McIlorum and J Tomkins to miss out for me.

Piggy and Joel if I was picking it.

im dreading the 17 on friday i ve got a feeling noddy is going to play the same team as last week an not play sam

Hansen is defo in for Joel.

Working and resting at the same time eh

sometimes i think that noble keeps players out of the squad justr to spite some fans. if he does this and wins (a la the saints games) he get to give two big fingers at the support, thus proving that he knows best. i know this may seem like a big conspiracy theory, but when does anyone think that noble has picked the strongest team over a consistant period? this include his time at GB because there was always outcry over his selection.

and

if hansen is getting picked because of his good form in the reserves then surely Shaun deserves a run, did he not score a hattrick last week?.

yes you need to protect younger players, however at the moment Shaun has nothing to be protected from!! hes never in the squad!

ridiculous again

This is difficult. We have an unbalanced squad with two "specialist" hookers plus Tommy, who could be said to be better than either of them. So it would seem logical for one of them to miss out. Hard though it seems, I would rest McIlorum on the grounds that Piggy is more likely to open Warrington up and we will need all the creativity we can muster. IMO it was our failing last week.

The other misser depends on the injury situation. We appeared to have a few knocks from last week, but my concern is over Carmont and Hock who seem to have been struggling with injuries for some time and I would have rested them, but as they are in the squad I think we need both their creative attributes if only for some of the game. Both of these IMO are a bit suspect in defence at the best of times and in view of their injuries would pick the more defensive Hansen rather than Joel who I think has struggled to make an impression for most of this season and has not run the lines we saw from him at the back end of last year.

So Joel Tomkins and McIlorum to miss out.

Ainscouh had three run ins last week, and yes you have to be in the right place to score them.

I have been really impressed with Josh Charnley on the wing in the reserves (he still qualifies for the U18 academy) he is a really hard working player and is probably faster over the distance than Ainscough, Ithink he could also make a good centre (what position did he play his junior rugby?)


Somebody (shooter69) I think said it could possibly be the same team as last week?

I don't think it will be. From the information I have been given, Hansen will play.

That team last week was not as bad as was made out by many on here. A poor kick, a fortunate bounce and a poor (diabolical) refereeing decision proved costly. That's how close it was.

Riddell and Joel Tomkins to miss out for me.

I did nt think we was bad last week only thing whts did my head in was sam getting dropped an riddel offerd nothing

Won't mind if it's the same team as last week they played very well, conditions will hopefully be lot better at least.

I think the selection will go right up to the match, all depending on Carmont and Hock.

I think J. Tomkins and another to miss (Carmont/Hock) if they play, I have a feeling McIlorum will miss out

I think that had Riddell been on the field when we had those 18 play the balls on their line we may have scored.

McIlorum was again superb defensively, and I'm a great fan of he's but as I have said many many times I believe Riddell is more creative.

I know conditions were bad last week but some of the passing from dummy half was poor.

And as above some posters want him selected every week yet still call for us to use the squad as we have a big one????
Why isn't Ainscough/Tomkins not being selected treated as them being "Rested" like when other players aren't selected?????

PS

I agree that if Carmont isn't fit I would play Ainscough etc etc but he/medical team keep declaring him fit so ??????????????????????

If he is fit he has to play I would have thought but TBH he doesn't look it to me??????

What has ainscough do wrong scoring trys for fun in the 1st n 2nd team and overseas players who cant park near a white line never mind put the ball over one.

Play him instead of Richards and we have no kicker.

Play him instead of Roberts? Pointless, he won't get the ball, just like Roberts doesn't.

Play Richards at fullback and play him on the wing? A possibility but then Phelps is proving to be a decent fullback.

Who'd be a coach eh???

play him instead of roberts easy choice!

id rest joel tomkins, seems to have done alot of work over the last month and also id drop riddell plainly because macca and sam are in better form than him.

if he does not play sam this week he deserves to be sacked before the game

I would play a wigan lad every time infront of phelps n roberts and maybe carthorse carmount simple this lad will go to the other code if we are not carefull same as sam tie there up on long term deals to prove we commetedto the young kids,yet again whilst IL is in aus its said he is signing a half back and prop.

Thats a very bold statement.

If thats the case then it should be the same team with no changes - injuries excepting.

IMO the only change should be S Tomkins in for Riddell.

I'm still not a big fan of Phelps at fullback. He's had one decent game there so far. Otherwise I feel he's been average.

I agree that there are too many internet coaches who are ready to jump on Noble for the slightest decision, without knowing ANY of the facts. But this business with Ainscough is getting a big bewildering. If they're genuinely concerned about his defence under the high ball, they should be working on it - and I don't mean in training, I mean in proper matches.

I only hope he doesn't drop Sam out of contention as well. Those two seemed to enthuse the entire team when they were first picked. I can't accept that they need rest now. At their age, they need more football.

I know!



Trouble is I don't know how to take it off!

This is what I don't understand with many Wigan fans. Young and Wigan does not mean they are better than their overseas counterparts.

I'd love a full team of Wigan lads, but guess what it isn't going to happen.

The other thing is that if Wigan win the Superleague and Challenge Cup with 17 ex Saints players or 17 Kolpack / Aussie/ NZ players and they are the best available would that be wrong?

Surely it's Ian Lenagans DUTY to provide Wigan with the best players he can REGARDLESS of where they come from, be it Wigan, Oldham, St. Helens China, Samoa, India, Mexico etc.

I didn't see the Man U fans complaining the other week whenthey started without a British player.

Oh oh!

Youve left yourself wide open here Brian!

i get what your saying but will the others? Stands back and awaits the Criticism!

Your right about Phelps, he ran really hard at the Saints line on kick returns when he was determined to take his chance, now he's got his place he doesn't seem to interested at taking the line on, he gave it Roberts to take on a few occasions on friday.

Personally I'm disapointed to see Ainscough missing out agian, he's not going to get any better in the reserves and deserves to be in our 19, even if he's just missing out on the 17. However it's Noble's job to pick the 19 not mine, so do what you gota do for the cabbage cliche man