Will be interesting to see what Smith does on Sat selection wise.

Hopefully Carvell can return and Harrison to refresh the forwards, and poss rest Moz and McCarthy who deserves a break.

Don't fancy Solo in his current fitness state against the likes of Tomkins.

i can't see Sol getting a game, it would be a major mistake. i think even Steve Anderson could see that.

Put the strongest team out. Hopefully, make a statement.

Sol's next game will be Broncos/WQuins/London/FulhamRL (week before Wembley).
I can't see Smih risking him v Wigan (IF we are serious about the hubcap)
Smith will have the Devil's own job, on Thursday 23rd (my birthday) to name a squad for Wembley

Please don't mention that name. I still have nightmares about 2002. I can see Big Dave getting a run against London and widnes and that will be it for him. A shame if that's the case, because he's one of the best ball handling forwards I've ever seen.

I don't see any point at all in winning the hub cap. But, if we did go for the win, it would keep Wigan honest until the end of their season, rather than resting players for the play-offs.

It will be interesting to see what TS decides, but I would prefer him to rest at least 2 forwards?

I won't accept anything less than our strongest side.

What will you do if it's not then?

I think that TS will have to play his best or very near to best 17. The one game most Wire fans want to win each season is against Wigan at the HJ.

Assuming all fit except Bridge.

Hodgson
Riley
Atkins
Ratch
Joel
Lee
Richie
Carvell
Monas M
Hilly
Trent
Super Ben
Ben Harrsion

Mickey H
Woody
Moz
Grix

The one game I want to win is at Wembly in 3 weeks. After that I will start to think about OT.

Ratch at fullback, rest Hodgson, Evans in at centre, possibly stick o'brien in for a half back
Dwyer ?

This.

Business end of the season now. I’d like him to play the same 17 for all the remaining games. Won’t happen, but a core 13/14 need to bed in. Not knocking anything about tonight, but there was a lot in attack that didn’t quite stick, we got luckily and got away with not taking our chances. The intensity we had deserved more, we completely outplayed them, but it’s not slick is it? For example; Ratchford needs as many games as possible at centre if he is to play there in the big games

Sulk.

I'm not worried about this game now after last night. I was concerned about having Saints and Wigan back to back with a fairly short turn around, but now with five points between us and third we've got real breathing space.

Even if we were to win all our remaining games, including Saturday, I doubt we would finish top as I can't see Wigan losing again after that. Therefore the focus should be on securing the four points from eight that we require to secure second - with three very winnable games coming up after Wigan - and of course Wembley and the play offs.

As much as we all had a great night in Hull last year seeing us win the league for the first time in many of our lifetimes, as we then found out to our cost finishing top then not sealing the deal in the play offs is the equivalent of scoring a last minute try under the sticks after being five points behind then slicing the conversion wide. Jubilation to despair.

Beating Wigan would be nice. Finishing top would be nice. I won't be too upset if we don't do either though, and I don't think Tony Smith will be unduly concerned by it. Prepare for the bigger picture ahead.

Has that ever happened? I can't recall off the top of my head.

On the issue of Wigan; I think Warrington will win and then after that you can never underestimate the power of a desperate Saints to beat a Wigan that, between me and you, and by judging their performance in big games (CC Semi and against us) don't look the real deal. A win against Wigan and a shock Saints win against them too would, most likely, put us top.

As you say though, the emphasis this year must be on winning the GF and the CC (I mean both)

With regards to Wigan and in any sport where two top teams are playing, I think you need to look at the law of averages, we have breezed past them the last three league meetings so I think they're due a win against us. I hope I'm wrong though.

TS has been looking at the ''end goal'' from day 1 this year - more so than previously.

Even though there have been hiccups along the way we have a virtually fully fit squad which not a lot of teams can say and those that aren't fully fit do not have major injuries.

If Harrison has bust ribs then he needs more time to get right.
Bridges injuries need time and the right treatment but I know from personal experience that is can take time to sort achilles/knees out.
Carvell should be back but other than that I'd keep it the same.

I suppose TS could move Ratch to full back and Evans to centre.
Blythe seems to have dropped down the order which is a shame.

Strangely this game has become a bit irrelevant.

No arguments about the latter point, but I hope Tony gives Dave the chance to bow out at home against the Giants.

I'm sure we have managed to miss out of a draw in the last few years by missing a conversion, and I think we drew at Salford a few years back by missing the last second conversion that would have won the game.



You can't really apply statistics like that to sport, there are too many other factors involved. For example, we have a fully fit squad and they don't.

I would definitely like to see us really go for this game, as a win there not only takes the pressure off us for a top 2 finish but puts the pressure on Wigan if they want to finish 1st. They have to play Saints still which will be tough for them, and we know all too well how easy it is to underestimate Salford (though without Matty Smith they just aren't the same side). The focus is the cup and the playoffs, but I think we have enough depth to field good teams against London and Huddersfield, so why not put the pressure on Wigan to not make a mistake.

Spot on, and that bodes well. Last year was great for seven months but ended very badly so I'm very glad we look to be pacing ourselves better this year.



Arf. Too true. It feels a bit like the league game against them at their place the week after the 2009 Chellenge Cup semi. Win or lose there are bigger things ahead.

Indeed. We can beat them and doubt we will finish top as they won't drop points elsewhere. Second is now secure.

The game means more to Wiggun than it does to us.

Put the U20s out for a laugh and give them the experience.

Haven't Wigan still got to play HKR away & Saints at home yet? There wheels could still come off ,mind you so could ours !

Put them under pressure, full squad, play it hard. You can break a leg training, just ask Solo. Tire out the ever present Sam.