I still wouldn’t put it past Lam selecting him though lol

Sounds like that you are right.
With Bullock and seemingly Clubb out then Clark could probably make the 17.
Some interesting decisions to be made.

We had 3 senior props playing against Cats is that the answer.?

Of course three senior props is the answer. Almost the first game he played three senior props we beat the best team in the league who massacred us 48-0 at their place. Catalans didn't face a Wigan pack that Lam had selected all season and found themselves up against a set of forwards they never expected. Wigan were up at them from the kick off with Jacko hitting a 40/20 from the first set.

Whether Lam plays that winning formula is very doubtful indeed. With Bullock injured he'd have to play Clubb, Singleton and Clark. It really is stretching the imagination to expect to do play all three although it probably would be another winning formula. Lam has his ideas and that seems to exclude playing more than one senior prop.

I really admire the way Leeds over the last couple of season have accepted that they needed a period of transition. Thursday's match could be evenly matched but if this fixture was being played next season it could be a walk over for Leeds. They have made some really good signings for next season and the continued progression of the already brilliant Odeleski (sic) and Newman plus the emergence of Broadbent and Gannon stands them in good stead. We have really dropped the ball over the last few years and could do worse than looking at how Leeds are on the way back.

I don’t think we’ll see a repeat of the debacle the other week v Leeds and I also think we go into this one with a lot of confidence which is absolutely warranted.

We should be winning this game IMO.

Really looking forward to this game - a difficult one to call as defence is so important come play-offs and Wigan, for all their limitations with the ball, remain a tough and tenacious team in defence.

I fancy Leeds to sneak it but a real 50/50 I reckon.

Clubb knew on Friday night that it was his last match as the below normal strength squad is now more or less back to full strength for the play off's.

With all the injuries and more than normal suspensions, he should be applauded for his contribution during the season, especially when he has been playing with a medical condition and also like Lam, together with their families, not be subjected to abuse (some foul mouth) and death threats which they have had to put up with over recent weeks.
'
Our game has always been renowned as being a family game and it should not have this kind of nastiness aimed at any Coach or Player, irrespective of any personal opinion of them.

Those responsible for this disgraceful behaviour should be ashamed to call themselves a Wigan Supporter.

I applaud him for his efforts as a Wigan player over the years but I can't applaud him for his contribution this season because he has made zero contribution.

As for the other stuff you say.I haven't got a clue what you are on about..not seen any of that anywhere.

Hardaker
Bibby
Isa
Gildart
Marshall
Hastings
Smith
Singleton
Powell
Partington
Farrell
Bateman
Smithies

Byrne
Havard
KPP
Shorrocks

99% sure that will be the 17. Had to check our squad list to see if I'd missed anyone as its so bereft of genuine quality. Im sure we'll have a dig - the teams attitude has always been good and they're defending well. But no way is this a title winning side and it would be a further damning indictment on the competition if we made the final.

I’d be surprised if it wasn’t that as well. We’re going to need to be better than Friday. I missed the game due to a prior engagement but I’ve watched it back now and whilst it was another great defensive effort, I thought Catalans were way off and the amount of handling errors we came up with was pretty staggering. The unforced nature of many were a real worry. They were decent passes being dropped. We need to concentrate and find some confidence with the ball, even if it’s just to limit the amount of defending we’ll need to do.

Leeds +4 with the bookies is good value.



Olędzki and Tetevano back for them their pack could get wel on top.

Nailed on bar midweek issues, big worry is can we get off our line if Leeds bring a good kicking game, looking on their board they're expecting all their big lads back, recent history shows we just haven't got the grunt up front to do that

Make the errors of Friday and it’ll be 80 minutes of hanging on. We’ve got to complete high to give us a fair chance. We’ve gone past the point of hoping the attack clicks in to gear, so it’ll be a grind but turn over that amount of ball again and we’ll be treading water. If we do it though I think we stand a good chance. Our kicking game was so much better on Friday, with a nice variety to it, so that needs to continue.

Death threats? I know Lam was subject to some online abuse but was it really death threats? A genuine question by the way.

