I hope he doesn't throw Hampshire in. He'll be a top player, but he's not ready for SL yet.

Sam Tomkins
Josh Charnley/Dom Manfredi
Darrell Goulding
Iain Thornley
Pat Richards
Blake Green
Matty Smith
Dom Crosby
Logan Tomkins
Scott Taylor
Jack Hughes
Liam Farrell
Chris Tuson

------------------------------------------
Greg Burke
Sam Powell
Anthony Gelling
Gil Dudson/Tom Spencer

Rest for Lockers, Flower and McIlorum. Give Hansen and Mossop an extra week off if needed - no need to rush them. Reward Crosby, Taylor, Hughes and Tuson for their excellent performances with starting positions. Same for Powell and Tomkins. If Charnley isn't right then play Dom Manfredi. Gelling to be given a crack in the forwards. Possibly more game time for Spencer too but Dudson had a good game against Hull KR.

I'm guessing that Gelling comes cheap, he has shown some raw potential and as we don't look like needing the qouta spot I can't see him moving on until he has been given a fair shot.

Are these guys coming back fit though? We have no reason to go down the route of rushing players back. Let them have all the time out they need.

I don't think we'll see Pat Richards on Sunday.

do we have another goal kicking winger beside Pat and Josh...?????

No.
Matty Smith will probably do the kicking.

If Josh is fit then I would expect Thornley to go to the wing as Pats replacement with Hughes at centre. If not then Gelling (if fit) or Burgess, although he's still doesn't quite look over his injury. The other option would be give Dom Manfredi a game.

I don't follow the argument that we should give Mossop and H another week off if they aren't fit. They'll only get properly fit through playing.
I like the idea of seeing whether Manfredi or Burgess can do a job at this level. It feels like a low risk way of looking at our options.
I would keep the spine the same (save for Lockers), and get Mc off after 30 minutes again if things are going smoothly. You get the same 2 points for beating Wakefield as beating Saints, so the last thing we want to do is make too many changes.

Didnt go Sunday, heard he had a good game?
Did he not look 100%?

He scored a good try, then one from a yard out and should have had another (ref gave a double movement). He just looked that little bit off his normal pace and was bit hesitant, which is unlike him. As you know I think he's a player of great promise and should really be ideally placed to take Pats position in a couple of years.
What he did do well on Sunday was take two or three kicks way above his head Aussie Rules style.

Being 6/3" or 6/4" at 18 years of age and still growing helps!



That's why I wouldn't play him this week (And you know how much I really want this lad to do well) as I think the time needs to be just right with someone so young.
Given the other issues at the moment in terms of injuries etc I would just think if things didn't go well Sunday for the team then it could set him back a bit.

I was hoping given a favourable CC draw that he may get a chance in those types of games?
Or
If league position is gauranteed late on in season and nothing can be gained/lost in certains games then expose them in that enviroment?

No Mossop or Hansen this week according to a piece on the Wigan site. They think Charnley will be ok and it says lockers missed HKR with a back complaint(thought it would have been his ribs) and is touch and go for Wakey.

No point risking anyone. Lockers, Hansen and Mossop to get themselves right for next week then.

Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Thornley
Richards? Gelling or Mandredi if he's not playing
Green
Smith
Crosby
McIlorum
Taylor
Hughes
Farrell
Tuson
-----------------------------------------
Burke
Dudson
Powell/Tomkins
Spencer

I think Flower needs a week off and Spencer needs more game time.

The Richards dilemma isn't too serious in that we can probably get a game out of him or at least get the win and then take him off. I wouldn't play anyone who is 'touch and go' though as I've said all season.

Richards will be available to play apparently, says on Wigantoday.net that Richards is arriving back Sunday morning and is expected to play, as one of the conditions of him being allowed to go was that he didn't miss a game!...

www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... extra-mile

www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... extra-mile