I must be watching a different player over the past month or so because i think he's been playing pretty well.

I think he's got more to offer but his form isn't too bad.

I don't think he is doing much wrong... I just don't see him as a world class player on current form and seens as though thats what we/I was expecting... The reality is somewhat different to my expectation... So do we have a right to be somewhat dissapointed after losing micky higham... for someone who isnt any better on current form...

Rubbish

I'm getting tired of posting this.
[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2009&hp1=374&hs2=2009&hp2=2075&stat=tries&season=2008[/url

Well constructed argument their Rogues?? Apart from Mickey being injured at the moment... last year mickey was a consistently good performer, which was one of the reasons why so many never wanted him to leave.....

i wanted him to leave.

Higham was consistent though, consistently average. Riddell showed me more in the first few games of the season, when he was playing badly, than one scoot mick did in the 2nd half of last.

I've edited my post above to show the reasons.

Higham was never a consistently good performer for Wigan in his three seasons at the club.

His errors and penalties conceded were disgraceful for a so called top class hooker. His passing was abysmal.

So that leaves his scooting and metres from dummy half.

Riddell is doing better at that ( see the stats)

Higham was a badge kissing scarf waving failure.

Higha is the third best hooker at Warrington.

Do you not think that their improvement in form has coincided with Highams absence?

I don't want to turn this into a "witch hunt".. but piggy was very poor in the first few games, which is one of the reasons he got slatted so much along with roberts...

How short peoples memories are... micky was one of the reason we did well in the play-off always giving 120%... can the same be said for riddell ATM

Statistics damn Statistics.... If only the game was played like a game of Topps Trumps... I can only say what I see rather than spouting stats... micky had his faults as do all players but he was effective and was very dangerous at times in games... Like I said many on here were calling for him to stay (along with Stevo & Eddie)... Could the same be said for Piggy on the form he has shown up until the last few weeks??

Not a chance............what games have you been watching? Riddell needs benching or dropping if only to give him the impetus to get fit. Leuleui starting and riddell off the bench......otherwise your other option is bench leului (which is FAR from deserved), or start with Sam and Tommy in the middle, and then mess around with the halves again just to give fat boy a breather after hes knackered from 20 minutes of hooking

....and as we saw early season, we dont want to go for the option of messing with the halves AGAIN!

Of all the options I prefer the first one. .....Gleese to S/o....Sam to S/h...Tommy Leu to Hooker.....fat boy keeping the bench warm if hes lucky.

The only other feasible option is Flannagan on the bench to interchange with the pig....but frankly i dont think flannagan is up to the standard required to play as a SL interchange hooker yet, just as much as the pig isnt the required standard to be a starting SL hooker!

I understand what your saying and partially agree but you need to be a little more open minded, Riddell has improved vastly since the Celtic game IMO. The Hull KR game he was not bad tbh just McIlorum had a really good game.

I agree with your comments...lets hope he just gets better and better, he's some way to go to meet the expectations I/we have had before he arrived... + he's here for another two years so lets

he does!!

Going back to the squad, Catalans will have all their big men on the field Friday, we need to do the same. Pryce and Mossop must play.
If Hansen has damaged the ligaments in his hand/wrist then he shouldn't play. A bad knock could make it worse and really put him out for weeks.
Hansen and Flanagan to miss out unless there are other injuries we don't know about.

agree.... hansen shouldn't be risked especially with mossop coming back after a good loan period at barrow and hudds

My thoughts exactly. We need to use Pryce effectively, get him running at their defence close to their line.

Mossop has to play, going off the form he has being showing at hudds

How many times have you seen him play there?

seen him play a few times actually, i went to university at huddersfield

I thought Huddersfield played at the Galpharm Stadium

We must keep check on Jean Philipe Baille he's been in absolutely superb for them in the centre's, he's incredibly strong and pretty quick and we must make sure he doesn't get any one on one's or we could be in trouble.

If we keep and respect the ball and strave them of possesion, their big forwards will tire and it will be happy days.
Simple but true.......but not always easy has prevoius games have suggested

I also think that we should avoid getting into a forward battle and look to attack and move the ball around the edges...

Kick early, make them return from deep.

Not pretty, but it should work.

I hope we're not rushing Hansen, if there's any doubt we shouldn't risk him, don't want him breaking it and missing the semi final. Assuming he's 100%:

FB 2 Roberts
RW 3 Goulding
RC 22 Gleeson
LC 4 Carmont
LW 5 Richards
SO 21 Phelps
SH 7 Leuluai
P 15 Coley
H 9 Ridell
P 19 Prescott
SR 16 Hansen
SR 12 Bailey
LF 14 Joel

S 10 Paleaaesina
S 24 Mossop
S 25 Sam
S 26 Flanagan

Anyone who's been keeping an eye on the line up/injury threads might have noticed I've tweaked my line up since I last posted. Here's my thinking:

Most NRL fans who have been watching Phelps for a while say he is best at 6, and that it's a crime that he never got a run there with the Bulldogs, and I can see why, he's got pace, agility and a decent support game so let's give him a run there while the spot's opened up and he's on form. If he's having a shocker at half time we can just put Sam Tomkins there for the rest of the game and call it a failed experiment.

With Phelps at stand off we need someone to play full back. I originally said Richards, after all he's played plenty of games there in the past and proved himself safe there, if unspectacular. But putting Richards at full back negates a big attacking threat of ours (the bomb to the wing, with Richards outjumping their 3ft winger) and also means we won't really have much in the way of an attacking full back. So why not give Roberts a run? He's got way more pace of the mark than Pat, and he's made quite a few last ditch try savers this year so I reckon we should give him ago. We can always switch him and Richards part way through if things go pear shaped.

With Roberts on the wing we need another winger! Not a problem, Goulding's on form there with a super league team already, hopefully he'll slot straight in.

Finally the props, dropping Fielden will raise a few eyebrows, but I promise we won't miss him. Why not play two in form young players (one of which is already on form in super league) rather than one and a has been? Mossop won't let us down, let's show the academy guys that you really do get in the team based on form not the name on the back of your shirt.

I would go with

Phelps
Roberts
Goulding
Carmont
Richards
Gleeson
Sam Tomkins
Fielden
Leuleui
Prescott
Hansen
Bailey
Joel Tomkins

Feka
Coley
Riddell
Mossop

Hansens got a chipped bone in his hand, is he worth risking? I chipped a bone in my elbow once and couldnt even lift my arm up because of the pain so IMO dont think hes worth risking:

Phelps
Roberts
Gleeson
Carmont
Richards
Sam
Leuluai
Coley
Riddell
Prescott
Mossop
Bailey
Joel

Feka
Flanagan
Fielden
Goulding/Pryce - either one to come on at when riddell comes off, gleeson to the halfs and leuluai to hooker.