Makinson could cover FB if either go off, however if anyone else gets a knock we could be struggling big time.

I would not be surprised to see Meli take a shift in the back row at some point, or at least get involved more than usual from centre, as it is asking an awful lot of debutant juniors (Hale/Thomson/Greenwood) to play long spells against Hudds monster pack.

June is a crucial month in terms of where we are going to finish in the table, bearing that in mind I'll settle for a spirited and commited performance and no more injuries, anything else from this game is a bonus, I'd certainly take another draw right now.

You!

What injury has Puletua picked up?

It's a common condition called, "I've signed the last contract of my career syndrome".

Agreed. June will be critical as you say. Meli has to get through a hell of alot more work than he has done in recent weeks. He is big enough to play in the back row and its about time we saw some hard work from him.

Didn't Graham have a rest last week, Maybe Royce has decided he can only push those playing with knocks so far without risking worsening those injuries.

TP and Graham have had alot of game time whilst carrying knocks. You win nowt at this point in the season and with the CC being 2 weeks apart, followed by the exiles game 3 weeks later, this maybe the part of the season where Royce has decided to spell those who have had to carry this injury hit team over the last few months

Royce said he had 'bumps and bruises' before the Sheffield game, which is why he missed the Sheffield game.

Flannery didn't last long, did he?

Only insofar as he didn't play as many minutes as he usually does!

Sorry missed the game last week, guess it was TP who missed it

Puletua missing is the biggest injury blow for us. He's such a big player for us, his presence will be badly missed and it will put more pressure on the three 1st choice props.

The half back problems are obvious and quite unbelievable. We literally have no natural half backs available to us and we're having to use players who don't play there. That's why you'd assume Wellens will line up alongside Wilkin, as they are both very experienced players who can adapt better than a young lad.

As for the team:

28. Thomas Makinson
2. Ade Gardner
3. Michael Shenton
5. Francis Meli
22. Jamie Foster
12. Jon Wilkin
1. Paul Wellens
8. Josh Perry
9. James Roby
10. James Graham
4. Sia Soliola
18. Matty Ashurst
21. Shaun Magennis

As for the bench - LMS will definitely get a spot. After that I have no idea. Armstrong or Ashe as the replacement back and two of the other forwards.

Wellens
Gardner
Shenton
Meli
Foster
Ashe
Wilkin
Graham
Roby
Perry
Soliola
Ashurst
Magennis

LMS
Makinson
Hale
Greenwood

I think that looks like our team for Saturday.

If Royce does use Hale and Greenwood, what a baptism of fire for them!

Of course there is the option to push Meli into the 2nd row and have makinson play centre.

Anyone want to start a meli for half back thread????

Ever get the feeling that fans are beginning to get a bit hysterical?

Early finish for the weekend has gone straight to m head.

I'd go with:
Ashe
Gardner
Shenton
Meli
Foster
Wilkin
Wellens
Perry
Roby
Graham
Magennis
Soliola
Ashurst

LMS
Armstrong
Makinson
Greewood/Hale

Can see Wello playing loose forward for a while with Ashe going into the halves and Armstrong/Makinson to full back if needs must. It's looking quite grim at the moment as far as team selection goes.

Its called Wallet-itus, in seasons past at the Warrington All Stars when a player had signed a new contract it used to break out but now Prince Tony (Peace and Blessings be upon him ) is in charge he has eradicated it from the club.

Flannery playing, Ashe at scrum half, Wellens returns at full back, Hale makes debut on bench, no Makinson

Wellens
Gardner
Shenton
Meli
Foster
Wilkin
Ashe
Perry
Roby
Graham
Soliola
Flannery
Magennis

Ashurst
LMS
Hale
Armstrong

Just seen the line up on Twitter. That is one incredibly weak bench. Royce has got his work cut out with interchanges today! Let's hope there are no more injuries to hamper him (or the team).

According to Twitter, Wello looks 'in good nick'. Let's hope so!

Flannery drops out after warm up, Ashurst starts and Makinson replaces him on the bench

some of the tackling was diabolical ..and it just wasn't the junior player's who where missing em either.

I agree. It was our defence that let us down today. Shenton, Soliola, Meli, to name but three were atrocious in defence. Wello was more often than not all at sea with his positioning.

Maybe we needed a big loss to re-invigorate us? A kick in the backside, so to speak.

Add Ashe to some poor one on one missed tackles that proved costly.

I agree about wello, he seemed all at sea today which is the first time I've seen him out of postion and dropping of tackles so many times in one game. To be fair, he's been out few weeks and not 100% match fit.

I forgive Ashe completely. He's 19 years old and playing with a bad knee, which had to be further strapped during the match. It could have caused him a lot of pain just to reach.

I wasn't blaming Ashe, him Sia and Shenton are the missed tackles that stick out in my mind.

We was poor in defence as a team all over the field.