Andy Wilson tweeted that if Sam gets suspended tonight we are planning on recalling Joe Mellor from Quins for Fridays game, and there is a chance of a Brett Finch debut vs Wire.

Havent really seen much of Mellor so cant comment on him but if Finch is fully fit and ready to go I would definitely throw him in at the earliest opportunity, even if its in such a big game as Wire at home. The current coaching staff won't let him play until hes ready but the addition of a top class half back would certainly be welcome for this game. Hopefully Sam will get no more than 1 match ban.

Surely it would make more sense to recall Pryce

I'm guessing it will also depend on Deacon's injury situation as well as Sam's disciplinary hearing.

We've potentially got only one halfback in the squad for Friday (who also happens to play hooker), but 5 who can play in the three quarters. It's halfbacks we're short off. I'd expect Locky to play 6 on Friday and if Mellor is called back to be 18th man as cover for injuries.

It's worrying how weak our kicking game is with only one player (Deacon) out.

They may also feel that seeing as Pryce is playing well it could be more to his benefit to stay in a settled team.

I think he's played well in patches at Wigan, but then has been back out of the side. He needs to play 75% of games this year to prove he is fully fit, and get some serious form back.

The squad sure is being tested at the moment. All hands to the pump.

Its credit to our squad depth though that we can have all these injuries and still put out a side who could win the game comfortably.

You think we'll win the game comfortably with Sam (possibly), Deacon (possibly), Joel (probably), Finch, Fielden, Gleeson & Richards missing?

I think we'll have to put in one all mighty effort to win on Friday.

No teams will go to Huddersfield this year confident of a comfortable win.

Huddersfield would have to start favourites but I think we've still got a decent shot. The pack is pretty much OK and almost the same as last year but with Lima replacing Fielden and Tuson replacing Tomkins. Tuson deserves a crack anyway.

Wouldn't throw Mellor in yet. Amos would come in at fullback, O'Loughlin at 6 where despite misgivings he has played well in the recent past. Move Mossop to the second row and bring Ben Davies in.

This is assuming of course that everyone on the maybe list is out. Sam, Joel and Deacon are not definites to miss out yet.

Does anybody else think that were missing Piggy this season?

Me

How good is Mellor? Being on the wrong side of the Pennines and with family commitments I don't get to enough 1st team games these days let alone reserve matches but I know many posters on here do watch them regularly and I'd be interested to know what the view is on his potential.

Plenty, but anybody with any sense knew that we would. No point looking back, we have to move on.

Yes

I was just hammering out a post about Sam Tomkins still being the best half in the comp then I remembered you're probably on about him being up before the disciplinary panel. My worry is that Mellor comes in for this one game, probably doesn't play that well (not having a go at him, but apparently he was poor on debut at the weekend, add to that he would be playing a pivitol position in a team he hasn't been training in) then the week after Sam returns from his ban, Finch and maybe Deacon return from injury and Mellor's back playing reserves nowhere near the first team and possibly low on confidence. With that in mind I'd leave him at Quins and try to cope without. Like you I think I'd bite the bullet and play Lockers at stand off and go:

FB 19 Roberts
RW 2 Goulding
RC 26 Pryce
LC 4 Carmont
LW 25 Charnley
SO 1 Sam/13 O'Loughlin
SH 7 Leuluai
P 14 Prescott
H 9 McIllorum
P 10 Coley
SR 22 Farrell/11 Hansen
SR 16 Hoffman
LF 13 O'Loughlin/22 Farrell

S 11 Hansen/27 Davies
S 15 Lima
S 21 Mossop (to be used at prop if Sam's in, second row if he's not)
S 23 Tuson

Bold = Changes if Sam's banned, though I don't think he will be.

Using Lockers at stand off isn't ideal but at least it's only for one game, if we turn it into a niggly forward-fest we might be alright.

pretty sure we'll be ok when Finch is back & we can spell Tommy & Micky Mc at 9

True, but you could also argue we're missing his indirect replacement, Finch

If Mellor is to be recalled from Quins then it has to be because he will be needed in the 17 and because he will play. There would be no sense at all in recalling a player from loan when he is just on the point of breaking into the Quins squad (a squad that is currently playing very well) to have him sit it out up here as back up. Someone else still at the club can act as best reserve if that is all that is required.

Recalling Mellor for the sake of one or two games would mean that he would then either be stuck with our under 20s (he needs a higher standard which is why he was sent on loan) or sent back out on loan where we would not have a hope of recalling him (should we subsequently need him for more than 1 or 2 games) for a whole month.

Much better for us to switch O'Loughlin to 6 if Sam is banned than drag Mellor away from a situation where he has a chance to develop and hopefully get more regular first team appearances.

I also think that in the interest of Karl Pryce being able to regain confidence and form it would be better to leave him at Quins for the whole season. At Quins he will get the even break that some of our 'supporters' are just not prepared to give him. If he can prove himself at Quins maybe we will get back the player many hope he could become and maybe the boo brigade will lessen their din.

Well said Sir

Me too

I watched him for Quins U-20's and he was outshone by his half back partner Dan Sarginson.
But he still looked class