Completely agree with your post. Irrespective of opinion on a player - it’s well documented mine on Clubb - they should not be subject to any abuse. I may question a players ability but I’ll never stoop to the levels that you reference some have. It’s appalling, disgusting and you’re quite right those engaged in it should be ashamed to call themselves Wigan supporters. In fact I’ll go one step further and just be ashamed of themselves as a human.

It was death threats from non Wigan fans about the Savelio stuff according to the other forum. It’s still wrong but more understandable than some unstable Wigan fan doing it. We all know Clubb should’ve been replaced when his contract was up last time but the club remained loyal to him, probably because he seems a really popular guy. He’s struggled through these past couple of years and people (including me) have given him stick. I’ll remember the guy for the good times because there have been plenty over his Wigan career. The same post on the other forum said he’s going to continue living in Wigan as him and his family love it up here.

You may not have seen it, but it has been happening to Clubb and also Lam.

Amazing how some never see or hear anything which makes you wonder if they only ever look at this website, even live around the Wigan area or even attend live games where you get to known things which have not been in the media.

21-man squad named for Thursday’s Play-Off Eliminator game v Leeds Rhinos.
Three changes to last week as Liam Marshall returns.
Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos, Thursday 23rd September, 7:45pm K.O. Click HERE for tickets.
There are three changes to the Wigan Warriors squad this week as Adrian Lam names his 21 players for Thursday’s Betfred Super League Play-Off Eliminator game against Leeds Rhinos.
Wigan welcome fifth place Leeds Rhinos to the DW Stadium for the second time this season, as they face each other for a Semi-Final spot in a bid to reach the 2021 Betfred Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

Team news
Liam Marshall returns to the squad, with Brad Singleton and Morgan Smithies also named after missing the game against Catalans.

Brad O’Neill also misses out along with Umyla Hanley who featured in the U19s last weekend.

Injury news
Jai Field is not named as he continues to recover from a minor groin strain, Joe Bullock also misses out following a shoulder injury sustained against Catalans Dragons on Friday evening.

Both Thomas Leuluai and Bevan French remain sidelined with season-ending hamstring injuries.

Wigan squad to face Leeds Rhinos:

3. Zak Hardaker
4. Oliver Gildart
5. Liam Marshall
8. Brad Singleton
9. Sam Powell
11. Willie Isa
12. Liam Farrell
13. John Bateman
14. Oliver Partington
15. Morgan Smithies
17. Tony Clubb
19. Liam Byrne
20. Harry Smith
21. Ethan Havard
22. Jake Bibby
23. Mitch Clark
25. Joe Shorrocks
27. Kai Pearce-Paul
28. Sam Halsall
29. James McDonnell
31. Jackson Hastings

Lam will go with;

Hardaker
Bibby
Isa
Gildart
Marshall
Hastings
Smith

Partington
Powell
Singleton
Farrell
Bateman
Smithies

KPP
Byrne
Harvard
Shorrocks

The only change to the above line up that I can envisage is Shorrocks starting with Powell on the bench. Overall, pretty confident with that squad; most players are playing well at the moment.

Leeds will be at their strongest for a while. It can always be a bit of a lottery bringing a few back all at once. It’s a mental boost and it improves them all being well but if you get the game deep that little bit of match fitness might be lacking.

Really looking forward to it.

Think Leeds will be something along the lines of:-

Myler
T. Briscoe Newman Hurrell Handley
Lui Broadbent
Oledzki Leeming Prior
Mellor Martin
Tetevano

Dwyer Holroyd Smith Vuniyawawa / Donaldson

Much will depend if the returnees are actually fit and available to play.

I think we’ll stick 60 points up em

Team as expected. No Halsall, Isa at centre, Smithies loose forward and Byrne, Havard, KPP and Shorrocks on the bench. It’s easier to pick Lams teams than it is to pick one myself.

Let’s hope we’re in that mode of last years play offs and Grand Final.

The guys a fool, simple as that.

How can Lam not see the trend with wins in big games when we have more experienced props?

Our late resurgence last year, IMO was driven by the partnership of bullock and Singleton who started a run of games and at times clubb and / or Flower on the bench to support.