Cant drop Richards. He was back on form with the boot yesterday, but i would play him on the wing.

Its interesting what Noble will do with this one, Phelps played well yesterday, will carmont be back fit? If so what does Noble do with that. But i have a feeling that Phelps will be benched.

As far as people talking about Ainscoughs defensive weakness, i still believe we cannot drop a player who have scored 17 in 10 games. We would be foolish to, he just needs more support under the high ball from his centre. I noticed yesterday that we shifted Pat to the wing and and Ainscough at FB in defence.

Fielden needs to be on the bench, i would drop him completely but i dont think we can until O'Carroll is back fit.

Id like to see Roberts stay in the side and build the partnership with Gleeson.

Several potential head aches for BN.

I for one would be very pleased if Ainscough misses out.

Interesting how fortunes change - this looked like being a massacre a fortnight ago, now it's a very tough one to call.

Can't wait

Got to agree with that. I think if I was a non-Wigan fan and my team were playing them this weekend, I'd be over the moon if Ainscough was dropped/rested for the match. Top SL try-scorer in an underperforming team - can't be dropped, simple as that.

lol at putting Richards on the bench.

Im sure Noble will take into consideration the last time we met, Ainscough bagged 2 against you.

We need more from him than just kicking. Don't get me wrong I think he's great but I see Roberts and Gleeson starting to gel and you can't drop Ainscough or Phelps on current form. Just my opinion.

Don't you think he joined the play well for our first or second try (can't remember which), he got a great pass from Smith and passed it to Phelps/Ainscough?

Correct, highlighted is the important bit for me. Your only as good as your last game.

Also i think Riddell may be fighting against fitness, so for me it would mean Sam starting with Tommy at 9.

(Saints fan mode) yeah whatever one of them was in touch and the other was like well jammy

agreed, sam ans smith have been playing well together over the last couple of weeks and tommy has been awesome when he plays at 9

If Piggy and Carmont are fit then:

Phelps
Ainscough Gleeson Carmont Richards
Smith Tommy
Fielden Riddell Coley
Hock Bailey
O'Loughlin

Sam Feka Joel Prekky

If not:

Richards
Roberts Gleeson Phelps Ainscough
Smith Sam
Fielden Tommy Coley
Hock Bailey
O'Loughlin

McIlorum Feka Joel Prekky

Phelps
Roberts
Carmont
Glesson
Robert

The usual forward pack

Reasons being -- Left winger, we need two very experienced players to deal with the Gardner and Gidley threat... Is Gidley back for the match??
Feel sory of Ainsy in these sort of matches, he'll be prayign for that call-up, but I can't see it happening

So you'd rather clone roberts than play ainy? Are you Noble in disguise?

Richards
Roberts Gleeson Caromont Ainscough
Tomkins Smith
Fielden Tommy Coley
Hock Bailey
Lockers
---------------
Feka Prescott Phelps J Tomkins

I'm not saying Aniscough would have any problems on right side, he'd have no problems matching Meli in both attack and defence(aprt from Long putting the ball high in that corner and Meli outjumping Ainsocugh, but Meli, will have to learn to catch before that happens

), but as we all know that ball will go from the right wing to the left wing and via versa, for Saint's to score, and I think the experienced heads need to be on!!

Sorry Ainsy 'Water Boy' for me



If people do they job, we have a great chance, all we need is 80minutes of getting in Saints faces.. Soon as Long gets that ball, Hock smashing him, other side, whether it be Bailey/Hansen/Tomkins, get in L. Pryce's face
And we just have to pray out forwards keep on top of Cunningham and Roby, we did all this at the JJB!!

Just McIlorum came on and for 10mins, the game died on us, we went very flat and slow, rubbish in defence, lessons learnt!! But we'll have to see

We need some height to help counter Gardeners jumping prowess. I would stick Pat here and Carmont on the inside of him.

Shaun outside Gleeson on the right. I think that Roberts and Gleeson will become a great combo for us; however Roberts just aint clicking at to mo and this is a game for form players only.

Phelpsy to FB (his form does not warrant being dropped, let’s see how he gets on against a class team, can also cover the halfbacks in case of injury)

Smith and Sam at 7 and 6 respectively

Mickey Mac to start (we will need his aggression early doors when the game will be tight. Tommy coming off the bench to mix things up when players are fatigued (also nice and fresh to smash Maurine all over!!)

Coley and Prescott to start, fielden off the bench (I know I have said form players only but until O’Carroll is fit we can’t afford to drop him. Saying this his defence cannot be underestimated.

Bails to start with Tompkins in the other second row spot. I feel we will need Hansen’s defence to help weather the storm that we will (probably) get early on, he also makes good runs off the back of Tommy.
Hock on the bench, Sean O to start at 13.
Feka and another youngster (possibly Ben Davis or Farrell??) the other subs, it will prob be Hansen though

1. cameron phelps
2. shaun ainscough
3. martin gleeson
4. george carmont
5. pat richards
6. tim smith
7. thomas leuluai
8. stuart fielden
9. mark riddell
10. andy coley
11. gareth hock
12. phil bailey
13. sean o'loughlin

14. joel tomkins
15. iafeta palea'asenia
16. sam tomkins
17. paul prescott

if riddell is not fit id start mcillorum because we will need the direction early on, then leuluai to 9 when macca goes off.

shaun ainscough HAS to play, hes our main attacking weapon

I'd swap Hock and J Tomkins round but besides that spot on for me.

If Riddell does miss out then McIlorum to come in and start with the instruction to go out and rattle a few bones aerly doors.

I think I'd go for:

1. Phelps [iplaying really well and offers us that oh-so-important 6,7,1,13 link play[/i
2. Ainscough [ifor me he offers us pace outwide, he is combining well with Carmont at the minute and we will see how it goes.[/i
3. Carmont
4. Gleeson
5. ppppppaaaaaaaaaaaattttttt, [igives us an option to kick too, he can outjump anyone on his day, defensively he is sound and his kicking seems to be back on track. [/i
6. Smith [iIf im honest, as well as hes played, this is where is defensive improvement or otherwise will tell. I'd have sam practising at 6 as well during the week, if smith gets shown up, get him off. get sam at 6 and poof, defensive problems gone[/i
7. Tommy
8. Fielden,[i not because I want too, beacuse I have too[/i
9. Riddell [i(providing he's fit)[/i
10. Coley
11. Hock
12. Bailey[i, not a popular choice, but defensively sound and not playing too badly for us[/i
13. Lockers

If Carmont's not fit

1. Pat
2. Ainscough
3. Phelps
4. Glees
5. Roberts
6. Smith (same as above)
7. Tommy
8. Fielden
9. Riddell
10. Coley
11. Hock
12. Bailey
13. Lockers

Yeah, I agree with that. I'm presuming you are going to rest him by swapping tommy to 9 and sam to 7 etc?

are you having a laugh you cant drop richards neither FACT he offers alot more than just kicking

What catching kicks?

No, a kick return where he, more often than not, fails to break the first tackle.

Whats with all this Richards bashing? He scores trys, kicks goals and is safe as houses in defence. He is one of the last players who deserves criticism at the moment

He goes in exceptionally hard you could hear the the tackles he was involved in at Wakefield on Saturday.