Given that whoever plays will be up against Matt King would rule Ainscough out. They found him out at Wire last season.
But I'm going to be completely obtuse here.

I would play















Josh Charnley.

He was the most improved player at Wigan last season, he's fast, strong and has a brilliant attitude to training.

If not him I would go with Pryce to combat Kings physical size.

I think if we played Pryce his fitness better be spot on otherwise Briers will identify him as a weakness and kick the ball behind him all night and when he is knackered he will bomb him to death.

Right here goes. Dont get me wrong here i realy do want pryce to do well at wigan. so do not think this is a one man crusade against pryce. I would love nothing more than to see him in the first team causing opositions defences all sorts of problems.
But and a big but. in a reserve grade team , playing against what could only be described as a very young leigh team. Pryce should be head and shoulders above them ( forgive the pun) .He just wasnt. for the last 15 in the first half he struggled limping and seemed to be stretching off alot obviously trying to shake off a knock . At half time the whole team walked off together, pryce 15 yards behind them all. dont know what that was about , maybe nothing.
The second half pryce took one run in and unless i missed it i dont actualy think he touched the ball again. I could be wrong on that though but he certainly didnt do anything in second half . could he have come in to help the forwards out, im sure he could have put himself about more.when he dropped on that fella who was already tackled thought he had killed the poor fella.I think he had to go off . Yes he did do 80 minutes but hey its what you do on the pitch while your on that counts.
He was good in first 20 -30 creating for marsh. I well say it again i want pryce to do well for us . At this moment going off his performances in the reserve grade i just cant see where he will fit in the team.

That's one of the reasons I would go with Charnley. Because of Pryces size it's difficult for him to turn quickly.

Saints used the tactic very effectively v Lesley Vainikolo.

Can anyone tell me what is wrong with Josh Veivers he is tipped for big things, I believe he is fully fit and he plays FB, why should we change the team around when we can bring in a FB for a FB??

fair point . madge will make the call in the week i am sure. maybe josh is not quite ready to be dropped in at such a crucial game against an in form wire team.

I think the fact that goulding didnt play in the reserves today would suggest that he will get the wing spot.

Looks like goulding may have been withdrawn from the reserves due to the injury to Phelps so that he is available for the wire game next week.

Josh's lack of pace would be a major concern, and he had very poor game last week (unusual for him) dropping the ball twice which gifted Wire reserves two tries.
On the plus side he is a very good organiser / talker from the back continually shouting players into position.

He may be in Maguires thought as he was withdrawn at half time yesterday.

Or he maybe on his way to Salford?

Permanent or loan?

The thing is like Ainscough and Tomkins last year we don't know how these lads will do untill they are put on the big stage, some will thrive some will choke. But we should let them have a go. Is his lack of pace so much of a problem with Roberts and Richards around him as long as his positional play is bang on. (After all Wellens has had a decent career and he is slower than a fat man, going to his first weight watchers meeting)

You give Wellens too much credit pal he aint that fast any more.

Josh Charnley is a very good call, but I'll make another call.



















Stefan Marsh. Play him at fullback. Keep Roberts and Richards on their wings where they are the most threatening and give that young lad a go.

I thank that fullback is Marshs best position, but as he hasn't played there for a while I think it would be too much of a risk.

I'd personally keep Amos on the wing and bring someone in to cover at fullback, that way it's of minimal disruption to rest of the team.

It's nice to think we have so much choice of whom to bring in, there's realistically 3 or 4 contenders for that spot.

I'm sure who ever comes in will do the job for us, afterall he'll have been selected by the messiah that is McGuire.

Sometimes you've just got to take them. Playing any one of Josh Charnley, Josh Vievers, Stefan Marsh, Shaun Ainscough, Darrell Goulding or Karl Pryce would be a risk. Some greater than others.

Stefan Marsh was just another option that people seemed to have overlooked. I don't think MaGuire will do that.

By the sounds of things I think Karl Pryce will get the nod on the wing.

I personally would keep Roberts and Richards on the wings due to King's aerial threat and play either Josh Vievers or Stefan Marsh at fullback. I would probably go for Stefan Marsh - did he have a good game against Leigh?

Danny McGuire?

He did play well, took his tries, one he had to work for, the other was good centre play by Pryce. He also ran the ball out well and always looked like beating the first man.

As you say let's leave it to MM, he gets well paid to make those decisions. I hope whoever comes in plays well enough to put pressure on Phelps and the other players.

Who ever comes in has the opportunity to play 3 or 4 games until phelps is fit again.

Dont rule out joel starting at centre with gleeson on the wing, mossop and h starting in the second row with bails on the bench.


That is also a possibility.

No it is not.

www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Phel ... 6072150.jp Not as bad as first feared and should be back in 4-5 weeks. Still a blow but it could have been far worse.

www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Phel ... 6072150.jp Not as bad as first feared and should be back in 4-5 weeks. Still a blow but it could have been far worse.

Great comment there by one of the Wire numpties,

"Phelps is just average he won't be missed at all from what I have seen. I hope Wigan give some of the youngsters a go now. Am looking forward to the weekend already, Wire v Wigan should be a cracker!!!"

Give youngsters a go, at least we produce em!!!

Unbelievable stuff.

That average guy has set up 4 Wigan trys in a game and a half. We'll miss him bigtime but at least it opens up the door of opportunity for somebody else.

Well I've ploughed through this entire thread and it has lived down to my expectations. I said on Friday night that Cam's injury would start the usual stuff from the usual suspect and boy was I right.

If I may be so bold, can we please forget about playing any of the kids - Charnley FFS? Laughable IMO.

We have the strongest, deepest squad in the comp IMO and the reserves are obviously Pryce or Goulding followed by Ainscough. End of debate as far as that goes.

Re Cam I too am saddened that he is out but don't forget we reshuffled for the second half without him and won it 22 nil.

Every cloud has a silver lining. For me, Pryce should now get the opportunity to shut up his knockers - and supporters - once and for all. Give him the full 5 weeks to prove himself. If he makes it, fine. If not, at least he has had his chance at last.

I would probably agree with this.

Ainscough is best off where he is at the moment - ripping it up for Widnes. This should be Pryce's chance and probably his last chance.