Burgess to prop.

Yes.

Burgess on the bench for me to add impact. That's if he's fit.

Correct in place of Jamie Peacock.

Props - Adrian Morley, James Graham, Eorl Crabtree, Sam Burgess
Back row - Gareth Ellis, Ben Westwood, Joel Tomkins

With Roby and Robinson at hooker and Lockers (or possibly Sinfield) at loose forward we have an excellent set of forwards. Widdop and Brough in the halves looks promising. Sam Tomkins at fullback - Ryan Hall and Tom Briscoe both capable on the wing.

Westwood should be the first name on the teamsheet for England based on recent performances.

But the fact is, Jamie Peacock will start for England come Four Nations time... Where does he slot Burgess in to the team? I'm positive Burgess will play, what with the hype and Mcbanana's Bradford connection with him...

Our backs and half backs at the moment are nowhere near good enough to compete with the Aussies and NZ!

1.Tomkins
2.Hall
3.Bridge
4.Yeaman
5.Briscoe
6.Widdop
7.Brough
8.Morley
9.Robinson
10.Graham
11.Ellis
12.Westwood
13.Heighington ( top player ..about time we took him up on his offer)

14.Burgess
15.Crabtree
16.J.Tomkins
17.Roby

who is Heightington?

13 for west tigers

Is he better than O'Loughlin?

very good player, think he'll be getting SOO and maybe Aussie reps soon enough

don't think we'll ever see him in an England jersey

Better than O'Loughlin? Who knows, he's just a very good player in a very good pack at Wests

He doesn't have the passing game of Lockers but we could move Burgess to prop and play him in the SR.

I'm suprised Keith Mason hasn't been called in to the squad, I know he has played for Wales before but lately I feel he could do a better job at prop than Peacock and Carvell. Peacock has been an outstanding player throughout his career but now I think he's relying on past reputation.

As for Widdop at 6, it can be quite easy to look good at 6 when you have Cronk at 7, Slater at 1 and Smith at 9. With Cronk and Smith doing the organising at Melbourne he will have no experience at that, with McBanana wanting to play Brough at 7 who also isn't an organiser we need an organsing 6.

My team would prob look like this come the four nations.

1 - S.Tomkins/Widdop
2 - Briscoe
3 - Yeaman
4 - Bridge
5 - Hall
6 - Brown/S.Tomkins/Widdop
7 - Brough
8 - Morley
9 - Roby
10 - Graham
11 - Ellis
12 - Westwood
13 - O'Loughlin
14 - Burgess
15 - Mason
16 - Crabtree
17 - Robinson

I would also like to see how McIllorum, Lomax, Gaskell, Mossop, Farrell, Prescott, BJB, Watkins, Welham, Atkins and certainly Larne Patrick perform over the season as I would be adding them to the squad to gain experience for the future especially Patrick and Mossop.

Quote ="post" As for Widdop at 6, it can be quite easy to look good at 6 when you have Cronk at 7, Slater at 1 and Smith at 9. With Cronk and Smith doing the organising at Melbourne he will have no experience at that, with McBanana wanting to play Brough at 7 who also isn't an organiser we need an organsing 6. '" What about the match on Monday when the Storm beat the Roosters, no Cronk/Smith/Slater, Widdop main playmaker, got a big write up from the Aus press about how good he was, how he controlled the game. Can't find the article, but the team line up is below. www.foxsports.com.au/league/matc ... RL20111405 I also don't why people are still deciding which way round to play Widdop + Sam, one has been playing stand off all season, the other has been playing fullback. Why on earth would you switch them around?

Quote ="post" As for Widdop at 6, it can be quite easy to look good at 6 when you have Cronk at 7, Slater at 1 and Smith at 9. With Cronk and Smith doing the organising at Melbourne he will have no experience at that, with McBanana wanting to play Brough at 7 who also isn't an organiser we need an organsing 6. '" What about the match on Monday when the Storm beat the Roosters, no Cronk/Smith/Slater, Widdop main playmaker, got a big write up from the Aus press about how good he was, how he controlled the game. Can't find the article, but the team line up is below. www.foxsports.com.au/league/matc ... RL20111405 I also don't why people are still deciding which way round to play Widdop + Sam, one has been playing stand off all season, the other has been playing fullback. Why on earth would you switch them around?

Quote ="inside_man"What about the match on Monday when the Storm beat the Roosters, no Cronk/Smith/Slater, Widdop main playmaker, got a big write up from the Aus press about how good he was, how he controlled the game. Can't find the article, but the team line up is below. www.foxsports.com.au/league/matc ... RL20111405 I also don't why people are still deciding which way round to play Widdop + Sam, one has been playing stand off all season, the other has been playing fullback. Why on earth would you switch them around?'" My thoughts exactly. We've got a stand off who controls games (to whatever degree) every week in the NRL. That's good enough for me.

