https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/05/ ... 4hjlKnbneq I'll be very surprised if Hill and Cooper don't play this weekend also seems like a game to keep Hampshire and Eckersley ticking over

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/05/ ... 4hjlKnbneq I'll be very surprised if Hill and Cooper don't play this weekend also seems like a game to keep Hampshire and Eckersley ticking over

No inside info on my part, but I feel we will go full strength this week and then rest a fair few v Wire next week. It hasn't served us well in the past, but I just have a nagging feeling that's the way we'll go.

It is always a fine balancing act around a cup final. I actually think the three bans could work in our favour because Cooper, Hill and then anyone else who feels they may be at risk when Byrne comes back should be absolutely flying to try and pinch a spot in that final team.

I'd go full strength this week and then take next week when it comes. I fully understand any concerns of losing momentum for the final by resting loads next week but things are a bit different now to how they were even a couple of years back because of the head injury sit down periods and the disciplinary.

Same team as last week for me with Hill and Cooper in for Ellis and Walters and Mago to start at loose forward.

We could theoretically go full pelt for the next 3 weeks knowing after Wembley we've got Cas, London and the international break before what's looking like the best run of fixtures all season in July

Agreed - I'm not convinced resting players before the cup final is the best approach (outside anyone with niggling injuries of course). Sometimes a week off works, sometimes it backfires. Maybe later in the year its more helpful but not necessarily when we're a third of the way through and just now hitting form.

I think we go as strong as possible this week then look to rotate the week after with players like Hampshire Eckersley Douglas Esseh Chan Makin Farrimond Forber Hill making the 17.

I’d also expect Walters to play given his lack of games so far this season as a bit of an audition fitness test for Wembley.

There's merit in the argument for not resting but the flip side of that coin is losing players to bans, concussion protocols etc. It's a gamble either way.

Agree on all of that.
Obviously Peet and his staff know all the players really well and they will know which players won’t mind being rested and some may want/need to play every week to maintain their form.
Which ever way Peet goes will be fine by me.

The result on Sunday comes into play a little as well I think. We could afford to lose one of the next two but I wouldn't want us to lose both.

Play full teams both weeks. Someone gets injured or banned, next man up mentality.

Bit sloppy to start this 2nd half

Subs like Hill, Dupree and Leeming have killed our momentum today.

Attitude looks a little off too, Salford look a bit more up for this 2nd half

Starting to get concerned about Field. There’s nothing there from him, lacking any zip and impact on the game, particularly in open play.

Job done boys was a bit concerned how we started 2nd half, but credit we stuck in there

We never got out of second gear in the second half and, to be honest, we didn’t need to. The weather didn’t help either side.

I think a lot of those lads knew it was their last game before the final and it showed.

It was a very cautious effort from some.

Don’t really have much more to say, job done, move on.

The main highlight for me was the performance of Keighran again who is continuing to improve and look more like the player we brought in from Catalans after a slow start.

The game was won at 18-0 and we then really took the foot off the gas. It’s pleasing to see the defence getting back to it’s best, with us now conceding only 6 points in each of our last 3 games and 8 in the one before that.

On to next week and it’ll be interesting to see what Peet does. We’re definitely not playing a full side, with him confirming post match that he’ll use the squad. I don’t think we’ll rest everyone but I could see 7 or 8 getting a week off. At the very least I’d be resting Thompson given his past concussion issues and Field given they’ve said he’s been carrying an issue.

You'd imagine Ellis and Walters will play next week, probably Leeming and Forber to share the 9 role, outside backs we've probably got 2 senior ones playing with only Eckersley and Douglas being named in a 21 this year.
Not convinced wholesale changes does us any favours to be honest

I think we can afford to rest a host of forwards so for me Thompson, O'Neill, Havard, Dupree and Nsembe get a night off.
Cooper, Leeming, Byrne, Faz, Walters and Mago to start with Hill, Forber, Eseh and Makin/Chan on the bench.

The backs are a bit more problematic as we do not have the same depth but ideally it would be good to have French, Smith, Wardle and Field sat in the stands.

Wigan got the job done but the main thing I took out of that game (and the weekend's fixtures) is the dreadful state the competition is in.

Half the teams in the competition are awful. Such a lack of intensity, pace, innovation and atmosphere in almost all of the games played. It really felt like a pre season game today and even the Saints v Leeds game felt so flat.

I really fear for the longer term viability of rugby league as a full time sport. Part of me thinks that televising all of the games is actually exposing the sport for what it is. The shocking decline of Hull, the Yorkshire clubs (even going back to Bradford) and the farcical situation with London has led to so many lopsided fixtures, a lack of excitement and a real low point for the sport. The rise of the NRL and the lack of any real innovations to shift RL's standing in the sporting landscape over here doesn't inspire confidence either.

Hope it can be turned round in time but we've got a long way to travel to get to where we need to be.

Hard to disagree, as I just watched the Warriors' heroic efforts against the Dolphins, and the mega tussle between the Broncs and the Titans. So yeah, not enough strong teams in SL. but our next two games are our toughest test yet.

The Aussie press was highlighting the star players missing before their magic weekend, I watched all the games and most were as entertaining as any NRL games all season.

Another straightforward win where we didn’t get out of second gear.

Next week I’d go

Hampshire (Field probably still carrying a knock)
Miski
Keighran
Eckersley (he should get a game as he’s the next man up should any of the 3/4s get hurt)
Marshall
French
Smith
Havard (Still working back to fitness)
Leeming
Cooper
Nsemba
Walters
Ellis

Mago
Byrne
Hill
Forber

Thompson/O’Neill/Farrell/Field/Wardle getting rests.

Miski, Keighran, French, Nsemba all to play to keep working together defensively as they are still fairly new combination.

I’d understand resting Smith/French though.

I can't imagine MP will rest Smith.