Wigan Warriors Head Coach Shaun Wane has rotated his 19 man squad for Sunday's Stobart Super League Round 6 away fixture against Widnes Vikings, with some new faces set to feature.

First team regulars Pat Richards and Thomas Leuluai, plus Welsh International Ben flower are rested and are replaced by promising youngsters Logan Tomkins, and Matthew Russell and Tom Spencer who return from dual registration at Leigh Centurions.

Joe Mellor and Anthony Gelling, who have impressed for the under 20's side in recent weeks are also included.

Wigan Warriors 19 Man Squad

Sam Tomkins, Josh Charnley, Darrell Goulding, Brett Finch, Michael McIlorum, Lee Mossop, Harrison Hansen, Gareth Hock, Sean O'Loughlin, Jeff Lima, Liam Farrell, Chris Tuson, Epalahame Lauaki, Anthony Gelling, Joe Mellor, Jack Hughes, Matthew Russell, Logan Tomkins, Tom Spencer

Referee - Robert Hicks

Tuson and Logan to miss out for me.

Nice to see that 15 of the 19 have come through our ranks as well, probably won't get a mention by the media.

russell and mellor in for pat and leuluai in the 17?

Interesting stuff. How will we line up 1 to 7?

I'd like to see russell in for pat, Mellor in for tommy and gelling in for flower (but I think spencer will be a straight swap for flower):

Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Gelling
Russell
Finch
Mellor
Mossop
McIlorum
Lauaki
Hughes
Hock
O'loughlin

Lima
Hansen
Farrell
Tuson

Tomkins S.
Charnley
Goulding
Hughes
Russell
Finch
Mellor
Mossop
McIlorum
Lauaki
Hansen
Hock
O'Loughlin

Lima
Spencer
Farrell
Gelling/Tuson

maybe..??

I like that!



Tuson to miss out for me.

Think Tuson has been playing pretty well so far this year. I would be disappointed for him to miss out.

Gelling and Logan to miss out for me.

No Pat, and after all Bilko's pulled together on him probably hitting 2,000 points this weekend too!



Provided we don't have a freak slip-up, this looks a great opportunity to blood a couple of the younger players - there's still more than enough firepower in the side to keep the consistency going.

If there was one criticism you could level at Madge's reign, it's that he never really went in for this sort of rotation. Obviously can't argue with the results he got in doing that, and having a settled team has to be a positive thing, but there were certainly opportunities to throw a couple of untested players in there on occasion.

Very much looking forward to seeing how this goes on Sunday now.

At some stage I think we will see Gelling or Goulding in the wing/centre positions and Russell at fullback.

I think Russell would be a waste out on the wing, personally I'd like to see:

1. Russell
2. Charnley
3. Goulding/Gelling
4. Hughes
5. Gelling/Goulding
6. Sam
7. Finch
8. Mossop
9. McIlorum
10. Lima
11. Hansen
12. Farrell
13. Lockers

14. Mellor
15. Eric
16. Spencer
17. Hock

Russell
Charnley
Goulding
Hughes
Gelling
Sam
Finch
Mossop
McIllorum
Lima
Hansen
Hock
Lockers

Mellor
Eric
Spencer
Farrell

I dont want Sam at 6 tackling big blokes on that razor-blade pitch. I want him not playing.

I want sam as the in goal touch judge in the Widnes end and play them with 12... that way avoid being tackled

That would be my pick also. Like mini r says Russell would be wasted on the wing.

I'm confused here. I know nothing abour Russell, but surely Gelling on the wing isn't ideal either? TBH I'm struggling to see how we will line up.

I can't wait to see how Mellor does at 7.

Hopefully he'll get plenty of game time. It's the ideal game to bring him in as players often want to stand out against clubs they've previously played for. There are still a few players at Widnes who were there last year so I reckon he'll be keen to make an impression, as would Logan Tomkins if he's picked.

On the other hand Stefan Marsh will be wanting to really stand out against us.

Sam and Mossop to sit this one out.

Russell is a better fullback than a winger, but can play both. That's why I thought that perhaps at some stage of the game we could move Goulding to the wing, Gelling to centre and Russell to fullback.

Are widnes really that bad? I don't think we could afford to rest Sam and Mossop as well as Pat and Leuluai. I think it will be closer than most people on here think, they have a lot of lads out there ready to prove a point and I just hope the coach and players don't think the way some fans are on here.

I would leave both of them in the team but place Sam on the bench as backup. Therefore Russell can play full back.

Maybe rest Mossop against London

But fullback is a more important position, maybe better to ease Russell in with a wing spot. Also, he's still not really up to SL fullback standard defensively, IMO. I'd be happy to see Logan given some game time, too.


S. Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Hughes
Russell

Finch
Mellor

Mossop
McIlorum
Lima
Hansen
Hock
O'Loughlin

Lukaiaiakiilui
Spencer
Farrell
L. Tomkins

That's the team I would go with to be honest. I'm not convinced that Logan Tomkins has been playing well enough to make the side but I think we do need someone else in the side who can play hooker.
Hughes and Russell together could be a slight worry though. It only needs one weakness for Widnes to really make a game of it.

Oh, and Lukaiaiakiilui? Surely you mean Luakakilaulau? Honestly, it's not difficult to spell.

Something similar to what I would go for, though I would like to see Gelling get a game, possibly put Hughes in the backrow and give one of Hansen, Hock or Farrell the week off?