He’s been a credit to the club Isa and is clearly a real leader in the group but he has had a poor start to the season. He should have to fight for his place and that should always be the case at a club like Wigan. I’m still convinced there’s a place in the squad for him because we are light on real experience in the pack but if guys like Smithies and Shorrocks go past him, so be it because realistically that’s what you want.

Yes this is always the thing when talking about a players worth to the team, it doesn't start and end on the pitch. You can really see isa being a nice guy in general who is easy to get along with and for the younger players to approach with any questions or for advise.

He is also a real athelete and could see him being the person who sets a benchmark of conduct and effort in training.

These are the sorts of things we may not always see or be aware of as fans, but anybody who has being around that sort of environment knows how critical them type of characters can be for a positive and productive team environment.

Making a pitch for a job as Matty Peet's script-writer there, NK?

I don’t charge a lot

There's a good reason for that.

Will be a tough game on Friday. I'm not under-estimating Wigan at all, they have strike in Field and French and I was quietly impressed with them on Sunday. Farrell loves the derby games and is a superb line runner and Bateman is looking more like the Bateman that performed in the NRL. Mago offers something different and Havard is a great young forward.

That said if we play to our best we will win. We are the best team in the comp and seem to get better when it matters in the big games. Our two real big tests this season against Catalans, we have passed with flying colours and beaten them well both times.

I am concerned about Field up against Hurrell and our right edge does not fill me with complete confidence. However despite the horrible conditions when Wigan played Catalans in France, Field was well shackled so I expect Woolf will have something up his sleeve to minimise his threat. I also saw the Wigan v Salford game and to be fair to Salford they did a real number on Field probably the best of any team this season against him.

There is a clear blueprint to beat Saints but saying it and doing it are two completely different things. You need the field position first and foremost and thats easier said than done with our defence.

Sironen missing is a huge blow as he is really starting to show why we signed him now. Him and Matautia can both comfortably play 80 mins and allow full rotation of the props. Both are now missing which means we will more than likely need to rotate Wingfield if selected.

That won't be an excuse if we lose as of course Wigan are missing KPP, Ellis, Thornley and likely Marshall.

This is a different Wigan side no question and they come into the game in good form from Sunday.

Hopefully it will be a cracker and not ruined by a poor refereeing decision or a sending off.

I’d pull my team talks from old videos of Alex Murphy

A fair post, difficult to disagree with any of it.

I’m still concerned that we can’t reach the intensity to trouble Saints. There were some positive steps against Wakefield but they were significantly under strength and I think people have gone a bit overboard with praise of the team to be honest, not that I blame them after the dross we’ve put up with in recent times.

I don't think it was overboard Danny. We had more missing than them. They had first choice winger Johnstone missing, we had first choice winger Marshall missing. They had first choice forward Fafita missing, we had first choice forward Ellis. The only non like for like was Miller.

I know you could argue that the missing players are more important to them than ours are to us but they've been winning without some of those players recently anyway and, in truth, didn't seem to be hindering them too much, particularly in the early parts of that game. We were just better.

I found it annoying that the report of the match posted by the news hound said Wakefield had players missing while we were almost at full strength when we had the most players missing. I put that down to lazy journalism but perhaps Wigan missing players doesn't count as much as other teams missing them. I'm at a loss as to why though.

I’d be more concerned about Hurrell running at Field!

To be honest I would be more concerned Field/French running around Hurrell

They won’t get that opportunity. Saints will control and Isolate Hurrell vs those two and we know they can’t defend. He’ll have a couple if stroll overs. Field and French can go around any player if they get space, but not sure they will…..or if they do will be one off…..

“We know they can’t defend”

Do we? Where have you seen that? Field has been superb defensively this season. French has hardly played and will be on the wing anyway, so it’s unlikely he’ll have to do much tackling.

He only strolled over once against Leeds, so we should be ok. I think there’s every chance Saints leave him out anyway, that’s how much they trust him.

I would personally leave him out, put Hopoate where he should be be at centre and put Simm on the wing. But I would be surprised of Woolf does that now.

I’m half expecting you guys to do that. Saints have made so many good decisions regards recruitment this past few seasons but I’m scratching my head at the Hurrell one. He’s so far removed from what I see in the typical Saints player it’s untrue. I believe you got him on a great deal, so it’s probably worth the punt but still. He’ll probably batter us tomorrow now but his moments are fleeting and he’s usually burnt out after 20 minutes.

I think with a fully fit team he would be on the bench at best as an impact back row. Unfortunately Hopoate has barely played (although I am underwhelmed by his signing) and Grace has played one game all season so Hurrell has been needed.

With a fully fit team it will be 2. Makinson 3. Hopoate 4. Percival 5. Grace

I think he has played more than was intended to be honest. Injuries to Grace and Hopoate have forced our hand. With a full squad to choose from he wouldn't play I don't think.

I agree though it's a weird one with him and not a signing I was over the moon about. Jury still out on it for me.

There seemed to be a bit of talk of maybe using him as an impact back rower from the bench. That could work better in short spells. I’m surprised Simm hasn’t got more of a go at centre, rather than on the wing. He looked excellent at academy level.

I agree Simm looked good at Academy level but if I'm honest I've always seen him as solid rather than spectacular. Maybe thats harsh given he's barely played at centre for the first team which is his natural position. A big part of me wonders if he will end up somewhere else long term.

It doesn’t always translate to first team performances I suppose. We’ve got the same doubts over somebody like Harry Smith. On the flip side you get lads who don’t massively stand out at academy level, who then smash it in the first team.

I like/understand the Hurrell signing.

We talk about Thornley being a moneyball signing and Hurrell is in that bracket for me. They've taken a punt on him and he comes with little risk, but a chance of a decent enough return.

The Hopoate signing was a strange one, was never really overly impressed with him in the NRL, I remember he burst onto the scene on debut with Manly but after he came back from his religious break from the game he never hit the heights.

Guessing his connection with Woolf played a part.

Played over 150 NRL so must be decent but wasn’t a signing I was gutted about Wigan missing out on (despite his needing a strike centre).

Will see how he goes tomorrow as barely seen his this year.

Hurrell is a luxury player that a team like Leeds couldn’t afford, Saints however who are normally on the front foot in most games he’s a good squad player for them.

Isn't French on the opposite wing anyway? It would be a very disruptive game plan that would be looking to have Hurrell running at French. I hope they do!

Alternatively it could just be Shabino not knowing what he's talking about...

If Saints line up like last week and we do regards Hurrell and French, they will be on the same side (Hurrell right centre and French left wing). It’s a clash of styles for sure and an interesting one if either manages to isolate the other but with it being a winger and a centre it’s doubtful we’ll see Hurrell go over/through French in a one on one. On the flip side French may get a chance to come inside and attack Hurrell, especially when running the ball back from kicks and maybe linking with Field.

I think somebody summed it up well when stating that Hurrell is a luxury player and Saints can afford that. The work their players will do in the middle could well mean he has a blinder and barges over for a couple of try’s. It’ll be a fast game tomorrow though and the longer it goes and the closer it is, the more he will tire. He’s lost weight but it doesn’t look to have had a huge impact on his fitness (you could say the same about Mago but then he’s only going to play for 20-25 mins).