Richards
Roberts
Bailey
Carmont
Ainscough
S. Tomkins
Tommy
Fielden
Riddell
Eamon
Hansen
Tomkins
Lockers

Feka
Hock
Prescott
McIlorum

That would be my team

Swap Hock & Hansen and you got it in one.

Barring injuries, same as last week. They need to be rewarded for playing well, just as they should be dropped for playing poorly.

Bob on.

I'd like to go with AJ's team but you are right. That team deserves to stick together.

No you use Hock as an "impact" player bringing him on for Hansen later on in the game. Hence why Feka is also on the bench.

Aiscough is struggling with a bad dead leg.

I f he is not fit then pryce straight on to wing.

whats the point of that when he had a blinder from minute 1 ?
start him.......and feka.

The point is that he can bring something different to the team when the opposition is used to dealing with the other two Hansen and whoever plays 10 then you throw in 2 strong forwards and it gives Wigan a stronger attack and usually puts Leeds on the back foot.
It worked last year but for some reason Nobby hasn't employed it so much this year.

Facebook rules eh tricky.

Exactly the same 13 as against Bradford, no need to change anything.

The signs are that Hock is maturing as a player, he should be rewarded for his recent excellent performances with a continued starting spot. I'm pleased because I think most are of the opinion that Hock has the potential to be far more than an impact, bench player.

Pryce would be the obvious replacement for Ainscough if he's not fit. Surely Noble wouldn't consider bringing in Mathers against his former club? He has history for doing this with both Mathers and Calderwood.

Agreed there mate



I think Noble started with Feka and Hock (maybe would of started with Hock anyway) because Bradford's pack was pretty strong to start off with but had nothing to back it up off the bench so he thought if we could get through the opening 20 they would struggle.

I think it would be better to start with O'Carroll and Hansen to sure things up to start with (mainly defensively) and bring Hock and Feka on after 20-25 minutes to hit them hard then. I think Hock would have no problem finishing the 80 after coming on after 20-25 and I think Feka's game time would improve if he came on after 20 because he would get the half time break instead of interchanging him

Same as last week but bring in Prescott for Coley, also Pryce on the wing if neccessary, no need to drastically change a winning formula.

People seem very quick to drop Coley for Prescott, but does anyone know how he's been playing?

I'm no fan of Coley, but this isn't about Coley, it's about Prescott and he's progression.

No need to change the team around from the Bradford game. It clearly worked! And if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it!

Why?

At the expense of who?

Ainscough is being treated for a leg injury during the week.

I would expect Pryce to be in if Ainscough doesnt make it.

Richards back to the wing & Mathers to fullback is surely not a move Nobby would go for?

As I said in an earlier post, the only reason I think this might be a possibility is that Noble has a history of bringing back players to face their former clubs. To be fair to him in the majority of cases I think its worked but I certainly wouldn't be in favour of it this time.

I know what you mean, Mathers was "okay" there in the play offs last year, and some of Calderwoods handful of good performances came at Headingly. But when we have a great chance to finally build on some potential, I dont want an unnecessary risk to jepordise it, granted Mathers could come in and have a blinder and show what he can actually do, but I believe he simpily doesn't have the confidence to do it.

I agree. Thought Mathers was very poor in the playoffs last year though, I would refer to the regular season game at Headingley in which Mathers was Sky MOM.

I'll read the rest of the thread before commenting in future

I think the team will be the same again unless Ainscough misses out through injury. If he is injured then I would pick Pryce over Mathers with Pat to stay at fullback and Pryce on the wing. I saw Mathers play fullback for the reserves at the weekend and I agree with other reserve watchers that he didn't play well and stand out. Pryce on the other hand had a solid game in attack and was very strong defensively, especially in the 2nd half.

The only other change I would consider is swapping Prescott for Coley. Prescott has played very well in the last 2 reserve games and must be very close to a recall to the 1st team.Coley has played solidly in the last 2 games but is he any better than Prescott. Prescott will only get better as he plays more games in Super League.

Just what I was going to post. We can't drop Coley. He played quite well and it would send out the wrong message, primarily to him but also to the rest. Injuries will happen and the form players in the reserves will get their chances.