Farrell and Williams not in the squad for this one which in all honesty takes away some of my confidence. Still, plenty of quality on show and enough to take the win. We really need Smith to step up with a decent kicking game. If we can keep the ball and pin them back with an effective kicking game we'll take the points. John Bateman, Joe Bretherton, Gregg Burke, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Ben Flower, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Nick Gregson, Dom Manfredi, Lee Mossop, Sean O’Loughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins Read more at www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2016- ... ovkuwAk.99

Farrell and Williams not in the squad for this one which in all honesty takes away some of my confidence. Still, plenty of quality on show and enough to take the win. We really need Smith to step up with a decent kicking game. If we can keep the ball and pin them back with an effective kicking game we'll take the points. John Bateman, Joe Bretherton, Gregg Burke, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Ben Flower, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Nick Gregson, Dom Manfredi, Lee Mossop, Sean O’Loughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins Read more at www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2016- ... ovkuwAk.99

Tierney might be back for this one as Sarginson was poor under the high ball last week. Bowen was badly exposed last season and we don't want a repeat of that. However if Tierney does play we lose Sarginson's greater attacking threat. We'll also miss Faz badly.

We miss Micky Mac in these games and Sam too - big game players. Of course Saints are far from being full strength, but they have Roby and they are twice the team with him in.

Effectively we are weak at 1, 6, 9 and 13!!! Although Matty was poor last week he has been good in wins at Hull and Huddersfield when his kicking won the game. I'm expecting him to bounce back, but we need more from others not just Matty. A big game from Lockers would help.

I'd stick with Sarge at FB but would fully understand if Tierney got the nod. Joel should be chomping at the bit having not played yet.
Sarge
Manfredi
Gelling
Gildart
Charnley
Lockers
Smith
Flower
Powell
Clubb
Tomkins
Bateman
Burke.

Mossop
Sutton
Tautai
Tierney (in case we lose one of the backs to injury)

It's not something I would go with personally but I'm wondering if he's looking at going Tierney at 1 with Sarge at 6 to get Lockers back in the pack whilst Williams is out

I remember Sarginson dropping one bomb, were there more or are you just referring to that one? I think Saints will probably end our good Friday streak here, we're just too battered. Joel Tomkins returning doesn't fill me with confidence

I think he might have only been guilty of one actual knock on but I think he dropped two behind him and completely missed another. I remember thinking on the night that I hope Wilkin was watching!

Fair does. You don't really see the Radlinski style fullbacks who's main qualities were that they caught all the bombs and made try saving tackles anymore do you? I think there's too much of an attacking emphasis on the position.

Very true. The position has transformed massively over the last 5 years I'd say. I think Sam Tomkins had a lot to do with that in this country as he provided an attacking threat different to what we were used to over here and the full back position took over from loose forward as the 3rd ball player if you like.

I think Hardaker has a very good balance as he is strong in both aspects of the game. Tomkins is better with the ball but weaker defensively in my opinion.

Important we start well. The mood at St.Helens isn't great at the moment. A strong start will be key.

Dawson/Owens v Gelling/Manfredi should be a clear route for joy.

Hopefully Cunningham will continue to play Turner at stand off.

Sadly for us fullback is our area of weakness. We must get to Walsh and pressure him. We all remember Matty Bowen have a howler last season. I dread to think how Sarginson or Tierney could get on. I just hope they catch the first one. If they catch the first one - they'll be okay.

Saints fans are confident their pack will steam roller ours. I think our lads will match them physically - it's a derby. They have better players in Walmsley/Roby/Amor but Wane will have us up for it.

I would be more confident with Faz/Williams in the side, having said that I am going for a Wigan win.

What the frig is up with Williams. Following the Leeds game SW stated he expected him back for Widnes. That was nearly two weeks ago.

I was literally going to ask the same thing. Has anything been said on what his injury is??

I don't think either side's fans are confident on this one.

We struggled to beat a really poor Leeds team, coupled with our horrible good Friday record, makes me nervous for this one.

I think, even with who you have missing, you have more quality with the ball. I'm especially worried with how badly we defended down our left edge vs Leeds. I just can't see where our tries will come from.

I don't think we see where ours will come from either.

Maybe a 0-0!

I'm amazed he hasn't been giving a run in the reserves first. He hasn't played a game for 5 months. Isn't that one of the reasons we campaigned for a reserves team? We could've gone with TT at 13 and Burke in the SR with Gregson on the bench but nah let's flog an unfit Joel Tomkins for 80 minutes.

I'm like to think that I am a pragmatist and know that this can easily stray into a being cynic however, the silence on this has been deafening.
I've been on the site a few times but not an inkling of an update.
No news is usually bad news. I genuinely hope I am way off the mark and turning a molehill into a mountain. Have there been any statements or comments by the club for his absence? I state absence because I don't think the club have actually said that he is actually injured or if he is what the injury is.

Williams apart from an aging SOL and a sidelined ST & LF is the only other rugby player we have in the squad.

Sarge had a shocker last week so i'd just go back to Tierney.lesser of two evils i suppose as for Williams its not begining to look good is it?

When he missed the Leeds game Wane said Williams had a back injury but expected him fit the week after. Obviously he missed Widnes and now Saints so perhaps worse that he thought!7

Brocul House over the years has been full of guys with a "back injury". One for the teenagers there to try and unravel.
Sorry feel into cynical mode there!

When has Wane ever told the truth about injuries ? He either spouts forth about them before he has the facts or thinks he will gain some advantage by keeping everyone in the dark (fans included)

This club is becoming like some secret society . " The Truth will never be told " . Player injuries and fixtures being just two examples .

Regards , EW

He played a couple of months ago v Salford in a friendly and will likely be spelled with Burke rather than playing the full 80 /pedant mode

Having said that I agree. We shouldn't be throwing him in cold to a derby. Hull KR on Easter Monday off the bench would have made a lot more sense IMO

I think we need an announcement about Williams

The reserves haven't played since 13th February and aren't due to play again until 17th April then 8th May and 20th May.

I disagree. If he's fit enough to be considered for selection he should be picked ahead of an untested Gregson. I'm sure Gregson will go on to be a good second rower but I'd put Tomkins ahead of him without any hesitation.

But would you put a 'first game back from injury having played maybe half an hour in five months' Joel Tomkins into a good Friday derby ahead of Gregson is the more relevant question. Obviously if Joel had a game under his belt already it's a no-brainer, but I just don't think this is the game for him to regain his match fitness in. Generally players, particularly forwards, in that first game back are pretty anonymous at the best of times, never mind when the opposition pack is bigger and really fired up. There's also the increased chance of him getting re-injured and the fact he's a penalty machine, particularly when the going gets tough.

I'd sooner go with the young local lad who has had game time the last couple of weeks and will be looking to make his first big impact.

That's a waste of time then! Is that because most SL couldn't be bothered putting reserve teams together?