I don't think there'll be any easy yards up the middle to take. Both teams will be stacking defenses in narrow towards the centre of the pitch because of the conditions so the opposition will have to throw the wet ball out wide to find space. The work at marker has been a defensive strength of both teams so far this season too so I'd be surprised if there are a lot of breaks made from dummy half unless one pack completely dominates.

Anyway I wasn't saying Riddell won't be missed as if he was fit he'd definitely play, I'm just saying that we'd miss him more if Friday's game was going to be on a dry track where we'd need to score at least 20-25 points to win

bench is Deacon, O'Carrol, Feka and Mossop.

Prescott and Fielden starting - Coley failed fitness test.

McClorum starting but his back is still causing him bother
Sam fit to play

Source?? I just predicted this exact same team to my Dad actually. Didn't think Coley would make it and thought Micky Mac wouldn't be at 100% hence Deacs on the bench.

Nice one Cliff. Massive blow with Coley out.

Cheers Cliff, can sort my amend my fantasy team.



Big shame about Coley.

apparently Coleys gutted and thought he would make it. Not worth risking him in a such a big game especially when we do have cover at prop. At his age he cant afford a long term injury either.

Good chance for Feka though, hope he has a blinder and all the others!!

Time for Feka to stand up and show his worth.... what a time to do it

Blow for Coley but i'm definately looking at the positives, i've got a feeling that Feka will have a blinder!! I'm sure the fans will let him know were behind him during the warm-up anyway Palaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaasiinnnnaaaa!!

I hope Feka actually squashes Eastmond. He will most likely be targetted. -.-

Agree.

However i am glad he aint getting risked still carrying a knock. Better to know he is crocked in advance than 10 mins in tommorrow

I want to see Feka on fire tommorrow. I think we all do.

It's a damn good test to see how the team performs with players missing, we should be at point where by whoever comes into the 17 is able to do the job asked of them.

I'm still confident regardless of injuries that we'll be part of a very competitive game that could go either way. In regards to Feka, hopefully his time out of the side plus the emotion of returning in this game can spark him onto having a blinder.

My only concern with the 17 is Deacon and his frailty in defense, what we don't want in a tight game such as this is a weak link in defense that Saints will no doubt keep targeting, hopefully he'll prove me wrong and be that calming mature head that's needed in tight games, plus if the weathers bad his kicking game could have a massive bearing on the outcome.

[url=http://www.wigantoday.net/warriorsWEP on the ball yet again[/url East[iwood[/i must be stopped

I have to say Feka playing doesn't overly concern me, we seem to have the measure of him for the most part. If he'd got fitter and more effective then I may have been more worried, but the fact that he's been nowhere near your first team tends to suggest he hasn't. Unless he's been injured?

Deacon had to be picked for you with Riddell missing, IMO McIlorum hasn't shown any sign that he could handle playing most of a game and that means Leuluai or Deacon coming into 9, anything else would have cost you big time during parts of the game.

i like how you did that


about 20 mins i reckon, out of 80.

I presume your sig is from when TS was at leeds?

That better.

How sad are you? You've been on the Wigan board all day! We're not famous anymore!!

spreken ze english?

Very bad news re Coley.

To be without Coley, Riddell and Hansen for this one is a massive blow.

Paleaaesina is really going to have to make an impact tomorrow and get back close to his devastating best.

It's a pity McIlorum has had so few games and has an injury concern or else I'd like to go with four forwards on the bench given the absence of Coley.

It's still an option to put Lockers to stand off, Sam to scrum half and Leuluai to hooker when McIlorum needs a rest, but I wouldn't want to play that way for more than 20 minutes or so.

I wasn't going to post this, but here it goes:

Coley not playing is a blow, but I'd rather him be fit for the Easter Period than be half fit in this match, pick up an injury and be facing months on the sidelines. Paul Prescott had a blinder last week. His stats were the best from all our forwards. He wont let us down.

As for Feka, bloody hell, what a game for him to show what he is capable of! I don't care what people say about his fitness, weight, size etc. He is the most devastating impact prop forward in the league when he is firing. Just search his name v Hull FC on youtube as an example. Utilised correctly the man is devastating and I can't wait to see how he gets on. He'll either have a stinker or an absolute blinder. I think because of the passion and love he has for this town and the fans, I can't see him having anything other than a belter!

Paul Deacon as well. Think how much this will mean to him. Wigan lad, in his first and probably only Wigan Saints derby. He will want this just as much as any other player/fan. If he can bring his leadership and clever kicking game to the field we'll go alright.

Then there's Mossop and O'carroll. Two no nonsense prop forwards who will give it all they've got. In outstanding form the pair of them and I am sure they will both be on the ball tomorrow.

Super Amos Roberts at fullback in place of Phelps. I'm not concerned. He's the in-form player of Super League at the moment and is the best fullback I have seen play at the club for years. I don't like repeating myself, but, at Castleford, it was the best individual performance from a Wigan player I have seen since Trent Barrett tore Bradford apart in that comeback. Darrell Goulding wont let us down either. He's in top form at the moment. Leeds tested him last Friday and he stood up to the mark.

The last game at Knowsley Road. The last ever Wigan v Saints derby at that ground. So many memories we all have from great battles in the past and we can be sure of one thing...




Friday will be another!!

Bring it on!!











Come on Wigan!

Suddenly really worried about this one. I figured injuries would catch up to us eventually - you can't play at 1000mph without it. It's a shame they've all hit in this huge game against a dangerous and inform side.

Very good post that pal.

Just get your coach to publicly wish for other teams to get injuries.

I'm still confident. In fact I'd be confident with any side Maguire fields to be honest.

We've got a good aggressive bench there, ocarroll will run through a brick wall for wigan and you know you will get the same game from eamon

Feka needs a big game and I think we will see one. What a chance for the big fella to prove a point and go to maguire "ha i told you so" hopefully he's ready to take it with two hands.

Mossop I can see being used as a 5th prop, hes one of those players who can cause any team all sorts of problems

And with deacs in the squad we have the experience, deacs has played in some massive games over the years and coming of the bench he could just be the person to provide us with a bit of composure when he comes on. Although I feel we definately need to put him at hooker when he comes on!

Why on earth would we do that?

McIlorum to start at Hooker, with Tommy in rotation.

Let Deacs play in the halves, where he is at his best.