I think he might have only been guilty of one actual knock on but I think he dropped two behind him and completely missed another. I remember thinking on the night that I hope Wilkin was watching!

Fair does. You don't really see the Radlinski style fullbacks who's main qualities were that they caught all the bombs and made try saving tackles anymore do you? I think there's too much of an attacking emphasis on the position.

Very true. The position has transformed massively over the last 5 years I'd say. I think Sam Tomkins had a lot to do with that in this country as he provided an attacking threat different to what we were used to over here and the full back position took over from loose forward as the 3rd ball player if you like.

I think Hardaker has a very good balance as he is strong in both aspects of the game. Tomkins is better with the ball but weaker defensively in my opinion.

Important we start well. The mood at St.Helens isn't great at the moment. A strong start will be key.

Dawson/Owens v Gelling/Manfredi should be a clear route for joy.

Hopefully Cunningham will continue to play Turner at stand off.

Sadly for us fullback is our area of weakness. We must get to Walsh and pressure him. We all remember Matty Bowen have a howler last season. I dread to think how Sarginson or Tierney could get on. I just hope they catch the first one. If they catch the first one - they'll be okay.

Saints fans are confident their pack will steam roller ours. I think our lads will match them physically - it's a derby. They have better players in Walmsley/Roby/Amor but Wane will have us up for it.

I would be more confident with Faz/Williams in the side, having said that I am going for a Wigan win.

What the frig is up with Williams. Following the Leeds game SW stated he expected him back for Widnes. That was nearly two weeks ago.

I was literally going to ask the same thing. Has anything been said on what his injury is??

I don't think either side's fans are confident on this one.

We struggled to beat a really poor Leeds team, coupled with our horrible good Friday record, makes me nervous for this one.

I think, even with who you have missing, you have more quality with the ball. I'm especially worried with how badly we defended down our left edge vs Leeds. I just can't see where our tries will come from.

I don't think we see where ours will come from either.

Maybe a 0-0!

I'm amazed he hasn't been giving a run in the reserves first. He hasn't played a game for 5 months. Isn't that one of the reasons we campaigned for a reserves team? We could've gone with TT at 13 and Burke in the SR with Gregson on the bench but nah let's flog an unfit Joel Tomkins for 80 minutes.

I'm like to think that I am a pragmatist and know that this can easily stray into a being cynic however, the silence on this has been deafening.
I've been on the site a few times but not an inkling of an update.
No news is usually bad news. I genuinely hope I am way off the mark and turning a molehill into a mountain. Have there been any statements or comments by the club for his absence? I state absence because I don't think the club have actually said that he is actually injured or if he is what the injury is.

Williams apart from an aging SOL and a sidelined ST & LF is the only other rugby player we have in the squad.

Sarge had a shocker last week so i'd just go back to Tierney.lesser of two evils i suppose as for Williams its not begining to look good is it?

When he missed the Leeds game Wane said Williams had a back injury but expected him fit the week after. Obviously he missed Widnes and now Saints so perhaps worse that he thought!7

Brocul House over the years has been full of guys with a "back injury". One for the teenagers there to try and unravel.
Sorry feel into cynical mode there!

When has Wane ever told the truth about injuries ? He either spouts forth about them before he has the facts or thinks he will gain some advantage by keeping everyone in the dark (fans included)

This club is becoming like some secret society . " The Truth will never be told " . Player injuries and fixtures being just two examples .

Regards , EW

He played a couple of months ago v Salford in a friendly and will likely be spelled with Burke rather than playing the full 80 /pedant mode

Having said that I agree. We shouldn't be throwing him in cold to a derby. Hull KR on Easter Monday off the bench would have made a lot more sense IMO

I think we need an announcement about Williams

The reserves haven't played since 13th February and aren't due to play again until 17th April then 8th May and 20th May.

I disagree. If he's fit enough to be considered for selection he should be picked ahead of an untested Gregson. I'm sure Gregson will go on to be a good second rower but I'd put Tomkins ahead of him without any hesitation.

But would you put a 'first game back from injury having played maybe half an hour in five months' Joel Tomkins into a good Friday derby ahead of Gregson is the more relevant question. Obviously if Joel had a game under his belt already it's a no-brainer, but I just don't think this is the game for him to regain his match fitness in. Generally players, particularly forwards, in that first game back are pretty anonymous at the best of times, never mind when the opposition pack is bigger and really fired up. There's also the increased chance of him getting re-injured and the fact he's a penalty machine, particularly when the going gets tough.

I'd sooner go with the young local lad who has had game time the last couple of weeks and will be looking to make his first big impact.

That's a waste of time then! Is that because most SL couldn't be bothered putting reserve teams together?

Says on sky sports page that Farrell as a shoulder problem and Williams a back problem they know more than us.

I'd go with Tomkins without any shadow of a doubt mate. Our pack lacks size and Joel is a big athletic lad with bags of experience of the Derby games. Their pack, particularly front row will be tough to handle but we'll handle it better with Joel in there IMO. If he's fit, he plays. No brainier for me!

Tomkins over Gregson for me also. He may have been out for a few months but we're talking about putting a kid in who's never played at this level before and who himself only has a few minutes under his belt in all competitions over a similar time frame.

Needs must and Wigan will have to get a good 50/60 mins out of Joel Tomkins tomorrow.

Joel will play 80 and be fine.

Absolutely superb all game. He gave a couple of penalties early on but overall Joel was one of the best players on the pitch today. His try was pure quality. Made up to have him back!