Wigan: Phelps, Roberts, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards, S. Tomkins, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Coley, Hansen, J. Tomkins, O'Loughlin, Prescott, McIlorum, Bailey, O'Carroll, Mossop, Goulding

Leeds: Webb, Delaney, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Sinfield, Diskin, Bailey, Kirke, Burgess, Pitts, Coady, Ambler, Bush.


Feka doesn't even make the 19 man squad now, replaced by Mcilorum.

I'm struggling to see what's supposedly so weak about that Leeds side. Bar the notable absence of Peacock they look very impressive to me.

McIlorum in for Deacon, though doubt he'll get a game this week.

Leeds have named Buderus, Sinfield and Hall in their 19. None have played for four weeks or so. They look good on paper, how they'll go on the field we shall see Friday night.

No excuses for Leeds really!
Bailey and Goulding would miss out for me.

Still a Pretty Good team, but would look even better with Donald, Watkins, Peacock, Ablett, Eastwood available.

Plus bear in Mind Hall/Delaney/Buderus/Sinfield have all missed quite a lot of Games recently so may be under cooked?

Truth is, They're still an impressive unit with 4/5 Very Good players missing However we won't get a better chance than this.

Their starting 13 looks pretty useful, but it's on the bench where we look to have a big advantage.

It's no worse than any other team have had to deal with. I have always thought leeds have been lucky with injuries.

We have had plenty of injuries over the past 3 years an some long term ones, nothing like what we have right now but the myth of no Leeds injuries is just that.

Glad you cleared that up with those well chosen facts to back up your argument!

I don't think MM will get a game this week, though I could be wrong. It's good to have him coming back with Easter almost upon us. Things don't look good for Feka at all, do they?

Goulding and McIlorum to miss out for me.

looks like were at full strength. we need to do a professional job come friday. hope we can turn them over. I am still extremely curious as to what has happened to fekka. It will be interesting to see the final 17 with everyone available for selection.

Buderus and Hall only missed last week, as did Bailey. Sinfield hasn't played since the WCC. Like one of the others said, we look okay with the first 13. Eastwood is the big dissapointment for me, he was beginning to look a real threat out wide for us, improving with each game. Albeit only 3 or 4 games but there were some good signs there.

What's happened with Feka, just not producing the goods? The couple of times I've seen him this season the weight he's lost seems to have taken away his impact?

The coaches want the team Super Fit, but Feka just isn't. He's fitter than last year but he's not up to the standard the coaches want, which is a shame because theres no better impact prop than him when hes on his game.

Great to see Micky Mac back in the frame.

I get the feeling we'll see a hige improvement from him too under the new regime.

thought they might have put deacon on the bench with tomkins going off on sunday

I think Mickey Mac will be in the 17. Goulding and O'Carroll to miss out.

That's what I mean, does the fact the coaches want a team like that mean that an impact player like Feka has no place in the team? Sounds obvious I know, but the fact he has lost weight seems to have limited the metres he is making. Personally, I used to hate him coming on last year because he could completely change the momentum of a game with a couple of runs?

There was a similar debate on the Leeds board about Eastwood in the off season as to whether or not he was fit and the shape he was in etc. but having watched him, it doesn't seem to make much difference. You obviously want players in tip top shape playing the maximum amount of minutes but I think sometimes an impact player should be looked at as just that, may only play 30-35 minutes in a game but will change things for you. A shame really, was really looking forward to seeing him in action on Friday to seewhether or not the weight loss had made a negative or positive impact.

I think you'll be right. McIlorum might just turn out to be the kind of hooker that Madge really likes, he's superb in defense, plus he hit's really hard and is able to do long stretches at 9. Hopefully under Madge, McIlorum can add to his offensive capabilities, which while ok could do with a little attention if he's to become a permanent fixture at 9 for us.

Totally agree with this and will now hopefully put Riddell under pressure.

Also the new regime seem to think the same as me about feka - He just ain't good enough.

Goulding and Bailey to miss out for me.

The main game-changing moment I remember from him last year was when he came on against Warrington in the semi, and left a gap in the middle for them to run through (more than once).

You're certainly right about the momentum switching at that moment. It switched from us to them.

I know it wasn't totally Feka's fault. It memory serves, Phil Bailey was injured at roughly the same moment, so Fielden went off and Bailey went off - two tacklers - and in return we got the non-tackling Feka. Another cracking interchange from Nobby. So no, it wasn't entirely Feka's fault, but bearing that in mind, if the new coaches want a Feka to be a soldier capable of putting his body on the line, rather than a 10-minute luxury, then I'm inclined to go along with them.

Eastwood, Peacock, Donald, Ablett and Watkins all out so we have got a few excuses



But yeah, better team than expected, although Sinfield, Buderus and Hall are all 50/50 by the sounds of things. Which would of course change the Leeds line up immensely. Fingers crossed though.

Does anyone else remember a cracking comeback from Vicki on this forum a few years back when during the same discussion as this she retorted that Leeds had more players in prison than on the physio's bench - and that was the truth

Word on the street is delaney pulled up in training yesterday! And limped off not to be seen again. We might have what looks like a good squad but more than a few are playing with injuries.

I still fancy a Leeds win if delaney rumours turn out to be just that and hall, beds and sini are good to go!

Last season burrow, Webb, buderus, kirke, mcshane and donald had long term injuries. in 08 Leeds had long term injuries to mcguire, kirke, ablett, jjb, toopie and Brent webb. plus disco played with injections in the play offs and gf with a broken hand. 07 Ashley Gibson, scruton, Ali, sinfield and toopie.

Leeds have had their fair share of injuries! Leeds just seem to be pretty good at getting a team in top gear come the play offs which is the real trick.

I don't say this to troll at all, it's ok having all guns blazing now and picking up points like you are helps your chances in the play offs but it's no good
playing awesome now and limping out of the play offs having shot your load too early.