well you was half right, you just had him down for the wrong team

An experienced centre might be a smart move, Hughes back to SR with Hocks departure giving more cover (especailly with Wane commenting theat Gelling needs to improve in the SR position), and I suspect Wane may have decided that Thornley and/or Gelling haven't shown enough in pre-season. Of course it would all depend on who would be available - especially at this stage of the season.

Murphy to Salford might be a good move - if he gets game time there it will be valuable experience.

Sam
Charnley
Goulding
Thornley
Richards
Green
Smith
Dudson
McIlorum
Mossop
Farrell
Hughes
Lockers

Logan
Gelling
Crosby
Mossop

Gelling will cover the back line and SR position.

No Prescott,Taylor or lauauki?


As you know I don't mind Gelling either and quite like the versatility he would bring but cant see him being used (Although I thought he looked quite dangerous ball in hand at Wire).

Crosby won't get in & Logan looks too lightweight for me defensively - Think 2 of the above will be in and Flower for me - For versatility purposes I can see Powell maybe getting in in front of Gelling.

PS

Just noticed you put Mossop in twice!



Crosby won't get in

From the way Waney has been speaking it looks like Thornley has put himself in a strong position for the centre spot. With him and Pat as Centre wing partnership we certainly wont be lacking for height and strength. It also looks like Tuson is struggling and Lauaki may miss out so I think we will go something like.

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Josh Charnley
3. Darrell Goulding
4. Iain Thornley
5. Pat Richards
6. Blake Green
7. Matty Smith
8. Paul Prescott
9. Mike McIlorum
10. Lee Mossop
11. Jack Hughes
12. Liam Farrell
13. Sean O'Loughlin

14. Scott Taylor
15. Gil Dudson
16. Greg Burke
17. Sam Powell

I think Burke deserves a shot after a good pre season. I also think Powell offers more than Logan off the bench.

The second Mossop should be Prescott and I totally forgot about Flower. He would be in for Crosby obv. I read that Eric is injured, forgot Taylor and think we need to spell Micky more this year (and all our big 6 really) to prevent burn out.

I think considering my lack of excitement for the season that remembering 16 players was good going.

I forgot Tuson as well. Lol.

That would be my team, and I also agree with your comments re Burke and Powell.

You and me both mate.

I can't remember seeing a more lightweight Wigan team for starting a campaign since I started watching in 1959.

In what way?

All 5 "Front Line" props are 6"1 to 6"3+ (Prescott/Mossop?Lauauki/Taylor & Dudson)
All 5 weigh between just over 16st through to just over 17st

Add Mickey Mac to that front row to give some "Bite" and it doesn't look "Lightweight" to me.

Whether there good enough or the props have enough Mongrel in them is another thing.
Bearing in mind we've only really lost Lima and in theory brought in Scott taylor who is a bigger physical specimen than Lima.

My concern is more around the development of Mossop/Prescott (Mossop in particular).
IMO he has shown glimpses that he could be our Main prop (ala Morley/Peacock) and then at times hes become anonymous (Back end of last year for me).
Prescott has always been the Steady Prop i.e. maybe not capable of those MOM performances but hopefully getting consistancy (Before we get anybody mentions Prescotts injury record his previous3 years to thelast one he averaged 29 out of approx 34 possible games per season - more than most other forwards in the squad).

Lauauki as a signing I was underwhelmed with but saying that he did slightly better last year IMO for what I was expecting.

In Dudson & Taylor we have the younger versions of Mossop & Prescott.
Taylor seems to be the more consistant whereas Dudson has the "Mongrel".

Our backrow looks a little lightweight with the loss of Hock for whatever reason (Lets not start that one again

) but with Hughes/Farrell/Tuson/Hansen/Flower/Lockers with Gelling/Burke/Lloyd pushing them (Not to mention Spencer etc) I don't think were too bad.

I stated end of last season that this year 2013 we may have to take 1 step back due to the settling in of the half backs & the development of the younger forwards but IMO hopefully this will lead due to the potential in these younger lads to 2 forward steps 2014/2015.

Where would you like me to start ?

Our front row is decidedly weak. It's all well and good signing young props but props don't come into their own till they are approaching and past 30. No Andy Platts there !

With George gone apart from Goulding (sp?) we are weak in the centres. No Dean Bells or Gene Miles.

Our second row is weaker with Hock gone. Hansen is reported to be out for a long while, so his tackling will be missed.

Yet another change at half back partnership with this unproven new pair.

Is that enough ?

All we need is Sam and Pat out and we are 'up the creek' mate.

You sond like the voice of doom, i dont think we need to worry too much, il agree we are not as strong on paper as Warrington but you only have to look at when wane put our youngsters to the test against leeds during the season last year we hammered them, i think sam powell is a shoe in if any of our halfbacks get injured and i would have no qualms about him delivering the goods should he be called upon he' s a class act, lts get the season started before you criticise our great club, theirs alternative sites for posting tripe like that www.cockneylatics.co.uk

You sond like the voice of doom, i dont think we need to worry too much, il agree we are not as strong on paper as Warrington but you only have to look at when wane put our youngsters to the test against leeds during the season last year we hammered them, i think sam powell is a shoe in if any of our halfbacks get injured and i would have no qualms about him delivering the goods should he be called upon he' s a class act, lts get the season started before you criticise our great club, theirs alternative sites for posting tripe like that www.cockneylatics.co.uk

Losing Lima is a blow but not as bad as some make out. I remember a lot of gripes during his tenure that have now been forgotten. Hock is a big dent but we've more second rowers than sense and all it takes is for one (Farrell for me) to step up to the mark. Carmont was always phenomenal but at centre where going forward solid/decent will do...

That leaves the halves. As good as they were Tommy got crocked we had no partnership for the rest of the season. Finch shouldn't have played at all in the playoffs. If Smith/Green can come close to SW's billing ("I luurve me some fast strong half backs I dooo"icon_wink.gif and stay fit we are- on paper- in a better position than last year. On the other hand if one gets injured we're in the same position but with worse players. If you enjoy doom and gloom.

A rather depressing slant on the Tomkins situation in this evenings MEN, it goes on to say that Tomkins is [uexpected[/u to play against Salford on Friday. It goes on to say that Sam hasn't played in any of the pre-season games after suffering a knee injury which forced him out of their final play off game last season . Tomkins was also used sparingly by England in the Autumn Internationals.
Does this mean that he has been carrying a long term injury which has been treated with rest, or is it more?.

It would be depressing to see him run out on the Friday, which is the first day of the season to see him all strapped up.

James Graham, Sam Burgess, Stuart Fielden.

Surely Sam will start with Murphy going to Salford, I think Wanes been clever and not overworked him knowing how much we need him to fit for us to stand a chance of silverware.

Would like to see Gelling and Taylor in the 17, I feel they can offer that X factor that we might miss.

Looking forward to seeing Green, heard that he's been going well and looks in decent shape

Sam
Charnley
Goulding
Thornley
Richards
Green
Smith
Mossop
McIlorum
Prescott
Hughes
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Dudson
Taylor
Burke
L Tomkins

I'd like to see this team. Only reason Powell doesn't make it is I think Green and Smith need as much time as we can to get them gelling together.