Warrington Squad

Sitaleki Akauola, Blake Austin, Josh Charnley, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie, Matt Davis, Bryson Goodwin, Chris Hill, Jack Hughes, Toby King, Tom Lineham, Harvey Livett, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Declan Patton, Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford, Lama Tasi, Ben Westwood

Presuming JClark is rested and not injured I’m happy with how Price is rotating the squad this season.

Ratchford
Charnley (Mamo still injured?)
Goodwin
King
Lineham
Austin
Patton
Hill
Clark
Cooper
Hughes
Currie
Westwood

BMM
Philbin
Sita
Livett/Davis I’d prefer Livett to play for versatility reasons, but think Price will go for Davis.

Price may we’ll swap round Philbin & Westwood, I just like Philbs off the bench.

Tasi to defo miss out.

The rest is pretty obvious so:

11. Ben Murdoch-Masila
12. Jack Hughes
13. Joe Philbin

Subs: Sitaleki Akauola, Matt Davis, Lama Tasi, Harvey Livett

Currie and Westwood miss out for me. I just feel as though Currie needs to recharge the batteries for a few weeks. I think it'll be better for him come the end of the season. I think it's time to move on from Westwood.

I also think that we should be starting BMM.

I'd go with.....
Ratchford
Charnley
King
Goodwin
Lineham
Austin
Patton
Cooper
Clark (D)
Hill
Currie
Hughes
Murdoch-Masila

Philbin
Westwood
Akauola
Livett (for his versatility)

To miss out.
Davis
Tasi

Ratchford
Lineham
Goodwin
King
Charnley
Austin
Patton
Hill
Clark
Cooper
Currie
Hughes
Westwood

Akauola
Philbin
Tasi
Masila

Have to disagree with Westwood. He was poor against Salford but so was everyone else. He was the player, for me, we missed against saints to set the tempo. Aside from the Salford game, he's always driven in hard and made good metres. I agree on Currie though- I think we need to be patient and let him fully recharge as you say.

With Akuola: Price has sung his praises in the Warrington Guardian and he was awarded 1pt in the MOS rankings (after the last game). Really pleased for him and for us- we need his and Westwood's type of ferocity to give us the edge in the pack.

With pretty much a full squad to pick from I guess SP will be completing his Easter rotation as he has enough quality on paper at least to beat Hudds. I think as Gaz just said, Akuoala will play, otherwise it doesn't really reward the performance he put in last week. Plus he is fairly fresh. On the other hand the main benefit of Matt Davis is his work output, and since he played in both Easter games I suspect he will be rested. I agree Currie has looked pretty flat recently, not to mention a bit grumpy (bolocking Patton in the Salford game) and could do with a break. But I suspect Price will play him. Phibs is my other guess for a bit of R&R. He has played in all 12 games to date and has taken on a starting role recently. I think he deserves a rest this week. I assume Mamo must still be injured ?, otherwise he could have been used to give Charnley and Ratchford a bit of a break.


To miss out;
Davis
Philbin

Fair enough Chaz on the squad rotation front, but, I agree with Jack (sorry Gaz) re Westwood.

He's been a bit poor this term and not just the Salford game for me. I'm not saying we need to move on, he's got plenty of credit as far as I'm concerned and in the last couple of what could be considered 'bonus years' he's far and away exceeded my expectations, but, IF selected this weekend, he needs to up his game and earn his shirt back, particularly if Price is running a meritocracy.

(No worries Uncle Rico). In our first game v Leeds, I thought he (Westwood) got stuck in and made, at a guess, more yardidge per drive than anyone else and he was key to our platform in the forwards. Even now, at his age, when Westwood takes the field, he makes at least as many yards in the forwards as Hilly and Coops, and definitely more than Hughes and Currie in the back row. He doesn't play as many minutes nowadays, but, bar the Salford game, I'm sure there's tangible evidence to show that his input changes the arm-wrestle in our favour. I haven't got the stats, but I reckon our forwards would have made more yardage and their attack less yardage when he's on the field. For me, at the very least, he gives our forwards an extra boost of confidence, like Morley did. Having a Morley, Westwood, Les Davidson, Nicholas figure on the field inspires and gives security for our other forwards to get stuck in. We missed this v saints. Imagine if Benny or Morley were on the pitch- they'd have rallied our troops and stuck one on them. A forward moving, uncompromising defensive line lead by Morley or Westwood would have totally changed the dynamic of the game. It would have freed Austin and the backs. In recent semi-finals v saints, when saints have been the favouites; we've won by an aggressive defensive line and aggressive forward running, and it's players like Westwood who are key. It's the no frills players like Westwood, Morley; Morgan Knowles and Matty Lees who make the difference- they were excellent v us.

