HOPE YOU MENTION ARE INJURIES EVERY MINUTE EDDIE!

Do you think we'll miss him on Friday?

there's no doubting that this will be a fantastic, bruising and intense game. i'll be sky + it as i'll be at the HJ. IMO the battle will be won in the halves, with eastmond and tomkins, if eastmond steps up like he did against us then saints will win and if tomkins does then wigan will win. i don't care who wins i just hope they knock seven bells out of each other and i'm looking forward to seeing graham vs fielden.

Tomkins will not be 100% which is a huge worry

Yes. I think his omission could well be the difference between winning and losing. FWIW I actually chose him for sponsors' MOM last season. I think it was against Salford. I remember someone posting on here that whoever chose him needed his head examined lol.
However, I recall a post of yours comparing him favourably to just about every hooker in the comp whereas IMO there are plenty of his standard or better. As I said earlier, though, that's not to say I'm unhappy with him atm. Is he doing a good job? Yes. Could he be replaced easily by other (not all) hookers in this comp? Again, yes.

it is. oustanding player with a huge future. i'd be worried aswell going into this game (if i were a wigan fan) imo Leuluai doesn't have the same creativity and drive as Sam.

Why would there be? He is at Castleford for the season.

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On the subject of Deacon/McIllorum, Deacon has to be in there as Micky Mc is only just back from injury and to go with no back up in a game such as the one on Friday is a huge risk.

I'd rather play an extra Forward (Farrell/Feka) and move O'loughlin to 6 or 9 as an interchange rather than play Deacon who's been missing for 3/4 weeks and before that was missing tackles for fun and looked way off the pace IMO.

phelps injury isnt serious, they decided not to risk him on fri.

coley is the main worry. there gonna make a decison about him thursday night.

Kevin Sinfield has been out injured since the World Club Challenge with a dead leg if I'm not mistaken.

We need Coley to be fit and Fielden to be performing to get anything out of this game. Feka can do a job for us in defence now but he has been pretty tripe going forward this season and has the longevity of potassium in water so it might be wise to leave him out.

Having no Riddell is a massive loss as we lose a lot of direction and organisation without him and Deacon isn't up to scratch.

I'm going to have to predict a loss unfortunately

I wouldn't play Feka untill he can do 60 mins in the reserves

I'd be tempted to give Feca a go, on the basis that he'll be determined to have a monster game in order to get his place back. In contrast, I wouldn't play Deacs because he's not even had a run out in the reserves since Bradford, where he was less than impressive.

If McIlorum is close to fully fit, there's no reason he can't play most of the game, giving us the option of 4 forwards on the bench, with Lockers dropping back into the halves if/when necessary.

Whether we want too or not we may not have a choice. As someone else has said, Coley is touch and go for Friday.

We should probably spell check any banner before putting it up.

Feka if played could have a cracker on friday! He has a point to prove!

You can't sat stuff like that about Feka he's rubbish don't you know!

So was Amos Roberts

Riddell missing is a huge loss for us. McIlorum isn't capable of directing us around the park yet.

Going to be a lot of pressure on Tommy Leuluai to do that, whether that be from 7 or 9.

As for the squad, I think Deacon will have to play; we're going to need some options in the halves given slight injury/fitness concerns over Sam and McIlorum.

I don't see Farrell getting a place, and if Coley is fully fit then it's unlikely Paleaaesina will get in ahead of any of our props, although, it would be nice to have an in form Feka charging at them from the bench.

well i don't think we will win but i expect feka and deacon to play and have outstanding games.if not the writing could be on the wall especially for feka.cumon lads.

Correction - So IS Amos Roberts.

Same goes for Pat, Cameron, Locky, Tommy, Sam and the rest of them.

Not fit to wear the shirt, any of 'em.

Don't forget that the only reason that Wigan are top of the league is because we have played the worst teams in the history of rugby league.

The only times we've played any "good" teams, we've played their ladies under 12's side, due to injuries/suspensions/whatever.

EDIT. It's the W's

Wrong forum.

I don't think it's that big of a loss with the weather conditions we're predicted. If it is indeed lashing with rain and blowing a gale the pitch will be a mudbath so there's gonna be precious little opportunity for us to spread the ball. A grafter like McIlorum might be the ticket

I'd argue the conditions lend themselves better to an experienced player such as Riddell, who can take the easy yards up the middle and really lead us around the pitch.

McIlorum is very hot headed, and his distribution from dummy half is still questionable. I hope he has a good game, but he needs to stay calm.

Farrell in, Mossop to prop. IF Feka is out of favour.