Miller
Pita Godinet
Mickael Simon
Michael Sio
Nick Scruton
Danny Kirmond
Danny Washbrook
Chris Annakin
Anthony Mullally
Andy Yates
Ali Lauitiiti
Anthony Walker
Jordan Tansey
Scott Moore

So power and defence at the expense of out and out pace? Lowes has told us very clearly what sort of game he's expecting. Presumably as a Wakey fan said earlier we will aim to match them physically and in so doing stifle the abilities of Godinet etc.

Well that's surprised me. Thought we would need a bit of pace out wide but defence is obviously a concern for Jimmy. I reckon it will be Blythe in the centre with Nielsen on the wing. Nielsen no slouch and has played on the wing but I can hardly see him backing himself on the outside. In fact, I don't think I've actually seen him run forward yet?

So Jimmy's philosophy was: Hmm, I can't decide whether to play Blythe or Ryan. I know, I'll just stick one of them on the wing!

Ryan will probably get Blythe bench spot.

Notice there's no Lee smith for Wakey. Another player who had a good game against us last time out.

If we don't beat that Wakey squad, we don't deserve to go up.

I think that goes without saying ha

Just to add, I think Nielsen played on the wing in one if the Grand finals? I know that he's played many times there anyway so no lack of experience.

Surprised to see Lauaki retain his place after being an utter liability against Leigh and having zero impact against Fax. Expect Wakey to gain easy yards as he gives away another couple of soft penalties.

Plenty of players in that Wakey squad that are good enough to hurt us.
Mullalley in particular worries me, our forwards had no answer to him last time around.

Despite everything that has gone wrong for wakey this season, and even more so this week in particular, I'm still expecting them to win. It's set up perfectly for them to overcome all of this season's troubles and emerge victorious on the other side, I can practically hear the journos writing the articles already.

Or maybe I'm just a pessimist

Against Halifax it was very noticeable how many times they got a quick PTB and ran at Lauaki and broke the line with ease, either with a quick off load to man backing up or cos he was still getting back the 10 or 8 depending on the ref

I think that's a bit pessimistic, purely because there is a good journalistic narrative for either team winning - it's that type of game. I think you could write an article about either team winning before KO that would be pretty engaging just because it's that type of game and both clubs have been through a lot.

Luckily the real story is written on the pitch.

Adam O’Brien, Adam Sidlow, Adrian Purtell, Alex Mellor, Dale Ferguson, Dane Nielsen, Danny Addy, Danny Williams, Epalahame Lauaki, Harry Siejka, Jake Mullaney, Jay Pitts, Jean-Philippe Baile, Lee Gaskell, Matt Ryan, Matty Blythe, Paul Clough, Steve Crossley, Tom Olbison

Seems an odd one.

Mullaney
Blythe
Nielsen
Purtell
Williams
Gaskell
Seijka
Sidlow
O'brien
Clough
Pitts
Olbison
Addy

Ferguson
Ryan
Crossley
Lauaki

Do we think, must just be going do size with lauaki as he does bugger all else, baile and Mellor to miss for me, hoping we would have seen Fleming instead of lauaki but we also allowed samir to go on loan who I thought was doing very well considering .

Just out of interest, why would you put Blythe on the wing? He has plenty of experience in the centre and Nielsen has played on the wing at a very high level (NRL Grand Final). Plus Nielsen has done bugger all in the centre since arriving.

Gaskell, Clough & Neilsen all have Finals experience from that squad. Will be useful in a game of this importance.

Baille & Mellor miss out for me. Mellor was just unlucky with the timing of his injury this year, he was going well. But his time will come.

I like the team that I see above. This is a game that "should" bring out the best in an experienced player. Yes, Lauaki and Nielsen haven't brought the house down yet but they have it in them and Jimmy must trust them to give it when it really matters.
I am happy with experience on the wing. Caro and Clare are for next season to me. Clare would have been my choice but I am happy with Nielsen / Blythe. If they give their best it should be better than the younger lads.

I really want to see Seijka start. He will be desperate to send Wakey down and he has started to show some confidence. All three play makers on at the same time - WOW! Even if we go up I would sign another top SH but keep Harry and give him one more season to win us over.

This is our best chance of promotion. Wakey are below strength and we are at full strength.

If they all tackle properly we then have two outstanding attackers that will win the game - no excuses this time lads!

Well below strength. I am pretty sure you will win this. Don't get me wrong I would love Wakefield to win but our results this year speak for themselves. You should be Dar too strong. Good luck.

Nielsen is better positional for me and blythe is a harder runner, plus blythe hardly brings his winger into the game when I've seen him at centre thinking he might get more space outside of Nielsen, can swap if you like that's the 2 positions that are gonna change but I'd prefer what I've put, each to their own through.

Has to be full strength no passengers for us to win

That's why I ask out of interest. I can't ever remember Blythe playing on the wing. Simple game plan for Wakey if he does, bombs/crossfield kicks/kicks in behind him. They could stitch him up like a good un. Just wondered if you knew something about him that i don't. There's more to playing wing than strong running. I just hope that Jimmy is justified in his decision, whatever that might be.

Oh no you don't. No way in this world are Wakey going into this game as underdogs, even if you have a few missing. Most on your forum still think that you have too much for us, especially at home.

Thanks for the well wishes though. Good luck to you too.

From a Wakefield point of view i'm glad Clare isn't playing. We have been done for pace on plenty of occasions this season and he would have exploited that, or at the very least nullified our only truely quick player in Johnstone IF Brian Smith picks him. Clare also has previous against us dor Cas at Belle Vue. Also happy the Lauaki is there, probably the laziest prop i've seen at BV this year and thats saying something. I think its going to be a close one but i think our forwards will just be the difference and we'll win it by 8. Wouldn't surprise me if it went the other way though, you are more than capable.

Oh right no I dont but you never know with Lowes.

Just thinking of strife power, most likely be neilsen on wing but will have to wait and see

I don't know either, just trying to think logically. Nielsen is a bit of an enigma at the moment. I'd like to think that someone who played on the wing in an NRL Grand Final knows what he's doing in that position. I also believe that he's very quick but we haven't seen it yet. I agree about Blythe's distribution though.

Jimmy will probably play Ryan there anyway ha.

Keeps us on our toes haha, will see if I can find some vids of neilsen on the wing, haven't really seen his speed yet, still not sure as to the reason of ommiting Clare but might be something we aren't privy to