Has Wardle picked up an injury? How is he not in the squad?

Very strange squad imo and typical Wane really - stubborn to the last.

Where's KPP, Marshall & Smithies?

Those guys missing is almost as laughable as Snyed getting in over Smith last year.

Saints haven't done too badly considering we are awful now and a spent force, with 5 selections and another 3 that would've been in if not injured..............

If we're planning for the next World Cup the other 3 should be nowhere near it

Wardle looked to be limping a bit to me in the 2nd half on Saturday, he was having a chat with the trainer as well, so wouldn't be surprised if he's out with an injury.

Fully agree mate but I think 2 would definitely have been selected- Batchelor and Walmsley

Who is injured Stu? Batchelor and Percival are 2 I presume and then are we talking Walmsley? I guess Lomax has got better things to do as is usually the case.

5 from Warrington. 6 if you include King. It must have been their year after all...

As much as I love Marshall he’s behind Johnstone, Makinson and Young, he’s probably 4/5th choice winger with Handley. Smithies again I don’t think is a travesty he hasn’t got ahead of Knowles and Radley although he can’t be far behind Knowles in the pecking order and Smith and Minchella not a million miles back. KPP I presume is injured or not available, no way would he not get in, especially with Currie in the squad or even at prop ahead of Hill.

Wardle unavailable due to injury, Farnworth the same as are a few from Saints, not heard word on KPP but can only presume so. Smithies was available but wasn’t picked.

Marshall ahead of Johnstone and Makinson for me. I get people have different opinions, but Marshall is better imo. Makinson had been injured for the majority of the season and has he really been that good when he's played? Johnstone has had a great season, but Marshall has had a great couple of seasons. He deserves it.

Brad O'Neill is another. He's just started 9 for the champs in the GF, but he's missed out to Clarke who's hardly set the league on fire. Didn't he get dropped at one point for Wire?

Seems like Wane has his favourites really and weirdly they aren't players who currently play for Wigan.

Yeah those two and its clear to see from his end of season performances that Walmsley was nowhere near 100% fit so its probably been decided that he'll have a full off season to recover. And to be honest if Wane is indeed using this series as building for the future then Walmsley is not the answer long-term.

I don't know the full ins and outs but I'm led to believe that there is a bit of beef between Lomax and England so I'm not even sure he would've been selected anyway. Its been confirmed though that he had been playing with broken ribs.

Have to say I think Marshall has been unlucky. He's been superb this season.

Come on, seriously?

Quite serious and easily done too.

I don't want to paint Johnstone as a flash in the pan, but what's he actually done before this season? I can give you a list of at least 5 to 10 times Marshall has delivered in BIG games over the last 3 years.

Maybe not, but he's certainly been better than Makinson, particularly at the back end of the season. That's nothing against Tommy who probably deserves his place as the incumbent rather than on form. He's never let us down internationally either and we know that Wane often errs on the side of reputation and loyalty. Marshall can count himself unlucky though.

There are a few strange choices in that squad even given Wane's idiosyncrasies. Has Currie had a good season? His own fans seem to think not. Danny Walker too has come in for lots of criticism.

I suppose at the end of the day Waney will always do things his own way. I don't always agree; his penchant for 1 dimensional grafters in the forwards (in his own image if you will) has always been a bit of a bone of contention with me. However, the proof of the pudding and all that...

I would also add Newman to the list of surprises and he certainly has not got in on this seasons form.
Minchella would have been a good shout.

I was going to mention Newman. Given that Waney was very critical of his attitude just a couple of weeks ago it does seem a strange turn around. Possibly Wardle and Farnsworth's injuries have forced his hand somewhat.

Marshall has certainly been better than Makinson this season but I think Makinson has enough credit in the bank to keep his place.

Come on, I like Marshall but Johnstone is a better player and more suited to international rugby league take the blinkers off

Wardle/KPP/lomax/Walmesley not selected due to injuries

No arguments really considering the above
Maybe 1 or 2 that can count themselves lucky/unlucky but overall a decent squad
Talk of Wane having favourites in the way it is implied is ridiculous, he may have favourites but it will be because of what he knows they can or can't do.d

Not sure how anyone can say it's a decent squad when almost half of the 24 have either been injured for the majority of 2023, or play for teams who've massively under performed?

Makinson, Bateman, Burgess, Clarke, Walker, Currie, Hill, Ashton, Newman - either injured, or are big/important players in sides that have massively under performed.

A few have credits in the bank and I understand/respect that. Others have nothing and have been picked over others with some good run of form against their names.

Who would you have in instead of the ones named above?

O’Neill over Walker for a start unless I’m missing something for eligibility?

Makinson is in there very much on merit. Bit of an odd one to include in that list.



Where are you getting this from? He played 27 times and was in the top 5 scorers with 23 tries.



Makinson scored 7 in the final 7 games of the season. Or 13 in the last 10.