https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2022/04/ ... salford-2/

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2022/04/ ... salford-2/

Field
French
Halsall
Thornley
Marshall
Cust
Smith
Singleton
O'Neil
Byrne
Farrell
Bateman
Smithies

Mago
Havard
Ellis
Shorrocks/Isa

This but I suspect he'll go Bibby instead of Halsall. Hope not.

I'd play Thornley with French too, to bring the ball out of hard yards

Interesting team selection again.

O’Neill has been mentioned by Peet but can’t see him playing 80 minutes. Shorrocks to do a stint there or French to jump in the halves with Cust covering 9? Id prefer the later option.

Also think we’ve found our best forward pack (Bryne, Singleton, Ellis, Mago, Havard at prop and Farrell, Bateman, Smithies back row). No room for Isa and Partington.

Also the outside backs are up in the air, Marshall is set for left wing.

Thornely seemed first choice right wing at the start of the year but Miski was praised by Peet.

Bibby has been poor, especially the last 2 weeks. Think everyone would like to see Halsall get extended go.

Could be an opportunity to rest a few starters before a short turnaround at the Wire game (maybe Isa in for Farrell), maybe bring in Partington for one of the props.

I think that you could be spot on with this.

Personally l’d put Bibby on the wing and French on the bench replacing Shorrocks.
As much as I like Shorrocks he just isn’t a hooker.
We could replace O’Neil with Cust and put Field in the halves with French to FB.

Peet pretty much confirms on Wigan TV that O’Neill gets the starting shirt and Shorrocks covers him from the bench as and when he needs a rest.

That’ll do for me. Really looking forward to seeing what O’Neill can bring. Every time I’ve seen him, he that here, in the academy or on loan, he’s impressed me.

Great to see Peet has selected a strong squad rather than playing the victim.

I don't want us to lose too much experience especially with Powell and Leuluai missing but if we could get through this game whilst also giving a couple of players a rest that'd be ideal I'd say.

Peet said Singleton was carrying a knock on Monday but still put his hand up and put in a great performance. The way he has played these last two games, he will be important going into the Warrington away fixture and the semi final. I'd personally rest him. Then I'd maybe use Isa instead of Farrell or Smithies to give one of them a breather.

Yeah agreed, we have Partington and Isa who didn’t play Monday so I’d play them.

On the training footage on Wigan TV it looked like Thornley was training at right centre and French right wing.

I’d go

Field
French
Thornley
Halsall (but will be Bibby)
Marshall
Cust
Smith
Ellis
O’Neill
Byrne
Bateman
Isa
Smithies

Shorrocks
Havard
Partington
Mago

Halsall misses out for Bibby, O'Neil starts, Singleton rested

Disappointed bibby is playing he's been poor last couple of games, Halsall should of been given the nod at centre instead

What a remarkably stupid team we still are. Kick the ball on the second tackle and give Salford a seven tackle set, then concede on the set.

Poor discipline and individual errors again, we just can't start a game well.

Having a shocker is harry smith, two wrong option's in attack, then a bad missed tackle leading to two tries conceded

Harry Smith badly exposed today thus far.

He’s one of our own Smith and you want him to do well but a four year contract was crazy. I think he’s one of the poorest halfbacks in the league from what we’ve seen this year. You can reel off at least 10 names before you’d get to wanting him controlling a team.

Few mistakes granted but I think some are being a bit harsh on Smith. He’s gaining confidence minute but minute, game by game. I’m yet to be fully convinced mind but I’m nowhere near writing him off.

O’Neill on the other hand; superb first half. It just leaves me wondering why we’ve waited so long to give him a game. His distribution from the ruck has been brilliant.

Ellis is having a good game as well, we really have missed his presence. I am worried about our centres though, there just doesn’t seem to be any strike there at all and if we shift it out wide instead of our centres creating space or hitting a gap, we’re looking to Field to do that for us.

Was interesting to see Smith run the line of the second rower and swap with Farrell. I just don’t get it with him. He’s a solid/average half back.

Our centres I think we have to accept we can only get so far this year until the crazy squad building over the last few years has been corrected.

Some better play from Smith later on in the half. A mixed bag from O'Neill as well - some smart play around the ruck but caught out of position in defence a few times. It'll be a learning process and they'll have the opportunity to improve knowing they'll be starting for the next few weeks.

Some seriously weak defence this game from us

The whole shape of the team looks off. From the timing of runners to the actual set up of each set. We aren’t getting the right width on each side of the pitch for runners to use space.

Doesn’t help with O’Neill being off and Shorrocks in at hooker. Is it really that difficult to put players in positions they play in? The ruck distribution has gone to pot and our decent offense with it.

Shorrocks isn’t good enough to play in any position for us if we want to even consider a challenge in the future. He’s a good squad filler at best.

We have got to be one of the daftest teams in the league at times

Some of the lowest skill levels amongst the league. Constant reliance on French/Field magic is all we’ve got.