As I post that, Sam will definitely play in France next week, as will Lockers and Smith.

He would have wept last if he had seen that performance.

Or 2003

This! In fact I thought it was obvious and everyone understood this to be the case. Seemingly not. Hampshire has been the one positive to come out of recent games against Saints, HKR and Hudds. Granted he's had a couple of errors in each game, but that's what he's being played for: to get that experience. I'd actually be happy for him to play on including the "big" games.

Whilst I would broadly agree and have posted very similar recently, there is a balancing act which Wane risks getting wrong (may already have got wrong, in fact). He has to balance this year's progress with next year's prospects. What's the point in sacrificing a trophy in 2013 so that we have a better chance of success in 2014? It doesn't make sense.

The other balancing act is knowing how much BS the fans are prepared to swallow. Most people accept that it's good sense to rest important players for big games and will happily swallow the lines about 24 hr bugs when we are playing Widnes et al. But when those big games come and another line is served up the fans start to feel that the club is acting unscrupulously.

I talked to a few different Wigan fans last night and a couple said they have heard he is nursing an injury and they are worried about him ( suggestion was a/ Hamstring or B/ Knee.

Concerned about his fitness for the rest of the season i think.

Which is a pity a great player to watch and and a really good advocate for the sport his schools section on Boots n all showed him in a really positive light.

so we have had a 24 hour bug,followed by a back spasm.next week whats the betting,i will go with an ingrowing big toenail.

I am going with Lost Passport Syndrome.

New Zealand flu !

Weil's Disease

As he is supposedly a "Warrington fan" it's more likely to be Vile's Disease

I think if he's fit he should be playing. No resting or testing out other players.

We're going to struggle to win anything without him next year. Might as well make the most of him while he's here.

SW - enough is enough, full strength team from here on in.

Lets get a bit of momentum for the CC and try and hot the play offs with some decent form.

Lets put the FB problem away till next year, we can bed someone in early doors and use the off season too

Sudden allergy to onions and garlic, coupled with a phobia of Snails and Frogs (legs)?
(It's amazing what a touch of food poisoning can do to someone )

I agree with others, it has to be a Full Stength squad every week from now on.
Otherwise, we go from a potential of 3 trophies (we're now down to 2), to winning nowt, and after the start we had to the season, thats unforgiveable.

I know we got 5 from 5 in 1994! I know what he means though!

Not under the present playoff system it hasn't.

Rugby league only started in 2009.

all the conspiracy theories are just that. I have a niggling concern that Sam is nursing an injury that they dont want to be made public, one maybe they are hoping to sort but could also mean the end of his season which could throw a major boost to Hull ahead of the final and also other playoff opponents. Looking at the bigger picture potentially transfer fees depending on the injury. I feel the last couple of weeks have been a smoke screen for something potentially more serious. Be interesting to see if he does play in what is always a physical encounter in France.

I agree. Especially your first paragraph. Wane experimented enough this season early on. I think even if injuries have led to senior players being missing he has over done it regarding new players. Too many changes and not enough continuity in the side.

You could be right, but why would the club use food poisoning, back spasm as the excuses if they know they might have to cover a longer term injury? They'll be making up a new one every week, why not just say calf strain or something.

True True

Personally I want to see our best players play in the games that matter. Sam has played in the last two games that mattered. Yes we would probably have won without him, but he played and he will play in the next 3 or 5 that matter.

I said at the start of the season that I'd be happy to see our reserve side for 90% of the season to keep us fresh for the cup/playoffs and while the system stays the way it is that won't change. I want to win trophies not hammer the likes of Salford, Widnes and London.

Training fully at Orrell this morning I've been told!

My only issue with this is i think its difficult to turn on a good winning performance on after a couple of weeks with a weakened side, especially if we meet up with a stronger side.

Yes we managed it against Widnes & London in the cup but should we underperform at Catalans with the kids then Im not convinced we will have it easy at Wembley where it matters!

Didn't we have an issue along these lines in 2002 at Murrayfield with Saints fielding a weakened team the week before and then it biting them on the backside when it mattered? Rings bells for some reason, anyway