should be all busting a gut to get in the team for the WCC

The Wigan players will certainly be going all out ahead of the WCC but Huddersfield are the sort if team that love to spoil a party. They nailed an expectant Saints team last year on the opening night and are hard to handle in the early rounds due to their size.

A very close match in store.

Is Dudson injured or dropped ?

Hopefully we can just edge this tonight.
last year we had a new set of halves and for some reason lacked energy.
this season the spine is pretty much still there (6,7,9,13) and they are playing for their WCC places, which I think will just give us the edge.
it'll be close though.

Can't wait. Think it will be no more than a try each way. What kind of crowd do you reckon?

Having had the pleasure (and displeasure) of watching Sarginson over the last 2 or 3 years, he HAS to be used as a left centre.
Massive difference when playing there compared to on the right

Seemingly dropped, he played against Saints but the prop rotation in that went Flower and Taylor, Pettybourne and Crosby, Dudson and James so it seems he's currently fifth in the pecking order. It'll be a big year for him imo

we will bring at least 200 so that should boost the crowd


it would be good to see a nearly full house for opening night

Lockers out, hamstring.

better get the tackling pads out shaun. Cant remember winning one ruck so far.

hurry up josh… jeez thornley certainly isn't a winger.

And I don't think he's a better centre than Sarginson.

Disappointing, even with injuries.
I know it's only our first game, but...
Discipline needs to be better
Kicking needs to be better
Looking predictable in attack
Thornley isn't a winger
Micky Mac must have been playing injured - he was barely on 5 minutes
Big questions over our pack:
Pettybourne needs to be able to do more minutes
Crosby/Hughes/Dudson/Flower need to man up when our starters are taking a breather...

Thankfully
Bowen looked decent, as did Burgess and Sarginson.

Carbon copy of the league meeting at the DW last season. Giants were better in every department.

Thought a few players look over weight.

Doubt you will see bowen for a few matchs.

Thornly is a poor winger, impressed with burgess.

Long season though, nothing to panic about.

Hudds very impressive.

Add to that its the first time I have ever seen a Captain (Smith) try for a forty twenty from a free kick, sarcastic I know but waranted.

TBF he wasn't far off. If it had gone out, we'd all be raving about it...

Looked to lightweight in the forwards for me and I didn't think I would be saying that for a long time after seeing your 2nd/3rd choice pack spank us at CP last season.

The sooner Josh gets back the better so that Burgess can go on the left wing, with Sarginson as his centre.
The decision by Wane to pick M Mac as a sub spoke volumes about his fitness, you can almost say Wane used the match as a fitness test for M Mac.
Young Powell came through the match very well considering the game time he had to do, he was tackling his heart out right to the end.
Lack of creativity stood out though, it is a long time since a Wigan team never made a break in a match.

I also thought Bowden looked a bit overweight. I didn't really noice in the friendly last week. Or maybe my new widescreen TV is wider than I thought. Oh well...

I thought Bowen looked quality apart from the high shot.

Poor all round tonight weak defence pedestrian in attack and if Thornley is a winger I'm the pope.
On the other hand it's the first game so plenty of time to improve.

Correct your Holyness.

Bowen looked fine. He's always been an odd shape with weird running style, he doesn't look over weight, he's just not got a traditionally athletic stature.

As for our performance. A lot of new faces, some decent glimpses here and there. Far from panic stations yet.

Hopefully a nice early wake up call. We did look a bit lost in defence at times.
I thought Bowen showed some bite. Looking forward to seeing him when we are in full flow
One big plus, we have a solid fullback under the high ball.