I would go with the following team v Leeds:

Hardaker
Hallsall
Faz
Isa
Bibby
Hastings
Tommy
Singo
Powell
Bullock
Bateman
Smithies
Partington

Havard
Byrne
Shorrocks
Smith

So would I, hope Gildart is back soon though - hate seeing Faz in the centres.

Is french injured?

I hoped we'd have had someone back this week. French, so we're told, isn't injured just not up to speed. At half speed Bevan is faster than anything Leeds can throw at us. Surely he can't be that far off as far as our plays or moves go? It's weeks since Manfredi broke his thumb isn't he anywhere near fit yet?
The club give injury updates but they leave us no wiser than before.

If no one is back I'd go with TD's players but have the backs with Bibby & Isa right side with Farrell and Halsall on the left.

Discipline will have to improve at Leeds or else they'll get set re-starts every time they are in possession.

The middle forwards will need to go up a gear or two if Leeds can muster up the energy to play like yesterday. It was a really impressive effort from Leeds and their young backs look in advance of ours physically. I can’t see French playing thinking back to the Hastings situation. If they’re giving him a similar programme it’ll be the following week.

Same team as Tricky for me but with Havard and Bullock swapping around. I’d be half tempted to have a look at Clark or Kilner in place of Harry Smith.

Nah. It's still practically the preseason in the eyes of Lam & the club so why bother playing him.

BTW I realise that's harsh, but I'm pretty bored of it all tbh. We've (rightly) had many conversations on here about self fulfilling prophecies and how if we continue to put the
British game down and say how there's a lack of stars, then we'll never climb back up as a sport...

Well this is Wigan Vs Leeds. Two of the biggest teams in the history of the British game & a real highlight of the fixture schedule. We need our biggest players (for both teams) out there. Not resting one of our best after 4 months off, especially when he's supposedly been following a club plan & have a mid season break lined up too.

Don't think it's to do with his actual "speed" Ted

I think like others, assuming French isn't fit enough to return yet, the only change from the last Super League game would be Halsall on the wing for Hanley. Bullock hasn't been excelling recently but despite a decent game against York I can't see Tony Clubb being a better option and Clark seems to have no route into the side.

Leeds have quite a few players missing in the outside backs too so presumably forwards are going to be key for both sides.

On the assumption that French won’t be considered then I think that you have it spot on
Marshall and Manfredi trained on Saturday but I believe both are a few weeks away yet. I’ve heard next to nothing about Gildart

French will play this week.

Looks like Leeds won't have any recognised half backs and are in the same boat as us centre wise.
If our pack stands up to theirs you'd hope we'll have enough guile in Hastings and co to see us home.

I think we should Chuck french in on the wing and if Gildart still isn’t fit I would give halsall a go at centre as he went well vs York.

Hardaker
French
Halsall
Isa
Bibby
Hastings
Leuluai
Singleton
Powell
Havard
Farrell
Bateman
Partington

Smith
Smithies
Shorrocks
Bullock

Talk this morning is that Eastmond will probably debut. I don’t think that’s a bad thing from our POV. He might get back in to the swing of Rugby League in a couple of months but I’d imagine he’ll be blowing in his first game back after a year away from any rugby and 10 years or so of standing with his hands in his pockets before that.

I’d imagine Wigan will try and make the game as uncomfortable as possible for him. Keep running at him with the ball and pressure him when he has it.

Me too, unless he's so far off that they're worried about French picking up an injury. Don't want to throw Hanley under the bus when he's still so young, but he's obviously being targeted at the end of sets and so far, he's struggled. They'd probably target French in a similar way, but at least we'd have his attacking threat to go with it.




Hope so! He might end up making me look stupid, but I can't see him being anything other than a liability until much later in the season. Unless they're paying him buttons, I think it's a shocking signing to be honest.

He’ll probably rip us a new one but I agree. The lad was a sick note the last time he was in league and that was when he was young, fresh and hadn’t been stood on the wing, warming his hands in Union for ten years. I doubt they’ll start him even with their injuries but he could play for 40/50 mins from the bench and I wouldn’t be against that.

French in contention according to Lam although they will check on him later in the week, I’d put him on the left wing for a few games to build his match fitness.

Sounds like Manfredi maybe next week.

The biggest team in the history of the British game and a team in our shadow

It sounds a 50/50 on French. Whatever happens, I just hope we can get these lads back at least a week before the cup game to give them some miles in their legs. A back line of French, Manfredi, Hardaker, Gildart and Bibby (or jigged round if Hardaker stays at fullback) for that game would be ideal and much needed.

I think that's the plan, although I have worries about Gildart.

Same here, no mention of him at the briefing

There was - no timescale mentioned but sounds like he's back in training building up his fitness. Manfredi should be able to come straight back in as his injury hasn't stopped him training.

Tetevano suspended for Thursday as it stands.

Not long back from Australia, I haven’t heard anything about him playing this week yet. If he is available if put him on the wing with Bibby as his centre freeing Faz up to go into the back row

1. Hardaker
2. French (Halsall if French not playing)
3. Bibby (Faz if French not playing)
4. Isa
5. Halsall (Bibby if French not playing)
6. Hastings
7. Tommy
8. Byrne
9. Powell
10. Singleton
11. Faz
12. Bateman
13. Partington

14. Bullock
15. Smith
16. Kilmer
17. Smithies

“Gildart is different because he’s been behind on the running and the workload because of the injury.”

“Dom gets his hand out of his cast in two days time. His physical side is bang on as he’s been able to do everything else. He won’ be far away. “

The head coach also provided an update on Bevan French and his likely return to full fitness.

“He will be part of the squad this week no doubt. He’s better off than he was a couple of weeks ago. We will give him the rest of the week to see if he is good to play at the back end of the week.”


From this I’d guess

French back this week

Manfredi the week after

Gildart the week after.

Byrne has a 1 match penalty notice for "dangerous contact". I assume this will mean he's unavailable for the game against Leeds.

It's a shame as I felt like our game has improved when Havard and Byrne have come off the bench in all 3 previous matches so far.

Lam will probably select Clubb as a replacement but I'd go with either Clark or Kilner.

Missed the bit about Gildart, cheers !