Good news is that Ben Thaler will be the ref.

That is good news, I think Thaler reffed the Saints Catalan game really well, especially the new 6 again rule - Hicks seemed almost afraid to over-use it which led to it not making much difference to the ruck at all.

It was nothing to do with ‘pay reduction talks’ or ‘contract discussions’ or anything to do with pay whatsoever

Apparently all August games are at the moment.

Ashurst out with a hamstring injury, Jordy C is also injured

Didn't mention Hampshire on his injured list so he might be available.

Gigot and Kay starting

First time I've heard Chester say he is formally giving Max a run at half back. He said Gigot and Walker ate fighting for full back with Rocky and Max fighting for half back.

I think Vasty was the first I saw talking about him being a half and I just didn't see it. How wrong I was.

Where will Hampshire be playing do you think ?

I always thought Jowitt was more a stand off than full back.

What position did he play his junior rugby in?

I’ve got a few wrong in the past.

I first spotted it yonks ago. max and TJ were in a low key game and Max was at FB and he gave TJ a try scoring pass. Most FB don’t pass very often certainly not in their own half. It wasn’t a centred pass either, it was a HBs pass, it had real vision. Since then he’s done a fair few visionary passes, many you don’t spot at the game.

Apart from being good under the bomb he never looked at home at FB to me. He just looked like a playmaker not a match winner.

He just thinks of other players not just himself, I think he takes pleasure from creating for others. A very different player to Hampshire but two players who could really compliment each other in the future.

Let Max create, free Hampshire up to do what he does and that’s torment. Let Ryan play off the cuff and let Max steer the ship, a lot like Finn really.

I’m not forgetting Miller, it will take time for Max to fully transform his game so all three will get there moments but for the future Max and Ryan could be a winning partnership if they want to be. Just my opinion but let’s hope me and CC are right.

No mention of Hampshire or A.Walker in squad announcement, so they must still both be injured.

The 21-man squad in full is:

2. Tom Johnstone
3. Bill Tupou
4. Reece Lyne
6. Jacob Miller
8. David Fifita
9. Kyle Wood
10. Tinirau Arona
12. Danny Kirmond
13. Joe Westerman
14. Jay Pitts
15. Craig Kopczak
16. James Batchelor
18. Adam Tangata
21. Max Jowitt
23. Josh Wood
28. Ryan Atkins
30. Yusuf Aydin
36. Kelepi Tanginoa
37. Romain Navarrete
38. Liam Kay
39. Tony Gigot

Some fire power there, I don’t assume a win but I’d be hugely disappointed if we don’t put up a good show. We will soon find out which players worked hard in lock down and which didn’t as it was the ultimate leveller.

Anyone heard if Green is injured ?

That’s a good team
Up the Trin

Dont know how our big lads will go.
With the 6 to go and no scrums to slow the play down, it's a delicate balance between power and speed.
Huddersfield were gassed and blew an "unassailable" lead last weekend and Catalan blew up tired, mind you Saints defence was awesome.
I'm hoping to sneak a win but, expect that Wigan will win by 6-8 points.

Should be a good game in quick conditions and if we get the chance, our three quarters can do some damage.
Johnstone and Kay both know their way to the try line so, its going to be a belter.

To digress slightly but we play St Helens at their home ground and then Warrington at their stadium. I know there will be no crowds but it is still home advantage.

We've got the same issue with the likes of Burgess and Bullock, should be interesting how teams adapt to the new rule.

Thought that myself. But then again Hudds had their home game against Leeds at Headingley.

Who will be the kicker, my guess would be Jowitt

I think Tony Gigot has done goal kicking a fair bit, but I wish Hampshire was playing

Think Batchelor can kick as well?

As a junior he was a fantastic kicker same as his brother Joe

Westerman kicked a hell of a lot in his early days at Cas, I’d imagine it will be between Jowitt and Gigot though.