I'd take a few of them to France. Tomkins, Richards and O'Loughlin need to be wrapped in cotton wool for the next few weeks as a loss of any of them would be huge and could cost us the final. The others, I think we have players who could step in and play in those positions if needed. I'm all for getting some form at this stage of the season, but we need to be clever about it. As annoying as it is, top spot is relatively unimportant now as long as we're top 4, so I would take dropping a few points if it means with have both bit of silverware in the cabinet come October.

I'd play the full side v Hull K.R and Huddersfield bar giving Farrell a rest v Hull KR, we want to get back into the habit of playing well after all (which we haven't since Magic Weekend apart from when we play Widnes and London who both completely rolled over from the start). Huddersfield in particular could be a good dress rehearsal for the cup final.

Against Catalans I'd rest quite a few, that's not just because I'd want to avoid injuries to key players either, I'd rather have a fringe player giving it 100% to try and force his way into the Wembley 17 than an established player giving it 50% with his mind on getting away from that big French pack unscathed so he can play at Wembley the week after. For Les Cats I'd go:

FB 35 Tierney
RW 2 Charnley
RC 17 Thornley
LC 22 Gelling
LW 5 Richards
SO 6 Green
SH 7 Smith
P 21 Taylor
H 23 L.Tomkins
P 26 Crosby
SR 4 Hughes
SR 16 Tuson
LF 29 Burke

S 20 Duson
S 30 Spencer
S 32 Hampshire (to play in the halves)
S 38 Powell

Bit unusual going for 3 props on the bench rather than 2 and a second rower but Catalans are a big pack and I wouldn't want to risk any of that star back row combo of Hansen, Farrell, O'Loughlin

Id rest lockers, sam, charnley, green, smith, hansen and farrell against catalans. Finishing top is irrelevant. The cup must take priority before the play offs.

Green's form has been very ordinary since his injury, he might be better for the gametime

The good thing about the Catalans game is whatever side we put out they should be pretty desperate to impress. There will be a few players playing for a cup final spot.

I'd also play a full team in the next two matches.

I'd go full strength for all of the games with no risks taken with minor injuries.

The fact that its Catalans doesn't make much difference to me.

From my experience playing sport (albeit at a semi pro level) the last thing I'd want in a big game is to have had 2 weeks without playing prior to it. I'm sure people will have different opinions but I've always found it a dubious 'reward' in the playoffs to have a week off.

I'm interested to see what we look like against some tougher teams with our best side out. It might sound daft after scoring 70 points but I'm still not convinced we're at our best form currently - I think we need to get better.

I think some people are underestimating the importance of league position. We may have to beat Wire to make he GF and where we finish in the league could determine if we play them at home or away and I'd certainly rather it be at home so a top 2 spot is important.

If we finish top we'll likely play Leeds, if we finish 4th we'll likely play Huddersfield. I know who I'd rather come up against in the play offs. I'm not saying I'd try to engineer it that way but I certainly wouldn't be busting a gut in regular season now at the expense of cup preparations/keeping the lads fit/giving the youngsters experience

Given what Waney did for the Saints game, I'd expect him to rest quite a few again before the final.

This is why the current format razzes me right off! If finishing top meant we'd be champions we'd likely get every club putting out the strongest possible 17. As it is, we can be sure that players will be rested and therefore the standard of rugby will inevitably suffer. Given the format we have, wrapping key players in cotton wool is the right thing to do as the cup takes priority over LLS.
I think I'm just old fashioned, I want every game to matter as much as the last but it simply doesn't. Win the cup at the expense of league position and hope for a great play off series & win GF! Bingo!!

There is zero importance on finishing first, literally none. It's no good worrying about who we may or may not meet on route in the play offs because they're all good teams (in the top 4). We won't get an easy ride to the final in that competition (lets face it weve had thay in the cup but we were die some luck)so we'll need to be fresh, fit and at the top of our form to win the GF.

Our whole season should be about building for the cup final and then building again for week 2 of the play offs (week 1 is meaningless as well).

To be fair we won't have to play week 2 if we win week 1

tomkins
charnley
goulding
thornley
richards
green
smith
flower
micky mac
mossop
hansen
farrell
o'loughlin
subs:
taylor
tuson
l.tomkins
dudson

Most of the first-choice 17 is pretty nailed on barring injury or bad form in the next few games. The only real battle for places is:

Between Gelling and Thornley for left centre
2 of Dudson, Crosby, Taylor or Lauaki for bench prop spots
Between L Tomkins and S Powell for bench hooker/half
Possibly between Tuson and Hughes for bench 2nd row

The only variation on this I can see is if SW decides to use McIlorum for 80 mins and go with an extra forward on the bench.

I don't want Jack Hughes anywhere near the final.

He needs a season loan. Massively disappointed in him ths season. Similar to when Joel Tomkins went on loan
to Widnes. He came back twice the player.

I also can't bear the thought of Gelling walking out at Wembley. He's got balls up written all over his mush

Yes. This I agree with.

That is not to say I don't rate Hughes and Gelling, I do. They just need more time.

Agree with is. Problem is, I feel the exact same about Thornley

Only fair that barring injury or suspension, the team for the Final should be the same as the one in the Semi Final.

I feel for Hughes, him shifting between centre and second row isn't doing him any favours IMO. If you look at the first few games when Hansen and Tuson were injured, Hughes was playing 80 minutes as an out and out backrower and he started the season like a house on fire. Those other lads came back, he went back to be a utility and his form dipped to probably its lowest ebb in the Wigan first team. I wouldn't have him in the team if everyone was fit for any if the remaining big matches but long term he'll still be a terrific player for us.

As for Gelling I agree there's always that worry. There's also a feeling that he could have a stormer and score a couple of try's and be a general nuisance for Hull but the risk is too great IMO. I really rate Thornley, he doesn't have the handling errors in him that Gelling does but I worry when he comes up against a quick footed centre. If Ben Crooks pulls through for then that could be a big worry come final day.

Gelling all the way for me at this stage, Thornley's too much of a target in defence and he's not exactly a world beater in attack either. Having said that I'd give them both a run v Catalans with Goulding taking a rest and see who sticks his hand up for selection.

TBH that was why I put "possibly" between Tuson and Hughes as it would take a drastic change in both players form for it to be an issue. Tuson has been excellent for most of this season and Hughes has failed to kick on from showing plenty of promise last year, probably largely down to being chopped and changed between the SR and centre. Greg Burke would have a better chance of that spot than Hughes, I completely forgot about him in my original post. Though I think unless he gets injured Tuson will be on the bench for Wembley.

I dont know how Wane can justify some players to get a game at Wembley after last night, the bad performers for me were some of the ones who need to perform well to justify a place. For me it would be:

1. Sam
2. Charnley
3. Goulding
4. Thornley
5. Richards
6. Green
7. Smith
8. Flower
9. McIlorum
10. Taylor
11. Hansen
12. Farrell
13. O'Loughlin

14. Crosby
15. Tuson
16. Mossop
17. Hampshire

Logan, Lauaki, Powell, Hughes just not good enough.

Taylor is the only one for me who seems to be even trying to get a place in the team.

Goulding looked like he got injured last night, he was hobbling about for much of that 2nd half and was signalling to come off at one point.

He really seems to be struggling the lad....

Sam
Charnley
Goulding
-
Richards
Green
Smith
Flower
McIlorum
Taylor
Hansen
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Tuson
-
-
-

Only ones who are basically guaranteed to be there IMO, 4 places up for grabs.