Sitaleki Akauola, Ryan Atkins, Kevin Brown, Mitch Brown, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Dominic Crosby, Ben Currie, Bryson Goodwin, Chris Hill, Jack Hughes, Tom Lineham, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Declan Patton, Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford, Tyrone Roberts, Morgan Smith, Ben Westwood

No Russell!

Matty Russell missing. Philbin included.

Morgan Smith & Ben Westwood to miss out for me. It's pointless having Smith on the bench if he's not going to play.

THANK GO FOR THAT! It's taken Price 3 competitive games to work out that Russell is complete and utter cack.

Ratchford

Lineham
Goodwin
Atkins
M. Brown

K. Brown
Patton

Hill
Clark
Cooper
Currie
Hughes
Philbin / Crosby (Philbin if cleared to play)

Roberts
Murdoch-Masila
Akauola
Westwood / Crosby (philbin starts at 13 if cleared to play, Crosby to the bench)

There's question marks over why BMM was on the bench at Widnes, an injury was suggested leading in to the game, which is maybe why he was benched. I think if he is fit he will start, although he certainly adds impact off the bench...

I think if Philbin isn't fit, Price will start with Westwood at 13. Philbin absolutely to start if fit, had a great end to 2017 and a great start to 2018.

BMM was doing a late fitness test / special work in the corner with Jon Clarke during the warmup last week, hence coming off the bench last week. I'd have BMM starting this week as he's obviously now fit.

I'd pick literally squad numbers 1-13 starting (providing Roberts is actually fit), with the obvious Brown in for Russell.

Roberts isn’t match fit though, nowhere near. I think he’d have more impact coming off the bench when Wigan start to tire. He’s completely unpredictable and could wreak havoc against some jet-lagged props.

At last Russell is replaced, Needs to leave Westwood out aswell.

Roberts to start: even a half fit Roberts will create more. Smith on the bench to cover half/hooker, BMM to start at Lose/2nd Row alternating with JH. Bench of Sita, Smith, Crosby and Joe Philbin. Westwood nowhere near the 17, could cost us if he is.

Good idea, throw a half fit Roberts a starting shirt in one of the most physically demanding fixtures of the season and knacker him for another run of games. do the sensible thing and bring him on in the 2nd half against a jetlagged and fatigued Wigan side for Patton. Patton can play a dummy half role then if required for clark.

If he's not fit to start, he doesn't play for me.

Assuming not due to injury this is complete and total vindication of all those on here who expressed the view that Russell's is not good enough to warrant a place. Those who cited that we were "hysterical" and that he played well at Widnes perhaps need to have a re-think.

Good on Price for dropping him.

Well said.

He's got a good scoot though... Give him a chance at hooker...

If Roberts isn't fit don't chance him. If he's fit he starts.

coaching 101 if you put a suspect player on the bench and he has to come on for injury, then gets hurt it's 2 substitutions down. Start him and it happens it's just 1.

by the way, this is the strongest 19 we have so it'll be a good indicator of how we'll do this year.

I personally have no real problems with your view that we could be stronger with a new winger. I'm pleased that Brown is to be given a chance. My main argument with "karetaker" and "movin on" is the repetition of personal attacks on our players ... at the moment it's Matty Russell who is the victim. Too negative, personal and just too insulting for my liking.

Because he's complete and utter dog poop who doesnt get ahead of any player, in any position, in any SL team.

Just on cue you give another example. I rest my case.

I can be as repetitive as I like till change is made, it’s not my intention to insult anyone,if I don’t like what I see in front of me I’m going to say so. As for negativity il say so what, would you have me clap them off the park even if I deemed it to not be deserved? I can take defeat if I think they have played well, if the other team as played that bit better then so be it.

Agree with Price not playing Russell against Wigan.

However, he has revealed his hand too early. Wane has focussed Wigan`s attack against Russell in recent times, & would without doubt tried again on Friday.

With Russell in our 19 man squad, they would have been planning all week, to exploit him, only to find-out just before kick-off, that he wasn`t playing.

Unfortunately, no matter what people's views are on Russell he is a player under contract & due to the threadbare nature of this year's squad he will soon be back in the front line because we don't have a lot of players to choose from. It will be a big feather in the cap of the coaching staff if they can turn him into a better player.
Incidentally,what has happened to the young world beater we signed from Cas?

Makes sense, but would you waste a 19 spot on a player knowing barring injury he definitely won’t be playing.

Exactly this. But make the "if" IF.

Clark to do 80 mins for me.

You don't believe Wane wouldn't know what team we would play?
Anyways. Pies have a structured game. It wouldn't make much difference to SW.