McIllorums from the academy.
Mossops from the academy.

Not Wiganers though.

I'd go with

Marsh
Goulding
Gleeson
Carmont
Richards
Sam
Tommy
Fielden
McIlorum
Coley
Mossop
Joel
Farrell

Piggy
Davies
Prescott
Tuson


Leave Sam & Tommy in the halves and give Marsh a run at FB.

That team certainly has a lot more balance to it, but where is that "final pass" going to come from in attack? Stefan Marsh or Liam Farrell?

The advantage of having Tomkins at fullback is he can find that killer pass at pass. His pass for Pryce's try against Saints was (dare I say it) world class.

Another reason why we miss O'Loughlin so much.

I agree, he has set up so many of our tries this season with his passes out wide and is a true Loose Forward in that sense i.e a link between the forwards and the backs. I dont think any of our other players have this ability when they play at Loose Forward and they just play like another Second Row.

With lockers missing, its a shame we don't have Phelps fit - or even Roberts. Both offer that attacking option.

Richards to some degree but lacks the HB skill.

Be interesting to give Goulding a run at FB?

Regarding Sam at FB I can see this becoming his permanent/main position in the future. I have said it before and given the attributes that a modern day FB requires, Sam has them all and in abundance. Imagine him coming into the attacking line, the defending team wont know whether he will step/pass/kick and it will hopefully give us some room to bring in a half back with an excellent long kicking game which is what we have lacked this season. For me there is no reason why Sam wouldnt be a success at FB, ok he has played at SO for England but for me Sam would work better for the team at FB.

Its a bit like the Lockyer situation in reverse. Sam would then end his career playing at SO when he loses a bit of his pace and can settle in the halves.

I Pryce's dandruff clears up. How he managed a full half with that is incredible. Poor lamb.

So is Sam starting at 1 this weekend?

Je ne comprends pas.

Davies isn't. He's a Leyther

Just seen the squad getting on their coach at the JJB head offices.

Does anyone know why they go from there?

Just a village in Wigan that though ain't it?

Prob more secure for their cars.

I'm really not liking this idea. Fair enough attacking wise it may suit Sam at fullback but no more so than at standoff. However who knows whether he has the physical attributes to cope at fullback ? Does sam have the strength to bring the likes of a Francis Meli down one on one, or even a second rower ? I wouldnt be overly confident. He has the game ready ability and positional sense to clean up chips and grubbers as he does it on numerous occassions at the mo but again would he be reliable under pressure under a high ball ? I wouldnt be overly confident in that either.

IMO these questions shouldnt need answering as he shouldnt be moved.

What set of pivots would people prefer ?....

Fullback ________ Roberts ------- Sam
S/O______________ Sam ------------ Tommy
S/H______________ Finch------------ Finch
Hooker__________ Piggy------------ Piggy
Int/Hooker______ Tommy--------- Micky Mc

I would send Micky out on loan for a year eg Scott Moore at Saints.

The first option is probably the best option long term but will it do any harm to try Sam at FB? It could help develop him as a player.

Trying him there may not do any harm but we shall see if he plays there whether it has a detrimental effect on his play and the team as a whole. I just dont see how it will improve his game tbh alot of the skills he'll need to learn if he is to play fullback would become quite useless when he returns to stand off. Which in that time he could he perfecting his play at standoff. Also if finch is to come in i imagine it will be more benefitial for Sam to learn along side him rather than in the background as he'll be workin on his game at fb.

The two things you mention were the main concerns I had, however with someone like Rads at the club Sam could quite easily be moulded into a FB. He reads the game as good as anyone I have seen and his tackling technique is good for a player of his size. So yes they are concerns but definately something that can be worked on.

The main problem for me is our long kicking game. Once again against Saints it was poor and I lost count how many times Tommy's kick just went straight down the throat of Wellens. Riddell is kicking a bit more but we would benefit from bringing in a half back. Will be interesting to see how we fair on Saturday if Deacon is played in the halves with Sam at FB.

So true, but I thought I would stop wittering on about him.

Phelps can give those killer passes also.

It's one of the reasons he'd be my starting FB

I like Phelps too - pity he got injured when he did as he hasn't got back that early season form. May not get the chance to now, such is our strength in depth/list of options at FB and outside backs.

Unfortunately for Phelps, the main problem is his nationality/background as the number of "foreigners", whatever their classification, gets reduced in the next few years. I would think the ones we get/keep will increasingly be top notch - rather than "useful" squad players that Phelps currently is.

Why when that looks to mean Deacon at 6? Not a good idea IMO.

Dave

Any news on why Pryce isn't playing, I'm presuming he's one of the players Madge was refering to after the match ie not following insructions? Feka's absence is really self expanatory given his level of performance last week.

Pryce has been "selected" for the U20s this weeks along with Feka!