We have named a very strong reserves team. Interesting to see who will stake a claim.

Edited

Bullock is definitely playing

Bullock Clark and Smith impressed me, Smith should definitely be starting at 7 next week, Bullock should also be playing

A bit of a men against boys clash. Wigan 32-4 up at half time. A really big Wigan team with a lot of senior experience. Bullock, Clarke, Greenwood and Hankinson all started. Wells, Borough, Jack Shorrocks, Smith and Jake Shorrocks also have a fair bit of first team action under the belt. Add to that Hanley, Wells, Kilner, Pierce-Paul and you have an awful lot of brawn on display. Bullock, Greenwood, Smith, Hankinson and The Shorrockses look a class above, Greenwood looks to be really enjoying himself today so perhaps he has his happy head on. Pierce-Paul and Kilner showed lots of go forward in the first half and the more that I see these two the more impressed I am and I am glad to say that Wells looks to be getting close to where we hoped that he would be.
My biggest worries, apart from not covering kick offs, were, firstly, a bit of soft defence in the middle that allowed Widnes to make ground and ultimately score out wide. If anything the passing of Widnes looks slicker in attack but secondly Mitch Clarke should be barnstorming at this level but he was regularly being dominated and pushed back. Jake Shorrocks always looks class at reserves and Championship levels but never seems to push on at Superleague level, perhaps he will this season but I could really see him going out to a Championship club on loan.
Widnes keep kicking off short and low towards a point where the ball then kicks up high and into touch. Twice they got the ball back with that tactic.

Clark has done nothing wrong but the other forwards are all making good yards. Bullock is steaming in and really making a dent in the line. There seems to be some problem with the live stream. Perhapsonce they have finished with the kettle they will plug the equipment back in.

Agreed and Ben Kilmer has been a monster in this second half, knocking over nearly every Widnes player in his way, interesting that Smith has gone off, could be a sign he’s in the team for Cas next week

Very impressed with the Widnes inter-passing. The big names have largely gone off, Borough is in the sin bin and Widnes are making hay.

Second half a more even affair. Greenwood and Smith replaced with perhaps an eye to the SuperLeague game. Mitch Clarke showed up more strongly in the second half which did become a bit scrappy. I cannot remember when we had a group of young forwards coming through with the same attributes as this group. I am glad to see the reserves back, especially as it gives some indication of Lam's thinking for the next senior game.

I’d have one of Clarke, Kilner or Bullock In for Burgess.

I thought Jake Shorrocks has done well in recent games to maybe cement a claim ahead of Smith IMO.

It was a good hit out with a predictable result. There was a lot of experience in the Wigan side and it showed. Widnes did put up a pretty good fight though.

I was impressed with both Smith and Shorrocks. I'd assume Smith will make the squad for the Cas game having only played one half. Bullock was excellent and should have played his way back into the side. Clark was okay without being spectacular. He doesn't make a lot of yards but he does attract a lot of attention no matter who he plays and seems to defend well. Ben Kilner was very strong and I was also impressed with Jack Wells at second row and as a prop. The competition for 'middles' looks really strong.

Greenwood for me was average, but there were moments where he looked more eager. He was still getting physically dominated in tackles which you wouldn't expect at this level, but he looked busier than in pre-season, particularly defensively. If we needed a replacement back row though I'd be expecting that place to go to Wells.

Hankinson looked far too good for this level and was dangerous throughout. That should serve as a reminder that Hardaker and Bibby have competition.

Bourouh played 70 minutes at hooker (thanks to his sin bin) and was a threat, but to me he looks a bit rough around the edges so I wouldn't consider him an option to replace Powell at this stage.

WHAT WAS THE THE FINAL SCORE

10-52 to Wigan. Hankinson did well and looked a class above this level but several players should have played themselves into contention.

Firstly great the reserves are back. Enjoy seeing the squad players get game time.

An underrated benefit for me over dual reg is that our club is in control of our team. We can try players in out different positions, get them to play long minutes, even try some set moves. Basically its whole purpose is just to improve the players, results dont matter. Playing them in the championship you join a new club and its just cut throat. For example Mitch Clark played 50 odd minutes today, Lam probably wanting him to have a good run out. If he was at Swinton we'd be at there mercy and maybe he'd only have play 20 mins.

Positives

Bullock - straight in for GBurgess next week, looked great and keen to outplay the other props

Smith - Really want to see him get first team game time quite often this year. He'll replace Hastings whenever he goes in a Blake Green - George Williams like transition.

Kilner - Massive! Made good impact, Signing G Burgess (hopefully improves) and Bullock. Plus Bryne, Havard and Kilner we certainly have sorted out the size problem in the front row.

Hank - Played well, goal kicking is top notch.

Negatives

Clark - Like someone says he should be tearing it up at this level. Not a bad performance but expected more

Greenwood - Couple of nice touches but confidence looks shot, was getting dominated by some Widnes youngsters quite often in the second half. This guy played for England 15 months ago.

Go to see reserves back and glad it was on Wigan TV

I think as the season progresses,you will see more of Harry Smith and Less of Tommy Leuluai as they will have to blend this outstanding talent into the team, especially as Tommy cannot play for ever.

Saints are already doing it with Jack Welsby!

Already looks a superstar, sets look set for long term success. It’s our job to get up to there level.

Hopefully the NRL come calling for a few of there players like they do ours. We have to keep rebuilding every couple of years.

And he is a Wigan lad from Orrell.

How did we miss signing him?

You cannot get them all but we have a few very good prospects who need the game time this year. A couple of the reserves might be better served getting thumped around in the Championship this year as well. Jack Wells looks to have benefitted.

After just watching the one sided game on Wigan TV, I just do not understand the logic of the RFL in including Championship clubs, especially those who are only part time professional in the Reserve League instead of just the ten English based Super League Clubs which would have seen all ten clubs playing each other home and away.

By having twelve teams and keeping the fixtures to the same number of eighteen games, it has resulted in a mixture of playing some clubs in one game while others home and away.

Surely, the idea of a Reserve League was for the Super League clubs to have the fringe members of their squads playing regular rugby and games against stronger squads and not easy games against weaker squads from outside the Super League.

But, that's the thinking of the RFL for you!