I haven't been able to catch the last few games, but know that a few young lads have been given debuts. How did they get on?

Quiet really, none have stood out as great or terrible.

Young Higginson looked well out of his depth last night. Should probably have been taken off. Not his fault just nowhere near SL first team standard IMO. Thought Gregson played really well though would've been my MOTM if it wasn't for Manfredi's hattrick

Gregson looks very comfortable. He's causing problems for defences and he's aggressive in defence. Once they out some size on him he looks like he'll be a real player.

As for the others I thought Waterworth was quietly effective on Monday and I actually thought Higginson did well last night. He went looking for work, caused them some problems and defended pretty well in the main. This isn't another dig at Smith but it wasn't as easy night for him having to defend alongside a guy who's really struggling in all aspects of his game at the minute.

Higginson won't be the worst player to be bested a few times by Ben Currie this season. I thought he did generally OK, and was impressed with Gregson. who looked confident and really up for it.

From a neutral Gregson looks some player, I too thought higginson did well got a good frame to potentially develop too

I disagree. I thought Higginson looked really good bearing in mind he is 18 and making his debut against SL's top side at the minute. He looked hungry and showed enough to suggest that we have yet another talent emerging.

Higginson was the only outside back who put a shift in for the first 40 mins. The others came to life from 50 mins onwards but looked jaded first half.

To be fair the others had played 160 minutes in the previous 7 and a half days so it is to be expected. I think only Sarge had any sort of break and that was only about 15 minutes.

Manfredi was playing with an injury too.

I agree, Higginson needs some time on dual reg in my opinion and then maybe a stint at another SL club.

Gregson impressed me last night, in previous games I thought he went unnoticed but last night he did some good runs with the ball and like you said would have been my MOM had it not been for Manfredi.

I thought Higginson did well, he could be in for some game time as I have heard Gelling is out for 2-3 months.

I wasn't questioning his effort and to be fair to the lad he gave 100% for the 80 mins. Just positionally and physically he looked way off IMO. Atkins and Currie had a field day down that side which wasn't helped that he was defending alongside Smith. It was certainly a baptism of fire and I'm by no means writing him off, he just doesn't look ready for regular SL to me and I think there's better options if we have a first choice centre out.

Fully agree with this.

I suspect that Bateman may well go to centre as 2nd row will have Tomkins/Isa/Farrell plus Gregson (who showed up very well I thought) plus Lockers if fit as well. So at least we have options for now.

I would rather see Joel at centre and Bateman at 13. We need Bateman's defence in the middle not against Arundel/Lynne.

Surely Willie Isa can go to centre or bring in Tierney to fullback and put Sarge there.

Higginson did o.k.
He got "found out" a bit defensively, but that was only to be expected because of his inexperience. Watch Ratchfords try. Higginson has his hand on Ratchford as he passed the ball to Penny. Higginson should have carried on with the tackle thus stopping Ratchford from backing up and collecting the return pass to score.

I could be wrong but I don't sense Wane has brought Isa to the club as anything over then a forward to play around the middle. I'd imagine he'll go Bateman there with Joel Tomkins, Farrell and Isa forming the back row.

I don't think the sides anywhere near threatening enough with Tierney at full back. We play a game that revolves around a full back getting around the field and creating openings for others and he's yet to come close to doing that. Had he been at full back Friday we'd have had two less trys for starters. That isn't to bag him, he's just not that sort of full back but when we're likely to have the least creative halfback pairing in the history of superleague at 6 and 7 in Gregson and Smith we can't stick anyone bar Sarginson at full back IMO.

I was a bit worried about something Wane said on the radio before the Warrington game. It was along the lines that we will have a look at some youngsters and then if they do not play well they will not play again. At the moment we are bringing youngsters into a weakened team because of injuries. That is never the best situation to be thrown into. Last year we got rid of Lever without seeing him in the first team. I wonder if players like that could benefit from being brought into a strong team. What about an extra space on the bench for a first year pro? This would help teams to bring youngsters through when it was not backs to the wall.

They've no choice but to bring them in to a weakened side currently. That comment does seem a strange one but I think Wigan breed a tough culture of youngsters having to swim and not sink in the first team regardless of circumstance and that has stood them in good stead so far.

It'll be interesting to see what they do with team selection at the weekend. If Lockers is out then who'll go in at 6? I'd be tempted to get Powell in there rather then Gregson and give Waterworth another crack at hooker.

What happened to Jamie Doran? Is he still around?

He's playing at Workington after his Wigan contract ended.

Ta. So, of the young halves, that just leaves Shorrocks, and he's injured?

There are some good players around who only mature later in life. Brown is a good example. When our backs are to the wall we have no choice but to promote but the structures below the first team are so haphazard that progress is a bit of a lottery. It probably also means that good young prospects are lost to the game when alternative career paths offer more stability. At least the old A team route allowed some lads to play semi pro within our club structure.

I agree that Gregson looks likely to step up to regular first team duties.

Once again Gregson seems to be one of those players who falls between two stools, standoff or second row.
Is he to small for second row and by that I mean even if he fills out he is still by height small in stature or is he creative enough to play halfback on a permanent basis?.
As other fans have said he showed great potential against Wire when he came on in the second half.
Maybe if he shows a good passing game it is time to have a think about what Levrier said the other day, it may be worth a shout trying him at hooker whilst MM is out.