(Anyhow, I've had a few pints so apologies for rambling on. COYW)

I'm with Gazwire, Benny still does those hard yards which we needed against Saints. If Sita can do them too, then great, but we need them making. One thing in Benny's negative column is the cards he's getting.

.........and lets not forget Benny is on a roll. That's one game in a row now that he has not been suspended. Price will be delighted with him.

It's a shame we don't have more players like Tasi- Impeccable record. No offences, no cards, no nothing, and he's not been suspended. Price is probs over the moon?

As much as I bigged up Westwood last season... it's the complete opposite this season.
He hasn't even been a shadow of his 2018 form.

Can you shed more light?

He deserves more than a flippant comment so I'll expand a little.

He'll be 38 before the season is out and we have a few players in their mid-20's who should be given the chance to prove themselves.

I just don't think he should be in our first 17 plans anymore if everyone is fit. He'll get game time in the meantime with injuries and bans.

Situations can always change over the course of the season but as things stand with his performances so far, I'd rather play others.

(Careful with the flipansy, and please don't expand too much !!!)

I have to disagree Jack Napier, and that's the good thing with this forum- there's many opinions, but respect for all. (Apart from a few plonkers).


Your opening paragraph suggests: Price should concede Benny's place for younger players to prove themselves. In a professional outfit, you have to earn your place. The Wigans and Saints don't just promote their youth players because they're young- they have to earn their places. And that's why their youth players can step up to the next level- they earn their places the hard way. Our youth players need to step up as well and give a reason as to why they should play in the place of Benny Westwood and others.

(On a side note), Benny Westwood is the player we've missed (imo). Imagine how good our forwards could be with Benny setting the stall. Our forwards need a feisty leader like Morley. They need a leader to set an example and a leader to stand steadfast- knowing there's a hard man to cover your back.

When we play saints again, get Westwood in at 13 and Akuola full of fire off the bench- it's a different game. Having Westwood starting makes a big difference. Then some proper Tongan punch from Akuala and bmm. Provided we keep the intensity and desire up- different game to last time.

Yep, reasoned debate is great, much respect for your opinion.

For me in the last few weeks Matt Davis has earned his place. Akauola played too well to get dropped. Westwood isn't playing well enough to suggest he should play, in my opinion.

I couldn't agree more with our forwards needing a fiesty leader, it's why I think Hill shouldn't be captain. Westwood has played that role for many years, I just don't think he can do it anymore.

When we played Salford, Westwood (on many weeks rest) was a part of a pack that got outfought and out-enthused. We needed a leader to grab the team by the scruff of the neck. We didn't have one on the pitch. I absolutely adore Westwood, but time waits for no man.

,
.

Really agree with this. (Posted same time as your post).

...It certainly doesn't. But man waits for no time in the case of Benny. He may be old chronologically, but still a valued, vital part of our pack (if we need some front foot agression).

And that's it. If my life was on the line and I was picking a Warrington team for one game, he'd play without a doubt.

I'm just want the club to look ahead, assess the options. Still 17 games left before the playoffs.

I think the next few months we should do that. If other players shine? Great. If not, let's bring back one of our greats.

Thing is, the promotion of youth players can't be at the expense of first team quality. And paradoxically, the harder it is to get in the first team and less places (subsequently), the better the youth team players are, and more readily fitted into a first SL side.

I agree that youth promotion is important- certainly. But they have to earn their stripes- they'll be much better for it.

I'd like to see Akauola and Davis playing. I think both may have been underestimated and that Steve Price may be thinking the same. They deserve an opportunity and we need to know how good they are.