Looks very light in the three-quarters - no Hardaker



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That's a blow, probably Bateman and Bibby centres then, I personally wouldn't have Isa anywhere near this fixture, last few times he's played against Saints he's completely lost it, going down to 12 men will be a disaster

No word on what is up with Hardaker yet, I didn’t notice anything on Sunday. The main issue with that is goal kicking but I suppose to worry about that we need to score some trys



I’d go-

Field
Halsall Bateman Bibby French
Cust Leuluai
Singleton Powell Byrne
Isa Farrell Smithies

Subs
Mago Partington Havard Shorrocks

Field can kick can't he? Can't see you going with Smith purely for his goalkicking.

If Field does kick I imagine he will be similar to Makinson kicking for us. We certainly miss Coote for his goalkicking if nothing else. Makinson can be very hit and miss.

He gave it a whirl in pre season.

We’ll just leave it at that

That's the same 17 I quickly knocked up in my head when I saw your squad. In case you're interested we are most likely as follows:

Welsby, Hopoate, Hurrell, Percival, Makinson, Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Batchelor, Wingfield, Knowles
Lussick, LMS, Paasi, Norman

I don't want to sound overly negative, but that's a bad starting pack imo.

It performs above its station & has potential, but i think a neutral would look at it, especially going into the derby, and think it's undercooked. Add in Partington and Shorrocks on the bench and where's the point of difference? Faz aside, where's what consensus would class as a top forward?

It’s a bit of an Adrian Lam pack but there’s not much else we can do. We’re shy of Ellis and Pearce Paul and the outside back absences mean we’re probably going to move a second rower to centre. The only other option would be to pair Miski and Halsall and I can’t see us going down that route.

It’s a bit deflating that Hardaker absence because it’s thrown up a few problems (who plays centre, who kicks goals and then what you do with the second row after shifting people around) but I still think the players will give it a fair crack.

I would like Peet to go with that but have a niggly feeling he’ll go with Miski instead of Halsall due to his carries out of our own half. If we are in the game after the first 25/30 minutes when rotations come on to it, we have a fair chance.

Obviously not ideal facing Sts with 5 players out who would be around the 17 but it’ll be competitive IMO.

As a side note, I’m interested in people’s thoughts on how you play this Saints team? I thought Catalans provided some blueprint in terms of getting at them out wide quickly but Saints were comfortable overall in the end.

Sod it, give Halsall and Miski a run, let's see what they can do under pressure, I just don't see the point of putting a 2nd rower in the centres unless you've absolutely no other option

Undoubtedly they'll give it a good crack. It's refreshing to say that after the Lam years, but also I'm sick of just giving it a go Vs them too. I want to win.

For me, it's partly down to bad squad management. We're looking at KPP & Bateman as better options than Halsall or Miski. Miski especially, is taking up a quota spot. If he's not ready, then why sign him? It's great talking about depth, but only when you can use it.

According to Wikipedia Miski has kicked 10 goals for Lebanon.

It’s certainly looking like a strange signing. One thing I would say is we’ve been unlucky that the absences are stacking up in the outside backs. I’ve said before I think we can deal with 5 or 6 injuries at a time and I believe we can but you wouldn’t want most of those to be in the same areas. Had everyone been fit, I think there’s a fair chance Hardaker, KPP, Marshall and Thornley would all start the game.

I’d go with one of Miski or Halsall but not both. I really like Halsall, so I’ve no concerns with him. I’ve no real concerns with Miski but it seems like Peet might have going off some recent selections. I’m not too down on Bateman starting in the centres. He’s had some outstanding moments these past few weeks and thinking back to them, a lot have come in spells at centre in the cup. Whatever we do, just please don’t put Isa there.

That’ll do, he’s in



Give it 12 months and he’ll be talked off like Frano Botica or Pat Richards.

I do hope Hardaker hasn't got a problem with that "bulging disc" in his neck. I noticed on Sunday that he was rubbing it after a tackle.

Hardaker a big loss on top of all the other missing three quarters. It's left an unbalanced look to the squad. With one of Hardaker, Thornley or KPP there it doesn't look quite as threadbare. Even Marshall on the wing would have allowed Halsall to centre and again not quite as disjointed looking. Halsall and Miski together with such little first team game time between them would be quite a risk.

That said, even though a win would be nice, I don't think it's the be all and end all of the season. Good Friday or not there are more important games on the horizon and I'd sooner have players fit then if given the choice.

5 out though. Is that an injury crisis in Saints terms?

Still good enough to get a result but need to play our best and take our chances. Hopefully a cracking intense game.

Looking forward to it.

My hope is that the result doesn't influence everyone's thoughts.

From a Saints point of view if we win and win well there will be lots of Saints fans that will say "see they aren't as good as they think they are, we've shown them who's boss etc"
From a Wigan point of view if they win there will be lots of Wigan fans that will say "see Saints aren't as good as they think they are" etc

In actual fact both teams irrespective of Friday's result will be up there all season and bar Catalans, the Grand Final Winners and CC winners is unlikely to come outside of those 3 teams.

One result won't define the season despite one team having the bragging rights.

Spot on Stu. The bragging rights would be great but that's all they are. I'd rather lose this and win the CC semi any time.

Mind you, winning both would do nicely!

If you go on the VT there was a thread before the season started which predicted final positions which had Wigan down as 4th to 7th. A certain Yorkshire based journalist on twitter also had us down as 5th.

We are close to where I predicted (3rd) which was more hope than expectation, due to last year's poor performances, a new coach and a number of new players.

Still plenty of time in the season yet to go massive awry but so far I'm happy. If we can compete on Friday and in the semi then even better, although our best chance of silverware is the Cup, so would have to cause an upset.

It wont influence my thoughts if saints so be it,if wigan win so be it .Move on and upwards to the next game.
Love these games

Bateman has played more games at centre that Halsall has had hot dinners.....Bateman at centre 100%

I quite like Bateman as a centre, he’s got his mojo and offload back and offers a threat there whist being able to help out the forwards. Also defensively strong.

Hardaker dropped for disciplinary reasons according to Peet in his press conference. Not ideal.

Can’t wait to wave Hardaker bye bye at the end of the year.