I hope your players write us off to the same degree, for Friday and for the Cup game as well.

You are deserved favourites heading into the game, and I hope you don't pick up a load of bans, I want to see a game where both teams are as near to full strength as they can be.

Richards, Prescott, Hansen, Hock, Mossop, Tuson, Thats' 1/3 of the starting 17 likely to be missing so will be well under strength but once Wane gets them fired up whoever is in the cherry and white will give their all.

It's a good job we're playing leeds or else we'd have a big problem.

How original. Are you an echo ?

How original. Are you an echo?

That's certainly a 16/17 I had in mind as well....I think we'll give it a good go over there on Friday with that team. Our travelling support (me included) will have to get the throat lozenges out like last Sunday!

www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... 6/7785366/ Harrison Hansen broken Jaw - 6 weeks. Lee Mossop uses an early guilty plea and gets one ban. Chris Tuson and Gareth Hock will probably pick up bans. Added to an injury list that includes Ben Flower, Paul Prescott and Pat Richards. Stuart Fielden too. Essentially a first choice front row is out. I love it when we're up against it. Really brings out the best in us. Team: Sam Tomkins Josh Charnley Darrell Goulding George Carmont Anthony Gelling Brett Finch Thomas Leuluai Gil Dudson Mike McIlorum Eric Lauaki Liam Farrell Jack Hughes Sean O'Loughlin --------------------------------- Jeff Lima Dom Crosby Rhodri Lloyd Greg Burke Or give Ryan King a crack and use Anthony Gelling off the bench as a forward. Outstanding strength in depth.

www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... 6/7785366/ Harrison Hansen broken Jaw - 6 weeks. Lee Mossop uses an early guilty plea and gets one ban. Chris Tuson and Gareth Hock will probably pick up bans. Added to an injury list that includes Ben Flower, Paul Prescott and Pat Richards. Stuart Fielden too. Essentially a first choice front row is out. I love it when we're up against it. Really brings out the best in us. Team: Sam Tomkins Josh Charnley Darrell Goulding George Carmont Anthony Gelling Brett Finch Thomas Leuluai Gil Dudson Mike McIlorum Eric Lauaki Liam Farrell Jack Hughes Sean O'Loughlin --------------------------------- Jeff Lima Dom Crosby Rhodri Lloyd Greg Burke Or give Ryan King a crack and use Anthony Gelling off the bench as a forward. Outstanding strength in depth.

A pack of Dudson, McIlorum, Eric, Hughes, Farrell and Lockers is still stronger than at least the bottom 6 in Super League.

Strength in Depth.

Let's face it, the wider RL community would be disappointed if the likes of Hock and friends are prevented from butting heads with Ryan Bailey, Peacock, Ablett etc. If Wigan build an early lead, the game is only going to go the same way as the Saints one did - the players just hate each other too much after the Rugby gods incident. Tasty.

Leeds are obviously a better team than the way they've been playing lately, but whether or not they are capable of lifting their game to match Wigan (in their current red hot form) is debatable at best. It's worth bearing in mind that last season Leeds did target Wigan, which resulted in some very close games - admittedly none of which that Leeds won. I'm sure that will be factored in here, just not sure if they are capable of doing anything about it.

Sounds like Lloyd will get at least in the 19 man squad and possibly the 17 going off Wanes comments.

I always look forward an 'against the odds' type of games especially with this Wigan team so it should be fun.

I'd go in with-

Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Carmont
Gelling
Finch
Leuluai
Dudson
McIlorum
Lima
Farrell
Hughes
Lockers

Subs
Crosby
Lauaki
Lloyd
L Tomkins

Looking for huge minutes from Lima, McIlorum(standard), Lockers and Faz this week and all are well capable.

Micky Mac may see action in the backrow when Tomkins comes on to spell the likes of Hughes who I can't see being left out there for the 80 and Lloyd won't see much more then 15-20 mins max.

Lloyd certainly knows where the try line is having scored 9 trys in 11 games in the 20s this year

Either Lauaki in the SR or Logan on the bench to spell McIlorum. I'd rather go with the former tbh, we are already going to be playing with a lot of inexperienced players so will need to keep as many older players on as possible. I'd go:

Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Carmont
Gelling
Finch
Leuluai
Crosby
McIlorum
Dudson
Lauaki
Farrell
Lockers

Hughes
Lima
Spencer
Lloyd

6 losses in 14 league games would suggest otherwise.

wouldn't put Logan in a game like this, it'd be a waste of a bench spot imo

I remember Wane talking about how some of the youngsters hadn't really taken their opportunities in the games he's given them.
I goes this is a chance for a few of them to set that right, as well as a potential debut for Lloyd.
As said above, we tend to do well with our backs against the wall (Saints away spring to mind) so I still fancy us to run it close. Who wins the close one at the moment is pretty hard to judge

Yeh, but the record books would seem to contradict what you're saying. Fact.

Agreed. We're light in the pack so we need as many forwards as possible. If push came to shove in the halves of at hooker then we can move Lockers and Tommy around.

Not really. New Zealand are the current World Champions but Australia are clearly number 1 in the World.

Our pack picks itself this week.

Dudson,
Micky Mac
Lauaki
Faz
Hughes
Lockers

Its the bench where the decisions need to be made:

I think we will go

Lima
Tomkins
Crosby
Lloyd

Dont mention record books on here because you will lose. FACT



I think Fridays game will be good to see how our pack copes without many first choice players. Leeds will be bang up for it as they always are against us and im sure it will be great experience for the younger lads who come in.

Another possible team:

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Goulding
4. Carmont
5. Gelling
6. Finch
7. Mellor
8. Dudson
9. Leuluai
10. Lauaki
11. Farrell
12. Lockers
13. Mcilorum

14.Lima
15.Crosby
16. Hughes
17. Lloyd/Spencer/Burke/Tomkins

People might say splitting our half backs up is stupid, but i think that makes our pack stronger. Mellor knows our structures and could keep it very simple. I would give him a chance in this one. Very much doubt it will happen but it's an option.

im quite looking forward to it tbh.....its a win / win situation.

7 forwards missing thro suspension/injury....ready made excuse if we lose (but we wont)....famous victory if we win ( we will)

i have every confidence in wigan at the moment ,forwards missing aside,the winning mentality of the whole squad is very pleasing.whatever the score on friday they can only try their very best.

Anyone else find it a little strange that Rhodri Lloyd is getting the nod before Burke. Greg has after all been on the fringe of a first team debut for quite a while now. I know he's down at the Scorpions at present, surely he must be more advanced and better placed to play than Lloyd.

I think the club see Burke as more of a prop forward to be honest. However, I'd say the more significant factor is that Lloyd has been playing well, Burke hasn't.