Quote ="inside_man"What about the match on Monday when the Storm beat the Roosters, no Cronk/Smith/Slater, Widdop main playmaker, got a big write up from the Aus press about how good he was, how he controlled the game. Can't find the article, but the team line up is below. www.foxsports.com.au/league/matc ... RL20111405 I also don't why people are still deciding which way round to play Widdop + Sam, one has been playing stand off all season, the other has been playing fullback. Why on earth would you switch them around?'" My thoughts exactly. We've got a stand off who controls games (to whatever degree) every week in the NRL. That's good enough for me.

I'm not dissing Widdop as a 6, all I'm saying is that it's quite easy to look good playing alongside such good players, if we are to have Brough at 7 (7 supposed to organise anyway) we need a 6 to orgsanise the team otherwise we will fall short again as we always do.

If Widdop is a good organiser then so be it but my thoughts are Smith and Cronk boss the team and Widdop is playing the generic 6 role.

My other gripe is when McBanana played Shenton at left centre, he is a right centre and a very ball greedy one at that, not creative just a decent line runner and defensive centre, I would rather put a tried and tested combination of Yeaman and Briscoe who play together at club level, same with Brown and Brough or McGuire and Burrow, Lomax and Gaskell in the knights squad even. The Aussie halfbacks play together for Queensland whether it be Lockyer and Thurston/Prince/Cronk and have played for Aus together for the last 5 years. We need more ready set combinations where possible as its not always best to pick 'the best players', its better to pick the best team IMO.

Is this the rumors thread or is the link broken. Seems for a general discussion of the Exiles match and that belongs in the international forum.

Burgess is out of the season and isn't playing in the four nations

i'd say your thoughts are wrong, hes been fantastic for Storm and the big rave reviews of him in the press in Aus aren't down to him being a passenger in the team at 6

Not sure why you think Brough is not an organising 7. That is exactly what his game is founded on. All other aspects have improved later in his career, but he has always had excellent organisational skills. His organisational ability and kicking game were the reason he made a break into the pro game, the areas that were lacking, taking on the line explosive pace and dynamic running in broken play have been put into place more recently at Trinity/Giants even more so as he has matured.

Correct. Although I don't see the harm as this thread is great for discussing general RL things with fellow Wigan supporters.

But to go back on topic, looking at our squad as it stands for next season I really hope we can sign a new centre (Matt King?) and George stays for another year. It would be tremendous news to keep the Pat and George combination here for another year. Move Joel Tomkins back to the pack in replacement of Ryan Hoffman.

However what is becoming very noticeable is the glaring lack of pace between Finch and Deacon. Deacon is starting to look older now. Sure his organising is of value, but he does look incredibly slow and laboured. We need pace. Part of the reason some teams are able to combat our attacking structure is the lack of pace between our halfbacks. For next year with just Finch he needs a fast stand off alongside him. I haven't heard anyone note Joe Mellor for his speed. So although Sam is awesome at fullback, if we could bring in someone who is available like Matty Bowen I would happily accomodate Sam back at halfback. We don't lose the pace fullback and have quicker halves. It would be better for the overall team shape. Joe Mellor to eventually replace Finch when he leaves ideally. I've heard people claim that Sam and Joe would make a good combination. Leuluai to revert back to a hooker with McIlorum.

Ideal scenario for me:

Matty Bowen
Josh Charnley Matt King George Carmont Pat Richards
Sam Tomkins Brett Finch
Stuart Fielden Thomas Leuluai Lee Mossop
Harrison Hansen Joel Tomkins
Sean O'loughlin
----------------------------------------
Jeff Lima, Mike McIlorum, Paul Prescott, Gaz Hock

Absolutely awesome side. Fearsome pack, plenty of pace in the backs, excellent 1, 6, 7, 9, 13 combination. We can dream eh?

Heard a very loose rumour we've bid for Rangi Chase. I'm taking it with a pinch of salt tbh but you never know I suppose.

A guy said this on facebook yesterday

It wont happen.

I have a feeling we may be somewhat underwelmed at our recruitment for next year.

I hope we start to play a little more expansive with the ball when our new coach comes in. I think we play far too structured at times this year and our play is nowhere near what is was with the ball last season

I'd guess it's total balls tbh. I got told my someone who works with an ex Wigan player but these things are rubbish 99.9% of the time.

I'm hoping it's part of the 0.1% but doubt it. He'd be awesome alongside Tommy.