His form prior to his first injury was actually his best imo since he came back to the club. He moved to prop for the Warrington quarter final and was superb both in that game and the following week at Huddersfield. He then had a problem and came back for the semi but clearly wasn't fit and didn't play many minutes.

I'm with Wane on Joel Tomkins. I think if he's fully fit then you find a spot for him. I'd actually start him at prop alongside FPN (who for all his weekly round laziness does seem to turn up for the big games) and let Sutton and Clubb add some energy from the bench. I think Willie Isa has done enough to earn a spot so that leaves the last place between Tautai and Powell. If FPN is a big game player then Tautai in his Wigan career has sometimes been the opppsite. He's mentioned himself that he let a couple of Grand Finals pass him by and sadly he'd probably be the one I'd leave out.

start with Powell and have MM on the bench

I'd put Frank in the stands for this one.

You could tell he wanted a shirt for Wembley couldn't you? How many of them had their best game so far this season against Salford?

Bloody hell...we agree again

Winder said in the bar after the Salford game that Clubb had gone off with a dead leg and Should be ok.
If Clubb is fully fit I'd start him instead of Sutton as v Salford. Sutton on the bench.
Davies, again if fit, to replace Marshall and Joel to miss out.

Phil Wilkinson has tweeted saying Wane seemed to hint Joel would miss out at the press conference today.

Clubb was doing the press duties also so you'd have to think he's fit or else he'd have been having treatment (not travelling to Leeds).

What is good to see going in to this game is two healthy teams. We're minus a couple of starting players but by our standards that's incredible. There's no excuses for either side and it should hopefully be a top game.

That's that then, my opinions are not worth a carrot either!! Lol

McIlorum has admitted himself in interviews he can't do the 80 minutes.

Previously when we had a under performing Logan Tomkins he would do 30 mins to start then come on after 50 mins.

Whereas now with Powell as a back up, Macca can go full on for 20 minute spells.

I do like the idea of starting with Powell then bringing Micky off the bench. Should combat the intensity drop off when lockers goes off.


According to Wigan today Isa's place in the team seems safe.

Glad we actually can have these discussions for the first time this year!

Ahh didn't realise he had said that, J.Tomkins and Marshall to miss out then. Agreed it's good that a decent player will have to miss out, the last time that happened was probably the WCC. I do wish we had Escare, Manfredi and Flower to call upon though!

If its a repeat of the 1985 final (with a different result) that'll do me. Hope everyone travels safely and enjoys the day whatever the result. See you all at Wembley.

Firstly isn't good tonne talking about who is going to be left out rather than which kid are we going to chuck in next.

IMO Joel has to be left out. If he was match fit then it would be open for debate, Wembley is not the place to come back from injury when the players we have in that position are fit and playing well.

With a little reluctance I agree on the JT front.
A fully fit JT would for me be the obvious choice however, the CC is littered with players not being fully match fit and not performing on the day.
I'm sure that Isa won't let anyone down.

(cough cough) Radders....

I know what you are saying. I suppose it depends on said players importance to the team. If we were taking about Sam T, George or SOL it would be a different story.

19 man squad released - No surprises, it's the 17 who played v Salford + Davies & Joel Tomkins.

J Tomkins and Marshall to miss out if it were me picking the team.

Davies is in and Marshall is 18th man. The only question to be answered is Joel or Willie and we'll probably not know until Saturday.

Do you know which interviews, would be good to look at them

It was a Wigan TV interview this year. Not sure if it was when he returned or when he had a milestone game.

Interviewer said something along the lines of alot of games you've played you've played the full 80.

Micky reply, yeah not done that for a few years think those days are behind me.

Shaun Wane confirmed to the media after the captains run today that Isa will be on the bench. Looks like no place for Joel

I`m not a Wigan fan but how you can leave Isa out for Joel Tomkins beggars belief.
From my limited time watching Wigan this year Isa has been your standout player whilst Tomkins maybe down to injury has looked well off the pace and a letdown.
The only thing Joel does well is look after Sam and that could turn in Hulls favour.
Leave him out and Keep Isa in for me.

Defo Isa for me JT has been out injured and the last time he came back he was supposed to be fit but broke down from the groin injury we cannot and should not carry a passenger i am in the dont think we will win camp and to me this would hand it on a plate to Hull if he breaks down again,get him training the house down and let him off the leash at Stains

I think a fully fit Joel is better than Isa. His mobility has decreased but his passing, offloading and line running is better than Isa's. People have mentioned Joel's discipline which is poor but Isa has been niggly all season, getting involved in pointless handbags with opposition which has often resulted in us getting penalised.

Nothing too wrong with a bit of niggle. Murphy was the master of niggle. But we do lack quality and this has been declining year on year for a good while. Good to see 'Sam' using his rugby brain of late, but if he doesn't 'fire' it will be an hard day at the office I am afraid. I haven't posted for a while due to a lot of the dross on the field. But been a fan since the late 1950's.