Shaun Wane says he wants to coach Wigan in the WCC again and I hope he does.
He therefore has to get his squad together for the Wakefield game which is the start of the rest of our season.
He may have a few absentees though.
It's possible Pettybourne may be suspended.
Lockers looked in trouble with strapping on his thigh and knee so he may well not play.
Also thought Goulding appeared to be struggling with injury.
SW could go with four props but when Lockers doesn't play usually starts with Flower at 13.
Could he switch Clubb to prop perhaps? Gelling in for Daz if he's not fit.
Plenty time as he only has to name his squad on Friday.

FWIW my guess he'll go with :-
Bowen,
Charnley, Goulding/Gelling, Sarginson, Burgess.
Green, Smith,
Dudson, McIlorum, Taylor,
Farrell, Hughes,
Flower.
Bench - Crosby, Clubb, Bateman, Hampshire.

We need a win of course but I think SW will be looking at some better games from a lot of his squad after the Roosters and Giants defeats.

I wouldnt play Bowen again for a few weeks. he doesnt seem to have any clue about our systems at the moment

On the other hand it may be just the type of game to help get his confidence back...

As well as pettyboune's possible suspension he came off injured with a dodgy shoulder so may not play anyway.

Re Bowen it is a difficult one. I have no doubt he will come good, and against a team struggling it could be an ideal opportunity to get him up to speed and give him that confidence.

For me him getting more familiar with our systems is something that needs to be worked on, on the training field and once he has grasped them it's then time to give him a run again.

Rocky I know will be very keen to play in this vs his hometown club, and I personally think he needs to play, if Bowen is still not grasping our systems on the training park.

I don't think we'll see the majority of people who played on Saturday. I can even see some of the lads who didn't travel (Connor Farrell and Hopkins for example) getting a game.

Hasn't Hopkins gone to London on loan?

And not playing him for a few weeks would solve this problem then would it

see below for the point i was making

I haven't seen it announced if he has.

I don't think the side on Sunday will be anywhere near as full strength as what the OP has suggested.

Post ont he Bronco's forum about it. Apparently he's listed on the SL website as a London player

Don't think it was his shoulder. I'm sure I read somewhere it's his bicep muscle in his left arm. With a little
luck it might be OK for Sunday.

[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/10719[/url

Hampshire
Manfredi
Gelling
Sarginson
Burgess
Williams
Smith
Taylor
McLlorum
Flower
Clubb
Farrell
Burke

L Tomkins
Dudson
Crosby
Hughes/Bateman

The team need to get last Saturday out of their system IMO and whilst I wouldn't play a full team I do think we need to put a strong side out.

I'd be looking at something like-

Hampshire
Gelling
Thornley
Sarginson
Manfredi
Green
Smith
Crosby
Tomkins
Taylor
Clubb
Hughes
Farrell

Subs
Hopkins
James
Burke
Williams

Rests for Goulding, Charnley, McIlorum and Lockers who must be short of 100% and I'd pull young Burgess out of the fire for a week and give Manfredi a shot. I'd also look to rest Flower who'll be very important this year and give Bateman time to recover before playing at Cas next week. He's going to be a top class player (I noted how he dumped SBW on his backside in the 2nd half on Saturday forcing an error) but they won't rush him.

That's an exciting team overall.

Bowen seems to be getting special treatment because of his past rep and because he was our 'big signing' but surely if he's not playing well enough shouldn't be be dropped? Clubb was.

If it was just linking in the line then I would understand that he needs game time to figure out the systems but it wasn't just that.

He's catching, his positional play in defence, he's lack of willing to return the ball (always looked for his wingers) are all traits he should be doing in his sleep after being an NRL fb for over 10 years.

On the otherhand we look so much better with Hampshire as our 1, he plays like Sam, Rocky links well, returns the ball, and plays his socks off.

So who out the two deserves to play? Obviously I think Rocky.

I don't care how many years you've had in the NRL, its about whats best for the team.

So my team...

Hampshire
Charnley Daz Sarge Burgess (This is a new looking backline, especially on one side, give them game time)
Green Smith
Taylor Logan Flower
Hughes Batman
Faz
----------------------
McM Crosby Dudson Clubb


I'd play Logan for 30, McM to do 10 in the first and see what state we're in would depend on his game time in the second, for me if the games going to plan McM to play 10-15 at the start of the second then take him off and bring Logan back on.
McM could do with a 'lighter game' after coming off a hard game and an injury, Logan should be playing for his life, he needs to make a statement in the game to show he's worthy, similar for Clubb, needs to come on and play for his life.

Faz at 13, good hands, and can sure up the def on both left and right sides when they're attacking.

If Lockers is out as expected I want to see Bateman at 13, I think that is the reason for signing him and he will be our long term 13

I doubt its out training systems that are telling him not to jump for a high balls

I think hes not had a chance to settle in wigan yet at all, he arrived then went to florida, back a few weeks then off to oz

How could we not win!!!

I must have watched a different WCC to some people on here, most of you have included Matt Bowen and Gill Dudson in your team for the weekend you lot must be off your rockers. There were a host of lads who missed out on playing in what would have been the biggest game of their lives and those two put in performances nothing short of diabolical. Rocky Hampshire to play at fullback all day long for me.

Hampshire
Charnley
Gelling
Goulding
Burgess
Green
Smith
Crosby
McLlorum
Flower
Bateman
Farrell
Lockers

L Tomkins
Burke
Hughes
Taylor

Well I wasn't keen on signing Bowen simply because of his age and the knee reconstruction but I can't believe Bowen has been written off after one SL game and one WCC no doubt by some who had a go at me for suggesting it wasn't a good signing in the first place.

Give him a chance! He is here now and this has to be the fastest fall form grace I have ever seen on this message board since I have been coming on here.

I wonder when his family are coming over? That may help him to settle. As I posted on another thread, a friend rang me after Saturdays game predicting the anti Bowen tirade. He reminded me of how long it took Gene Miles to fit in and the stick he took. It's a good job t'internet wasn't around then.
Give him a couple of months before judging him.

I recall your reservations. And you were right. At the time we signed him I hadn't seen him play apart from once on TV. However when I saw him live I expressed my own reservations. At Saints he couldn't be bothered. Against Huddersfield he got wound up by Brough and nearly got himself sent off. Against the Roosters he brought no leadership to the team, which given his status we have a right to expect. He has been poor in every department except tackling. Even in his worst games Sam offered something in attack.

I'm afraid I hold my hands up here. I swallowed the hype and expected a world class player. Even when he is poor a world class player should offer something to the team. Bowen unfortunately has done nothing. It is early days of course but you only get one shot at the WCC and we blew it. Now I'm not blaming Bowen that would be stupid, but I think we expected so much better.

I hope he improves. But really, does he look like a man whose heart is in it? Compare and contrast with Ryan Hoffman and what he added from the word go. His attitude was spot on.

You often argue that you are entitled to say what you see - as you did after Andy Powell's debut. Surely people are only doing the same.

I have also thought of Gene Miles and how he went early on and that is why I won't write him off so quickly.

I think the start of our season has been very disruptive but even so I didn't think he looked a bad player v Hudds.

You don't have to go that far back, look at St Pat...