IN: Dom Crosby, Ryan King, Joe Mellor
OUT: Sam Tomkins, Paul Deacon, Joel Tomkins

Wigan Warriors 19 Man Squad

Darrell Goulding, George Carmont, Thomas Leuluai, Michael McIlorum, Andy Coley, Harrison Hansen, Sean O'Loughlin, Paul Prescott, Jeff Lima, Ryan Hoffman, Amos Roberts, Lee Mossop, Liam Farrell, Chris Tuson, Stefan Marsh, Josh Charnley, Dom Crosby, Joe Mellor, Ryan King

Huddersfield Giants 19 Man Squad

Scott Grix, Michael Lawrence, Leroy Cudjoe, Lee Gilmour, David Hodgson, Kevin Brown, Danny Brough, Eorl Crabtree, Luke Robinson, Darrell Griffin, Luke O’Donnell, David Fa’alogo, David Faiumu, Shaun Lunt, Keith Mason, Danny Kirmond, Graeme Horne, Joe Wardle, Jamie Simpson

Crosby has been given Number 29, King Number 31 and Mellor Number 32.

1.amos roberts
2.darrell goulding
3.josh charnley
4.george carmont
5.ryan king
6.sean o'loughlin
7.thomas leuluai
8.paul prescott
9.mike mcillorum
10.andy coley
11.harrison hansen
12.ryan hoffman
13.liam farrell

14.chris tuson
15.jeff lima
16.lee mossop
17.joe mellor

stefan marsh and dom crosby to miss out

So according to TinyTim1920, Mellor and Russel to miss out.

In a way I'm glad to see Finch not in the 19. I'd have hated to see him rushed back before his time.

Roberts
Goulding
Marsh
Carmont
Charnley
Mellor
Leuluai
Coley
McIllorum
Prescott
Hansen
Hoffman
Farrell

Lima
Mossop
Tuson
Crosby

Ryan King impressed me when I watched the Reserves v Hull. He caused them problems all day with his elusive running. Also the lad is excellent in the air. I counted four kicks they put to him and he dealt with them all day. Plus his cover defence was absolutely first class. He saved a certain try after sprinting from the other side of the pitch to make a cover tackle. I rose to my feet to applaud that effort. Absolutely superb. If that lad is given a run out on friday he will not let anyone down.

I've not seen Dom Crosby play, but apparently the lad is not short of some size! Some very good reports from people who watch the reserves on a regular basis.

No Lockers?

Amos Roberts
Darrell Goulding
Josh Charnley
George Carmont
Stefan Marsh - although I would be tempted to give King his debut.
Joe Mellor
Thomas Leuluai
Paul Prescott
Mike McIlorum
Andy Coley
Harrison Hansen
Ryan Hoffman
Sean O'loughlin

---------------------------------
Liam Farrell
Lee Mossop
Jeff Lima
Chris Tuson

13 players out of that 19 man squad have come through the Wigan academy system.

Nah he's rubbish, waste of space, not fit to be the captain! Mistake, obv.

Swap Hof and Faz and I'd go with that (think Hof has play LF quite a bit in the past?) - but it looks like Marsh instead of King.

I'd like to see Mellor in there - perhaps off the bench, as he would give us more options. Sounds like Crosby will get the nod though.

Would be good to see all King Crosby and Mellor play for me.

I'm not sure what we'd gain from having Crosby on the bench. I know that Huddersfield have a big pack but that doesn't mean sticking our biggest players on the bench is the way to beat them. I don't think Crosby will offer them anything that will trouble them and we'd be left with no cover if someone else gets injured in the backs.
I think Mellor has to feature otherwise we're making our problems worse not better. Leuluai and O'Loughlin have a poor kicking game, and whilst Mellor isn't great he offers more options. He also offers the benefit of being able to partner Leuluai in the halves with Lockers in his strongest position, or partnering O'Loughlin in the halves for a bit and allowing Leuluai to step in at hooker.
As you say though, I think Crosby will get picked.

Cherry.Pie > agreed

btw - how long do I have to stay in 'Stevo's armpit'?

1 Roberts
2 Goulding
3 Marsh
4 Carmont
5 Charnley
6 Lockers
7 Leuluia
8 Coley
9 Mickey Mac
10 Prescott
11 Hansen
12 Hoffman
13 Farrell

14 Lima
15 Mossop
16 Tuson
17 Crosby

Guess the bench depends on the success (or lack thereof) of Joel's appeal hearing. Thnk it might be asking a bit too much to throw Mellor straight into the 6 shirt when Lockers can fill the role more than adequately. If we were playing a lesser team then the Fartowners I'd be more confident in chucking him in but seeing as he won't even get a full weeks training in I can't see him getting in. Think King is only in there in case Amos' wafer knee strikes again

I'm not entirely sure, but it's not much better being Eddie Hemmings' wig either, so I wouldn't let it bother you.

Huddersfield have some real natural power on the Wings, will be a big test for any inexperienced lad who gets the nod.

The main one for me is that Lockers plays 6 instead of Mellor.

Would like to see him get his chance, but we need all the force and forwards we can get for this one.

Really like the idea of giving King his debut and trying Charnley in the centres, I'm sure he was a centre in the reserves anyway! (Plus he played there for KR) I think he deserves to be played there after recent performances.

Recalling Mellor gives the impression that he'll feature, otherwise what was the point?

However I can see MM going with:

AR
DG SM GC JC
SO TL
AC McM PP
RH HH
LF
----------
LM JL CT JM

Bloody ell, theres some thinking to your post there

Till you post enough to move into Eddie Hemmings' Wig.

But if Mellor didn't feature at least off the bench, what would an extra forward on the bench bring us? Just because they have a big pack doesn't mean another prop will offer us any advantage. Crosby won't trouble Huddersfield more than any other forward we have. Mellor in the side, either starting or on the bench, gives us options. We should be fine having 2 props and 1 second row on the bench, Mossop can play in the back row too and both he Lima and Prescott are capable of playing long spells.

Amos Roberts
Darrell Goulding
Josh Charnley
George Carmont
Ryan King
Joe Mellor
Thomas Leuluai
Paul Prescott
Mike McIlorum
Andy Coley
Harrison Hansen
Ryan Hoffman
Sean O'loughlin

Liam Farrell
Lee Mossop
Jeff Lima
Chris Tuson

I'm more interested in the defensive side of things this week.

We're missing some good, experienced players and could be exposed outwide.

Play Lockers at 6, and with Farrell going to LF we won't lose anything defensively in the forwards as Faz is a tackling machine.

Switch Lockers' position slightly and put him towards the right to help out Goulding and Marsh. You can bet your life Hudds will be working on exposing that weakness this week in training.

That's a very good point. I'd still have Mellor on the bench though. I can't imagine the young player that makes the bench will play more than 10 minutes anyway, that seems to be how Maguire plays it with the youngsters. With that in mind, I think Mellor offers cover and could offer more in a short spell than Crosby.

Makes you wonder where Ben Davies is up to if a 1st year player in Dom Crosby is above him in the pecking order.

By that I do not mean anything against Crosby, as Ive heard he has done very well in pre season and so on. I look forward to seeing him in the 1st team.