What we thinking?

Looks like Powell and G Burgess will drop out, so two players at least will come in. I thought Havard nailed his spot down tonight and another youngster in Harry Smith is likely to get his chance to do similar next week.

I’d go-

French
Marshall Hardaker Bibby Burgess
H Smith Hastings
Byrne Leuluai Bullock
Isa Farrell Lockers

Subs
Clubb Partington Havard Smithies

You’ve nailed it Nicky.

Massive chance for Smith to nail down the shirt.

One suggestion Borough on the bench too? Has Tommy got 80 min in him in the middle.

Bourouh’s defence worried me a bit in pre season but it would be handy to carry that back up. It could well be a chance for Jake Shorrocks.

It’s nice to have a few names to throw round.

Does Bourough not come in as 9? Be interesting to see if we decide that French is definitely our number 1 or move him to the halves as below


Zak
Marshall Bibby Hank Burgess
French Hastings
Partington Leuluai Clubb
Faz Isa Lockers

Bourough Byrne Havard Bullock/Flower

I sense he’ll stay at fullback from Lams comments about him setting the league alight. I think he’d hold back if he had plans to change his role.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens if Flower is available. I can’t for the life of me think Bullock could miss out.

This
Personally I would have have smithies over Isa but think you maybe right

We do need some consistency in our team selections. Too often we make 4 or 5 changes to replace one player.

In Smith, Shorrocks and Burrough we surely have enough to replace like for like.

French
Marshall Hardaker Bibby Burgess
Hastings Smith
Partington Tommy Bryne
Isa Farrell Lockers

Bullock Havard Smithies Borough

Clubb will have to do better to hold a spot down.

We should have signed Walker from Widnes.

Not sure TL can do 80 mins at 9. Asking Smith to 80 mins is another big ask.
Can see Lam playing Lockers at 6 and Smith on the bench.
Half back and hooker will be the selection problem the rest of the team seems to pick itself.

After Powell went off, they had the option of Isa to centre Hardaker full back and French to the halfs. At Cas could bring Hankinson in and do the Hardaker back to full back and French in the halfs

1 - Hardaker
2 - Marshall
3 - Hankinson


4 - Bibby
5 - Burgess
6 - French
7 - Hastings
8 - Byrne
9 - Leuluai
10 - Clubb
11 - Farrell
12 - Isa
13 - O’Loughlin

14 - Smithies
15 - Havard
16 - Partington
17 - Buroughoughoughough

Why the disappointment at Hankinson playing?

FB 6 French
RW 2 Marshall
RC 1 Hardaker
LC 23 Bibby
LW 5 J.Burgess
SO 13 O'Loughlin
SH 31 Hastings
P 14 Flower*
H 7 Leuluai
P 17 Partington
SR 11 Isa
SR 12 Farrell
LF 16 Smithies

S 8 Clubb
S 15 Greenwood
S 20 Byrne
S 28 Smith

*Clark or Havard to come in if Flower still isn't match fit.

I'm not keen on the idea of throwing Smith in for 80 mins away at Cas, very tough situation for an inexperienced player. Give him a run off the bench with a view to maybe starting him against Toronto. Lockers gives us a safe pair of hands in the halves without changing the whole team around. He's come through in that position loads of times for us.

What's the crack with Greenwood? Can't believe he's gone from England starter to Wigan reserve so quickly

Will Smithies be banned for a gouge ?

Not a chance We should move french from fb! Looked great last night there and that’s clearly his best position. Doesn’t have to organise and gets to pop up wherever and is way more of an attacking threat than zak.

Really not a fan of moving loads of players about to accommodate others.

I’d play tommy at 9, smith and Hastings in the halves and Shorrocks on the bench.

George Burgess surely won’t be playing so does clubb start with Partington or does bullock come in and have Byrne, smithies and Havard on the bench with Shorrocks to give tommy a rest?

Three forwards on the bench with Shorrocks giving tommy a rest is the way I’d go. Interesting to see what he does with the bench spots.

I don’t think he’s good enough. Not quick enough, not creative, if someone runs at him he will tackle them but his positional play in defence is poor, his goal kicking is sublime but that’s it. I just don’t see what he brings to the team, I’d rather play one of the Academy lads there to be honest.

He's strong for a centre and has a good offload due to his size IMO. Obviously I've not picked him but don't think he's a bad squad player whilst he's not really taking gametime off anyone. If someone pulled out injured during the warm up before a knockout game I'd feel much more confident throwing Hankinson in there than asking Halsall to debut or moving Isa there.

I’d rather play Isa there to be honest. I’d rather play Manfredi there too.

Nah, they will find it “inconclusive “ and give him a warning. Nothing to be worried about. Whichever player it was that ran in with raised forearm to the throat may have a little more to sweat on.

Nothing in that whatsoever, he was trying to fend him off

Nick Fozzard you mean?

It'll be interesting to see the reserve team that plays at Widnes tomorrow. That may give us some idea on who will play v Cas.
The Widnes v Wigan reserve game is live on Wigan t.v. kick off 2 p.m.

You going?