Ipape got injured in the WC and didn't have much of a preseason as a result. He's getting closer to full fitness and played 60 mins against Sts(replaced Davis after the first quarter and played the rest of the game). He was still looking a bit rusty in attack but was phenomenal in defence including sitting Alex Walmsley on his backside multiple times.

Yes, I only saw it on WireTV. My comment wasn't really a criticism as mistakes are part of the game. They just stuck out because we had very few mistakes overall. I think he had two knock ons and a high shot penalty.

He got 7, we played 4, he’s left with 3 including Leigh.

I’m a little concerned reading the article in the Warrington Guardian regarding James Harrison with him going to London on Tuesday to see the knee specialist. Read into it that the club can’t diagnose the problem locally and basically sent him to London for a consultation with a top specialist, maybe the surgeon who looked after him previously.
Really hope I’m proved wrong because of his early season form as I’ve previously quoted when he first signed Powell brought him to this club nearly 2 years ago to be the No 1 starting prop.

This is a game for Wire to lose. Leigh will be looking to collect 2pts next week at Hull Fc (although not a gimmie) as they are not quite finding their form. You should take this by at least 10pts.

Least we know why now.

Ha, no way are we falling for that old chestnut!

Well, I did give you credit tbf. If you do lose, I'll be back.

Hopefully we'll be showing Leigh the respect that they deserve whilst not being afraid of them.

It was clear from the pre-season that Leigh weren't in Super League to make up the numbers and so far they've ticked a lot of boxes. They weren't blown away in their first two games, they posted their first win, they've won back to back and they've beaten a top team. They were probably lucky to catch Saints when they did but it was still an impressive Leigh fightback. They must have been buzzing in training this week.

We've also been ticking boxes this season and this week Powell will be looking for consistency. We've shown a resilience that was lacking last season but what we have to demonstrate now is a ruthlessness to put away weaker teams. If we get ahead early then we need to put our foot on the throat and finish them off. If we are struggling to break them down, or if we go behind, then we need to do what we have been doing so far and not panic.

There is no way that Wire will underestimate Leigh. Talk of putting away "weaker" teams is just plain wrong. Leigh are very capable of beating any team & we could lose to anyone.

Spot on.

Depends how you define “consistency”?
I myself don’t want consistency, I prefer progression, change and evolve.
If you keep to a steady consistency, you find other clubs will adapt to beat you…
Like Watto last season. He went public and said exactly how Giants will beat Wire ahead of the game…his team went out and beat Wire exactly as he said….because Wire were completely consistent last season and everyone knew how to beat us.

He will be missed.

Bullock? Harrison?

Dudson will bring something a little different when he returns. Philbin, we know, can do the destructive turns from the bench. With Mikaele playing like nothing he did last year, the machine Vaughan churning out the metres and Kasiano doing what Kasiano does, we should be able to cope missing a forward or two.

…and that is what will give us a GF.

Baring late injuries prior to kick off, tonight's squad is.....

Dufty
Ashton
Ratchford
Matautia
Thewlis
Williams
Drinkwater
Mikeale
Clark
Vaughan
Currie
Nicholson
Kasiano

Walker
Philbin
Thomas
Minikin

I’m glad Leigh play in Faux leopard skin otherwise I might furget which club half their squad is playing for.

I've heard they're starting with the the same team, as Leigh Leopards never change their spots.

Good to see Luke Thomas get a run out - he impressed me last year. So we're currently missing McGuire, Harrison, Dudson and Bullock from the pack. Will be a good test tonight.