For me, Leeds seem to have been the only side last year to really deal with Sam Tomkins. They've closed him down quickly and we were too slow to come up with a plan b. Either we've learned from it or we should maybe try something different given the opportunity and play Sam at halfback. Or bugger it and throw the kids in and see how it goes. That would be exciting, but Leeds are no London. Glad I'm not making the decision.

We need someone with a long kicking game at half back.
Leeds play a rushed defence with the fb close up to offset the grubber kick through. They leave it late to get the fb back so a long kicking game early in the set can pay off.
Matty Smith did this well at Shedingly which kept Leeds at distance when opur forwards were not making the yards.
Interesting to see how Leeds go v Saints without Delaney and Peacock their two best forwards this year. Leeds to win but the margin and the manner of the win will be the thing.

As you say, peacock and delaney are missing and wigans props are really going for it at the moment. I expect the forward battle to be a lot more of a contest this time.

Wane has note recently that he hates shuffling players around out of position, so it would only be in an extreme emergency that Sam would revert to the Halves. Williams & Powell showed enough on Saturday to prove they are comfortable enough to run the team. We're so well drilled, especially in the halves, I feel Powell and Williams would be our best options. Williams did nothing at the weekend to deserve to be dropped. It will be a real test against a much more competitive team than London, though. I think the lads are up for it, and I think we have enough to beat Leeds.

From reading academy reports and the opinions of people on here I was under the impression that Hampshire was the better of the two young halfbacks. Anybody know the reasoning behind Williams getting the shot first? Better defence maybe?

Bringing Matty Smith off the bench as a replacement hooker maybe... better option than Logan Tomkins at this point in my opinion, even though it's not his natural position.

Well yes it is 'promising' you seem to have the attitude that these youngsters have all made it and this is beginning of years of dominance. You haven't won anything yet, lets see how they get on with some tough games strung together, as of yet the fixture list has been very kind to you. I'm not saying they can't go on to dominate but the snobby attitude towards it is ridiculous. It's as if you're wanting everyone in the league to w@nk over you because you have homegrown youngsters in the team.

If you look at the following post you will see the other person took this, and other comments, in the spirit intended. Nice of you to play the stereotypical Whino to perfection. Lighten up.

We won the SL in 2010, the Challenge Cup in 2011 and finished in the top two in each of the last three years. Dominance might be overstepping the mark but I like our outlook for the future better than that if any other SL team to be honest based on the age of our players and what they have already achieved.

Not with this team though, as you won those other honers with some key players that were from overseas. I'm not taking away from the fact you have like us a brilliant academy. It's just it seems especially with the likes of Rogues Gallery everything has to be in contrast with Wigan and praise seems to be rarely given out yet expected in return.

This board doesn't exactly have a reputation for taking things lightly especially if it is at all aimed at your expense so it's hard to see when comments are made in jest.

This is the Wigan board and we are Wigan fans.
Of course we look at other clubs and the League from a Wigan perspective.
This doesn't stop us from appreciating Rugby played by all.
The most impressive performance of the weekend so far IMO was HullFC's win at Wire. That was a remarkable win and they deserved it!
From a Wigan perpective too!

I wasn't meaning on this board in particular, more if a thread pops up on another board where someone says for example '7 of our starting 13 came from our academy' the first post will be most likely from Rogues declaring Wigan had more, trying to turn it into a d1ck measuring contest.

Well don't come here if its troubling for you.

You not thinking of Wire?

Sam played well at home against them creating trys for Charnley, terrorised them away in one of the best individual performances I've seen and after a shaky start in the cup (to say the least) came up with some fantastic running plays. He didn't play in the play offs due to injury or in our league game this year.

Wire the only team IMO that deal with him well 9 times out of ten. That's because they smash our pack so he has no room to play.

Give us a break. I don’t think I’m being paranoid or too biased when I say it must be a given that if there is any team in SL that almost everybody who hasn’t got a loyalty to, loves to hate, it must be us. And as for going onto other boards throwing out our chests, while giving only faint praise, well I think you may be a case of a pan calling a kettle!

So do i. For one simple reason.

If we play Powell and Williams and do an number on Leeds and its a big ask for the 2 youngsters then teams might think again from taking Smith and Green out.

Edward and Gregory please

Sibbs Rhinos has gone quiet...

I don't think Williams will play. He's going to France today along with seven other Wigan players in England U18's squad.

Yeah it's an absolute bugger having had to play every team the same as everyone else and the extra fixture (This weekend) against the current GF winners.
PS - Your dislike of Rogues seems to be clouding your judgement of other situations.
PPS - Much like most fans who have an hatred towards all things Wigan let that cloud their judgement hence entering into any kind of rational argument is pointless.

Jedward ?

Wouldn't that be 'Gregward'?

I'm sorry, I've got a cold, but yes, it would.

Wane has said that he doesn't think he will risk George in this game, therefore I think we should move Sam to HB. Get the ball in his hands so he can make things happen. He is more than good enough to slot in there. I don't think it will be a very open game with two good defences on show.

This doesn't mean a permenent switch, but just for this game.