Impressive display from Wigan. Thought King looked very dangerous with ball in hand his ability to offload is going to cause teams some problems this year.

Smith looks to have upped his physicality and Cust looked very dangerous. KPP another lad who looks to have picked up his physicality.

Some nice touches around the ruck from all our 9s.

Field and French carrying on where they left off, Cooper looked very good in his spell too. Smithies looks every bit a Wigan 13.

Few bits to work on, sliding defence was caught out a few times in the first half.

Only negative for me was Mago who came up with 2 errors in his short spell.

Can only be pleased. Some tightening up to do in defence, with a bit of line jumping going on but that’s understandable.

The attack is going to be extremely dangerous again, probably more so with a clear increase in quality in the centres. I thought Cust was extremely impressive and there were nice touches from many others. I really liked what Forber brought again in his short spell. If you have a team coming at you with Field, French, Cust etc and guys like KPP and King offloading, the last thing you need adding is a guy sniping at you from dummy half as well.

Very impressive first hit out. Cust was outstanding in all areas but what really stood out from a team perspective was the amount of offload. Cooper, Mago, KPP and Toby King all look to be adept in this area. King was excellent with his offloads today and both centres seem to have added threat to the team. We'll be a hard team to prevent scoring this year, even more so than last.

Particularly encouraging was that we didn't seem to lose anything when the replacements came on. We still looked a threat.

Was a good hit out.

Like you mentioned about the sliding defence was mainly on Kings side which hopefully just put it down to the partnership developing

I didn’t see the other error from Mago but the first one looked like he had the ball reefed. To his credit he looked to be doing more mins. He had some good drives and was looking for the offload

Salford looked good. Bit rusty like but should be causing teams problems this year

I thought that both our half backs played well today. We are going to score plenty of points this season and, if our forwards can step it up we will be a real threat. I was slightly disappointed with O’Neil, Mago and KPP today, I think they need to inject themselves more into the game. After saying that, they are probably still blowing the cobwebs away. We have some exciting younger players coming through the ranks. Forber’s cameo was great and if he continues his development at this rate he will pushing for a place in the first team next season. Eckersley and Douglas look good athletes and if Junior can get aggression into his game he could be a top forward.

Overall, a good workout with a lot more to come.

Very good - as good as you could expect from a pre season game. The first try was a cracker.

King was the biggest plus - looked far more energetic. Clearly been told to look for the offload.

Shame that Mago came up with some errors - I suspect the squad numbers are an accurate reflection and he's 6th choice prop atm.

Suspect Forber will overtake O'Neill.

My main takeaways

Was interesting that Havard and Cooper started. Wonder have they overtaken Singleton?

For the vast majority of last year, Smith played on the right and Cust the left. They were the opposite today. Both naturally left sided. They played well today.

Two centres looked good. King had 5 quality offloads in the first half, but he defence worries me.

Attacking brand of rugby seems to still be with us, first try was a beauty.

KPP looked superb.

Good hit out and it was nice to see two centres. I expected Warddle to be decent but had little questions over King but I thought he was very good also and seems really happy. Bevan and Jai only need a sniff to turn nothing into something that edge of the seat rugby is a pleasure to watch. Marshy is relentless pound for pound as good as any. Miski must be best back up reserve winger finishing well both times. Smith looks like Tommy has been teaching him how to drop that shoulder and twitch it into ribs the rest of his play looks comfortable and Cust was also very good today, both leading the chase well off down field kicks. I though Cust especially when Forber came on with his sharp passing and scoots from acting half, seemed to benefit, it seemed to give our ball players more time I can't see how Forber won't force his was into the team sooner rather than later, very exciting player. For me everyone else was solid Mago's mistakes was down to a lifted leg and a strip both pens on a different day the whack to his lower back ended his time pretty quickly so hard to judge. Smithies Havard Cooper Ellis looked solid same with back row.
We got stretched when they moved the ball, but not many better teams ball in hand and they only got the one score. Bit of work needed on way we slide but should come with time. Best thing is the young lads all look able to make the step up I wouldn't have an issue with them being used on occasions.
Good game for Sam's testimonial well deserved.

I don't like to read too much into friendlies, but both King and Wardle looked good yesterday.

It should be a breath of fresh air to have 2 out and out centres in there this season. I suspect the 2 of them will make us realise just how much we’ve been ‘making do’ these past few seasons with guys like Bibby (who I like as a utility), Isa and KPP going in there on a regular basis.

