Don't you think it's one hell of a risk putting in an inexperienced young lad who's NEVER EVER played first team in the halves in the CC final?

S.Tomkins - Charnley, Goulding, Thornley, Richards - Green, Smith - Mossop, Mac, Flower, Hansen, Farrell, O'Loughlin

Bench - Taylor, Crosby, Tuson, L.Tomkins

This is my 17, although I think Wane will prefer Gelling to Thornley.

green is giving nothing anything better than nothing would be an improvement.

But he has played in the halves at Wembley, I think he was m.o.m.

If we have Green on the bench we can always bring him on if things are going very badly (not that he's likely to do much to help matters). I just think we have very few players available with spark, so I wouldn't leave one in the stands in favour of Logan Tomkins or Jack Hughes, who are both in poor form (well, I'm not sure it counts as poor form for Logan, he's never looked that good)

I would change L.Tomkins for Hampshire them move Smith to Hooker.

I can't believe people would actually consider playing a young inexperienced player in the halves (a position he's never played before in the first team) in the biggest game of the year.

Complete madness.

Both smith and green have not been the same since their injuries, but i still think you need a player like green in the in a challenge cup final

i would add that as an ex rovers player green will be up for the game

What if O'Loughlin doesn't make the final.

In that scenario, and because the way we play we need three ball handlers in attack, i'd play Blake Green at loose forward, Tomkins at stand off and Hampshire at full back. You would then have a ball handling trio of Smith, Tomkins & Green.
If O'Loughlin does play the the team will be the usual one with Thornley in the centre and I would put Hampshire on the bench as the x factor.

Tomkins Charnley Goulding Gelling Richards
Green Smith
Mossop McIlorum Taylor
Farrell Hansen
O'Loughlin

Flower Crosby Tuson Hampshire

I'd play Tuson at SR, Farrell at LF and Burke off the bench. Green's bad enough in position and the pack lacks clout as it is. If Lockers doesn't play/is only half fit I genuinely think we'll lose

Looking at the potential teams for you guys has made me realise just how well matched the teams are. We have a few guys who are doubts but just reading between the lines I think Hull will line up as follows:

Shaul
Lineham, Arundel, Whiting, Briscoe
Holdsworth, Miller
Lynch, Houghton, O'Meley
Ellis, Tickle
Westerman

Pitts, Heremaia, Watts, Green

I agree if O'Loughlin doesn't play we will struggle but I still feel we must have three ball handlers in attack. Farrell or Tuson or Burke do not give us what O'Loughlin does in attack. I'd even consider putting Tomkins at loose forward rather than go into the game with only two pivots.

Lockers will play.
Sam - Josh - Fuzzy - Thornley - Pat - Green - Smith
Mossop - Mc - Flower - H - Faz - Lockers
Taylor - Crosby - Tuson - Logan
And that team is good enough to win, and win well.
Incidentally, the one player who has really put his hand up since the semi to my mind has been Taylor, while Lauaki completely squandered the chance we gave him. Taylor is some talent.

Yeah that's my team also, provided O'Loughlin plays, except I would go for the x factor of Hampshire on the bench instead of Logan Tomkins.

This would be my team. Having Hampshire on the bench offers a bit of "X Factor" if things are going badly. It also gives us a plan B to mix things up a bit if the halfbacks are playing poorly - take Green off, put Sam to Stand off and Hampshire to full back.

Hopefully we wouldn't need to, but something radical will have to be done if we turn up in the same as form as the past few weeks.

As this a Team for Wembley thread I thought I would take a bit of a liberty and post a bit of news from the Hull board.

Ben Crooks has taken part in a training session today and is expected to take a fitness test later, Hull fans now seem confident he will line up at Wembley.

Sam
Charnley
Goulding
Gelling
Richards
Green
Smith
Mossop
McIlorum
Flower
Hansen
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Taylor
Tuson
Crosby
Logan/Dudson

I would as well.

Except that as the lad has only had limited exposure in the first team would he buckle to 'Wembley fright' and freeze ?

Times without number over the years I have seen very good players at both RL and football, 'freeze' when playing in front of a huge crowd at Wembley.

I suppose we could say this about all our players, even Sam. Even he might freeze at Wembley.

Crooks Arundel Tickle Yeaman and Lineham were said to be injury doubts. Either some kidology involved, or Hull will be weakened or they will play with players not fully fit.

To be honest that's just as likely to happen to Logan or Hughes which are the other two likely options, at least Hampshire has looked good recently

Arundel came off last week with a dislocated finger and suspected broken hand. Yea man was carried from the field last week. Tickle will play, crooks and Lineham are anyone's guess.

Based on an outsiders perspective- I haven't seen how hard they train, what their attitude is etc etc

Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding All pick themselves and are class backs.


God Knows. Real quality issue here. If I absolutely have to then Thornley on the basis that Hughes and Gelling are a liability.

Richards - He's spent, but purely for dropouts and goal kicks.

Green
Smith Worst halve partnering in a Wigan team since the days of Denis Moran.........but who else have we?

Mossop
McIlorum
Flower
Hansen
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Dudson
Taylor
Tuson
????? A back preferably. Maybe Powell or Hampshire? Who has been putting the most into training?

Arundal has confirmed this morning he is definatley out. He is having an operation on his fractured hand this morning. Lineham is also expected to be ruled out. Although Ben Crooks could be in for a surprise return 4 weeks early