Back injury - correct in that he pulled out in the warm up last week.

Been doing light training this week and will probably be a late call to see if he can make it, otherwise probably pencilled in for the Saints game on Monday to give him extra time.

Yet again you're wrong. The Leeds team of a few years ago was way more entertaining and far more talented than this Cas team. I really don't get this Cas love in but if you must insist on pushing our rivals at least be accurate about it. Better still why not wait until the end of the season when the gongs are handed out before heralding Cas as the greatest attacking team of the 2010's - after a third of a season - I mean seriously!

Now I'm sure you'll disagree with me as is you're entitlement to do - but try to do it with a little more decorum this time - thanks in advance.

Far more talented but not way more entertaining. Entertainment and talent are two entirely different concepts. That Leeds team were never as entertaining as this Cas side are now, it's completely rewriting history to try and say they were. No one ever talks about them in the same breath as the St Helens side of the same era in terms of the style of rugby they played. They were certainly the best team of the last 10 or so years but they weren't the best to watch. Since the last great Saints side I would say only Wire in 2011 were close to as entertaining as this Cas side so far. Whether they can keep it up, who knows. The fact they're our rivals is a complete red herring, just because I don't like them doesn't mean I can't acknowledge what they've done so far this season. Although you regularly throw away all logic when it comes to talking about anyone other than Wakefield (and even some of our players) so I certainly take anything you say with a pinch of salt.

I have to say IMHO that this Cas side, in the games so far this season, is probably the most entertaining side since the classy Saints outfit of early Super League days. Leeds of a couple of years back were more workman like with the odd touch of individualism.

"Wide to Eden" anyone? Obviously tomorrow "Wide to Johnstone"

How about England, who probably won't be fully match fit, on the first set completely ends Gale, Westwood style.
Takes his 10 mins, rudderless Cas get squashed, Wakey get 2pts and England gets a month off to get fit.

2 birds.....1 stone......bosh

which, come the end of the season, is going to be crucial in what is turning out to be a very competetive Super League season.

I say it through gritted teeth about both sides but imo the 2015 Leeds team played some fantasically attractive RL that was far more free flowing, offloading and attacking than their other Champion sides previous and it's far from rewriting history at all imo. Are this Cas side playing more entertaining rugby, it's close call and that says alot about how well Cas are playing atm. Anyway we'll see what the rest of the season brings. When talking about entertainment, especially in RL it can be a bit subjective anyway imo.

Yeah - there's no doubt that Gale is the man for Cas' but having said that I don't for one minute think they are just a one man team - just that if he wasn't been playing
I would fancy our chances!

Well, it worked for Warrington
I'm in no doubt that Sutcliffe is worth a lot more to Leeds than one big dumb lug is to Warrington.

I've not mentioned it before, and I've only seen the game once, but after that incident I was watching the Leeds kicker at the end of every set ignoring the ball, and I reckon kick pressure was a key activity.
It seemed that the kick pressure was not about just pressure, it was about getting to the kicker in the window of opportunity and making sure you put him on his no matter what, and they got away with it all game.
I think that was a large part of why the Leeds kicking game was poor, but there is a ref and linesman, so....I dunno.

Hope our injury list isn't too long after the Cas game...

Both centres were crook and BJB looked injured

We might need to go with something like

Grix, Jowitt, MCB, Gibson and Johnstone???

I am suprised that there are only 2 changes to the 19 for Monday both enforced

Grix
Johnstone
Gibson
MCB
BJB
Williams
Finn
Allgood
Wood
Fifita
Ashurst
Kirmond
Arona

Huby
England
Hadley
Miller

Think the team v Wigan may look like...

Jowitt
Johnstone
Gibson
Jones-Bishop
Caton-Brown
Miller
Williams
Huby
Finn
England
Ashurst
Hadley
Arona

Subs.Fifita, Hirst, Wood,Kirmond

Was unfortunate that Grix had his 1st stinker of the season v Cas. Whether he was bad enough to justify giving Jowitt a chance to win his shirt back is debatable though.

Rather over critical 'stinker'. Yes he over weighted 2 grubbers, which had they come off, he would of been a hero.
Can't remember him spilling a high ball.
Sent a poor pass to Johnstone, but Gale sent quite a few along the ground.
Would say his Grix's game was not up to high standards he has been setting, but not a 'stinker'.

No, he didn't have a stinker you're right, not up to his usual standard yes, but the bullets he was deflecting weren't usual standard either.
And anyway, he isn't the best fullback in the league, Hardaker is.....apparently..

Just shows the high standard Scott Grix has set himself this season when two ineffectual kicks to the corner result in over the top criticism.

I'd like to see Jowitt come in, not as a punishment to Grix, just as a switch so Grix has a full week off before hitting Warrington. He had a decent(ish) game yesterday and was certainly as effective at fullback as the lord and saviour Hardacker was

I think I'd put Grix in the centre with Max at full back.

Hmm, I worry about Grix, he's excellent for Wakey but he has a heck of a lot of miles on the clock, same goes for Finn but doesn't look as fragile, just a bit slower.
If we're going to get the best out of whats left, they both need managing.
I don't wanna see Grix run in to the ground in one season, and not take the field for the next

We're OK for FBs next year I think, at the moment our biggest issue is going to be that all three halfbacks are out of contract at the end of this year. I doubt Williams will be staying as he only wanted to do a year to get game time, Finn probably only has a year or so left in his body (his brain is worth bringing into the coaching team though), which leaves Miller who will likely stay in England and hopefully extend with us, this means that we still need to find at least 1 quality halfback with the rugby brain of Finn (preferably with the pace of Miller too!)

Wigans 19 man squad

Joe Bretherton,
Tom Davies,
Morgan Escaré,
Liam Farrell,
Ben Flower,
Liam Forsyth,
Anthony Gelling,
Nick Gregson,
Willie Isa,
Tommy Leuluai,
Liam Marshall,
Romain Navarrete,
Frank-Paul Nuuausala,
Sean O’Loughlin,
Sam Powell,
Ryan Sutton,
Taulima Tautai,
Joel Tomkins
George Williams.

That about sums our half backs up. Disappointed with Williams so far. Seems similar to Tim Smith but not as good.

I'd be happier if he was similar to Tim, but he doesn't seem to have that eye for a killer pass - he often seems to just shovel it on without taking it to the line looking for a weak spot.

Apart from Fifita, every player lost ground in contact and Wood was targeted when he was on the field.
Cas were miles stronger in contact both defensively and with ball in hand.
They were the best organised and most physical team we have played so far.
Mind you, it will be more of the same tomorrow and i'm not sure that we will cope too well.