I agree that moving Gelling to fb isnt a good idea. But the fact Hull fans are hardly raving about Russell suggests to me he isn't ready to play in the Wigan 1st team regularly, and certainly hasn't warranted moving Sam from his best position. Lockers at 6 should be fine for Widnes, Bradford and Wakefield but I'm not sure it is a permanent solution with the Leeds cup semi in mind. It doesn't look like either Mellor or Russell are going to be recalled anyway and I'm not sure how far off full fitness Sam Powell is. I guess Wane will see how Lockers goes against Widnes then reassess the situation next week.

What we need is the best available replacement for Leuluai that allows the team to remain strong and capable of continuing what has been put in place this year and be as competitive as possible. I see no reason why that wouldn't be SOL. There's just as much chance of SOL gelling with the players around him.

When it comes to looking for a future partnership I can only use guesswork, but I would deduce that the fact that Mellor hasn't been recalled suggests it's already been decided that he won't be here next season so recalling him doesn't fit in with what you've suggested.

Powell is the obvious choice and would be my preferred choice but because he's injured that isn't possible. That only leaves Williams and Hampshire and it's just too much to ask of them to expect them to go from playing under 16's to Super League rugby in a year.

Now if Mellor still has a chance of being a Wigan player next year then I think the sensible thing to do is recall him and give him a chance but I'm assuming that Wane wouldn't be willing to pass up that opportunity.

So really, if Mellor could still be at Wigan next year then he should be recalled, if he's leaving then O'Loughlin is currently the only sensible alternative and the best possible option.

I know you haven't suggested this and it's been others but anything involving moving Tomkins from fullback just isn't a sensible option at all and obviously wouldn't do anything in terms of finding potential replacements for next year and would just be disruptive.

For me it's a real shame that Powell is still out injured. I rate him quite highly and this would have been the perfect opportunity for him but I think his injury may well prevent him from getting any first team experience this year.

With Richie Myler now fit again Warrington have Briers, Myler, Ratchford and O'Brien vying for two spots. It might be worth Wigan approaching Warrington to see if any are available for loan in the short term if Wigan have no suitable options to replace Lelulai. I guess a problem would be that Warrington are unlikely to allow them to become cup-tied in the Challenge Cup but at least it would give you two Super League level half-backs for league games.

Myler looked far from fit on Tuesday in the nines at Wigan. Haven't the others already played in Cup ties this season (maybe not Ratchford)

Lockers in halfs and one of our many talented kids in lockers place .

I'd forgotten Mellor is suspended for the next game, but in any case Wane has ruled out bringing any loan players back for now.

[urlhttp://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-warriors/wane-we-ll-make-do-and-mend-1-4664459[/url

Good job you didn't see Solomona the week before then!

First run out for sometime for Myler so no great suprise. I'd guess it would be a win/win as with the u20s season break it would allow Myler to get his match fitness back before returning to Warrington whilst helping Wigan in the short term.


Seriously though, the comments from Wane pretty much puts the nails into the coffin of Mellor's Wigan career. His injury was a killer for him.

It's a shame. He's just lost that half yard of pace that made him so dangerous. I think he'll sign a permanent deal with Widnes next season.

I thought Mellor had already served his suspension? It was only a 1 match ban as far as I'm aware.

For me the benefit of moving O'Loughlin to the halves isn't more game time for Farrell and Tuson but more game time for Jack Hughes.


Edit: Mellor definitely isn't suspended for this game. He was banned for one match on the June 3rd and Widnes played London on the 9th so he's free to play.

Still think Waney has ear-marked the no.7 spot for Sam Powell as he has played there last 3 seasons in academy and U-18's over 60+ games, so has been playing the wigan way for a while.

Sam Powell would have been put in I think if he wasn't coming back from a serious injury himself. This sort of opportunity would have been ideal to try him there (like Sam and Tim Smith) but he's only back available for under 20s in 2-3 weeks. He'd then need a good few games in that level to be anywhere near ready for first team IMO. He may be ready for the last 3 or 4 weeks that Tommy's out but by then we may have found the right solution for the problem

Yeah, I really should know better than to go off anything the WEP says.

Id quite like to see us go

1. Sam Tomkins 2. Josh Charnley 3. Darrell Goulding 4. George Carmont 5. Anthony Gelling 6. Sean O'Loughlin 7. Brett Finch 8. Lee Mossop 9. Logan Tomkins 10. Ephalame Lauaki 11. Jack Hughes 12. Gareth Hock 13. Mike McIlorum SUBS 14. Jeff Lima 15. Paul Prescott 16. Chris Tuson 17. Ben Flower

against Widnes.

I'd go with that side because you aren't losing out a pivot by moving McIlorum to 13 when Lockers moves to 6.

Farrell?

Against Widnes it should be:

S Tomkins; Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Gelling; O'Loughlin, Finch; Lauaki, McIlorum, Mossop; Farrell, Hock, Tuson -- Subs: L Tomkins, Hughes, Lima, Prescott

If Prescott isn't available then Flower should come in and if he's also not available then Crosby or Spencer.

On a side note. I think most of our players are looking pretty fresh right now. Most have just had a week off which should do them the world of good. I'd just be looking to rest the trio of Lima, Lockers and Sam over the next few weeks. Not all at the same time of course. But these three are the only one's to have not had a rest this season either through injury, suspension or being overlooked internationally.

Would be interesting to see what Wane does if he chooses to rest Tomkins. He's said he would recall Russell at some point but he also seems happy to keep him there right now. Jack Murphy has done well for the under 20's at fullback and has been on the fringes of the squad for a while so he might get a game.

[urlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/18538369[/url

Interesting comments from Wane, particularly with regards to George Williams.

Stevo seemed to suggest on backchat we should make a move to bring in Matty Smith early this year to get him ready now Tommys out. Don't see the harm to us if we did but its unfair on Salford I suppose, I disagree with it being the right option though

haven't seen him play personally but however if there good enough there old enough, it does seem with our run of games now that he will play in some part, interesting to see how he goes if he does play

Has anybody seen George Williams play for the academy this season? Has he got the physical attributes to stop a prop running over the top of him, and can he kick well?

Williams is still a little on the small side but he's a good defender for his position and his age. He's a good kicker, decent runner (although not as good as Hampshire) and his passing game is pretty good. Can't really judge how well he'd go at Super League level until he plays.

I do think it's a massive leap from playing against 15-16 year olds last year to facing 17 stone men this year.

Can he kick conversions?

Yes. He's not first choice for the under 18's as that's Hampshire but I'm pretty sure he's kicked a few this year.

Deacon is coming out of retirement .................


For lockers testimonial