Yup, chance for Shorrocks or Partington to step up, I’d rather see Shorrocks, if the rumours are true about Partington to wire, then I don’t see the point in playing a player who’s leaving.

Not got any issue with the bans really. They’re not quite as bad as Bentleys couple but they both should be avoided. I don’t think it’s a bad rest for the lad tbh and as pointed out, it’s a good opportunity for Shorrocks or Partington. I’d also throw Matty Nicholson’s name in there. Smithies himself was in the team early and like Smithies, the kid is an absolute natural.

And Yates gets 2 games for a high shot.

Twitter is ablaze with jealous fans crying Smithies wasn’t sent off.

But if that Yates ban is for the high shot on Farrell towards the end of the game that it’s and even bigger error from child, Smithies 2 high shots were at least penalised however Yates wasn’t.

We were 2 points down at the time so Smith couldn’t have a penalty goal to send us to golden point.

But no no this will never get mentioned by them.

Bitter yorkshire folk

Glad we didn't get the penalty

As he was down I was sat thinking ‘ffs it’s another Grand Final 2020 here’. If they give the pen, we go for goal and it would’ve been a tough shot and likely missed and the games up.

Good old Child and the video ref bottling it.

Mean arguably Lateli should have seen 10 for holding down at the play the ball few seconds before time. Bachelor has been pinged twice for this.

A win would be fantastic but not the end of the world if we dont. We need to start winning the week after like.

I would go
French
Miski
Halsall
Bibby
Marshall (if they can sober him up!)
Field
Smith
Byrne
Powell
Singo
Batty
Faz
Ellis
Bench Partington/Isa Havard Mago Shorrocks /O'Neil
Winable game if we can turn the last two weeks form around.
I'm happy to go with Partington but I'm not sure I can cope with him and Willie on together does my head in.

The players are still on the lash I believe and who can blame them. We might just have to write this one off and try and start a fresh the flowing week at Salford. You never know though, we might ride a crest of a wave.

Cas home games have been strange affairs recently. A home game against Saints u14’s and a game against a side still giving off fumes from a 3 day bender.

No problem with that, just like the 2 games before the cup final this week game will soon be forgotten.

I liked Peets comments about the celebrations “I want the players to enjoy doing this. Enjoy working hard and winning things”

They can stay out til Friday IMO.

It’s these days that will leave them wanting to do it again and again, so I fully agree.

It would certainly be an interesting coach journey over to Cas on Saturday morning if they manage to go through till Friday mind

In reality I guess they’ll call it quits after tonight and I would think it’ll be a relief to many of them. It’s like a stag do, it’s all fun and games for a few days but after that you just want to be sat on the couch, with a brew and the remote and to be left alone to work through the hangover.

Have they stopped supping yet?

Think it’s finally stopped today haha!

Read a tweet last night Mago and French were still out with their medals on about 60 hours after they received them!

Squad will be intersting for Saturday

And people say Mago can't do long minutes.

“Cade Cust likely to be missing for Wigan until at least international break. Cust has had his scans but club waiting to determine severity of injury suffered in the final. Thomas Leuluai also drops out this week for the Castleford game, given a breather after the final.“

I too fear it won't be pretty (and Cas is not a happy hunting ground for us), but it would be great if it was, as it's on Channel Four with, y'know, the nation watching...

Plenty saw us last week with a big shiny cup in our hands. They'll understand.

We could always do a Saints and cancel the next 2 games.

I would not be surprised to see a couple of interesting selections this week. The problem is that we have more room for manoeuvre in the forwards than the backs.

I’d imagine that anyone sober will have a decent chance at selection.

On a serious note it’s always really difficult for those that missed out on the final, privately gutted not to feature but having to be positive around the rest of the squad.

An opportunity for some to show what they can do and also put themselves in the shop window too.

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2022/06/ ... tleford-3/

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2022/06/ ... tleford-3/

No use taking injury risks. We’re light in the centres anyway, so I’d rest Thornley if he’s anything but 100%. I’d take the more attacking option and go French at 1 and Field 6, rather than the safe option of Powell in the halves. We’re likely to be a bit loose after the celebrating and we might need to out score them in a points fest.

I’d go-

French
Miski Bibby Halsall Marshall
Field Smith
Singleton Powell Byrne
Bateman Farrell Ellis

Subs
Havard Mago
Isa Shorrocks

I’d give O’Neill a week out of the fire. It’s been one hell of a few weeks for the lad. Let him rest up, spend some time with the family and bring him back next week.

I'd go with that except swap Shorrocks and Ellis round, I'd like to see if Shorrocks can do 80 as a ball playing 13

Must admit that thought crossed my mind, as much as anything because it would be a nice reward for him missing out last week but still conducting himself so we’ll post match.

One thing looking at any potential teams I note is that the squad looks really strong. No grumbles from Wigan fans about missing a few, as it doesn’t make a huge difference to the quality of the starting 17.