Not to mention Faz. It's not only that we lost out from not having genuine centres in there but also that we had those covering not in their best positions too. A doubly whammy, if you will. Faz is one of (if not the) best 2nd rowers in the competition and, even though he never let anyone down at centre, losing him from the 2nd row, in effect, reduces his own quality. Same might be said for KPP for that matter.

King and Wardle both looked a major step up from what we had last year and you'd only expect that to become better as partnerships and combinations bed in. That Eckersley looks the part too should mean that we can cover injuries better before needing to look to the second row. We now have 4 players, once Thornley is back, able to slot into the centres.

Centres playing at centre, nah, it’ll never catch on

Eckersley looks a real talent and seems comfortable across the backline. He reminds me a little bit of Wardle in how he moves, with good footwork challenging defenders.

It’s funny how the game goes, in that for a few years we’ve struggled in the centre position but we’ve had so many options in the second row and that could flip round in this next year or two. We’ll definitely have to go overseas for a second rower or two in 2024. I look at the squad lists around Superleague and realistic options are almost non existent.

A few of those young lads look like they could be the real deal. Eckersley, Forber and Hill all look like they're ready at this level. Hill is probably already challenging for the match day 17 and a couple of the more established props will have to up their game to retain their place. Forber was the best of our hookers yesterday too.

I agree regards the 2nd row although you would hope that Nsemba with a couple more years on him would be in the mix and I've also liked the look of Beardsworth when I've seen him play. Plenty of the Mick Cassidy workhorse about him and I say that in a very positive sense.

I watched Beardsworth in the flesh at Whitehaven and on the coverage at Barrow and I like his workrate with and without the ball. My only worry would be that he killed a few attacks as he seemed to struggle to get his head up and pass the ball but that was only a couple of games and it’s very early days.

As for the other youngsters, we seem to have let a few go and really cherry picked what we think are our best across the park. The 6 who have first team numbers are a winger, centre, halfback, prop, hooker and a back rower. Hopefully they’re the right ones and I’m confident they are. All could see opportunities this season because of how we’ve set the squad up.

I reckon everyone on here will pick the same 1-7 and 11 12 13 for HKR, only question is who starts at prop and how many are on the bench ?
I'd go for 3 plus a utility but I could understand 4 weather dependant.

I personally would go with Byrne, powell + Cooper starting and Singo Ellis Isa O'neil on the bench.

Field
French (assuming nothing comes of the ice pack)
King
Wardle
Marshall
Cust
Smith
Cooper
Powell
Ellis
Farrell
KPP
Smithies

Havard
Singleton
Mago
Isa

I assume Byrne is still banned? otherwise he starts, Ellis to bench and Mago out.

Was a hard pick between Isa and O'Neill, both bring cover in different ways (O'neill can play hooker or loose, Isa can play Second Row or Centre / allow KPP or Farrell to go centre) but i think Isa allows cover to more positions.

I think Ellis starting might be a tad controversial of a pick, but my thought process is that it could help alleviate the drop off in intensity we saw when the forwards rotated in the Salford friendly, i think Singleton & havard coming off the bench looks stronger and more balanced than Singleton and Ellis. I would look to rotate Mago in as late as possible against a more tired defence.

Edit - just checked Byrne only had a 1 match ban so changing my initial picks around, Ellis to bench, Mago out.

Just read Byrne had a slight knee injury but Peet confident he’ll be sound for Round 1

No Havard?

Byrne and Cooper to start

Ellis and Havard on the bench.

Won't happen however and Singo will play and continue to offer absolutely nothing to team. I'll await the "hE dOeS ThInGs yOu CaNt SeE" reply.

He does the little things not seen by us



He wasn’t the best against Salford. He has it in him to be a decent option. When he returned from his ban and he had a stint when we first signed him he was great for us. He needs to find that form again. I think they see him now as a bit of a leader when Cooper goes off.

I honestly forgot about him, he deffo goes in ahead of Singo for me.

Singleton looked very slow and lethargic the other day, can’t recall if he was at fault for Borough’s clean break.

Lost his starting spot too.

Wonder if he’s not had a good preseason?

Well well well would you look at that "The WarringtonWolve69"

Hill has gone out on loan as confirmed last night. Its almost like I do have a contact after all.....