I think Burke has earned a bench place from his performances. The fact that he can play prop, second row or loose forward is a big bonus.

For the same reason I would have Powell on the bench as he can play 6,7 or 9. I know that's a bit harsh on Logan because he has also done well in the "friendlies"

The centre position is still the one that bothers me most, of the three Hughes, Thornley and Gelling, I'd probably go with Gelling for his aggressive running.

We had better hope that some of the youngsters can exhibit "Sam like" abilities to step up a level.

What a woefully weak squad.

Good job the standard of SL is utterly pathetic or we really would have mid table mediocrity to look forward too.

What's up with Lauaki?

He was stripped to play last night but put through what appeared to be the most half-hearted fitness test on the pitch at half-time followed by being ordered by different medical staff to jog up and and down the touchline for the first ten minutes of the second half before disappearing down the tunnel without playing any part in the game.

Going off body langauge and generally lack of effort being put into his warm-up didn't look at all happy at being there.

Assuming we have not picked up any extra knocks I would go with

1. Sam
2. Josh
3. Goulding
4. Thornley
5. Richards
6. Green
7. Smith
8. Prescott
9. McIllorum
10. Mossop
11. Farrell
12. Hughes
13. Locky

14. Tomkins (expect big things from him this year)
15. Gelling
16. Dudson
17. Taylor

Gelling as the impact back row forward.

Has Gelling got the frame to play in the back row?

I now that SW touted him for a forward role, but he looks a bit gangly to me.

Has he beefed up pre-season

He has played nearly all his rugby before Wigan in the back row. I personally think we will need his yards down the middle.

Shaun Wane has already said that he will replace like for like and won't move players out of position so that would rule out switching Richards to fullback and would suggest that Murphy and Tierney are backup for Tomkins.

Murphy seems fairly confident under the high ball but when the balls on the ground he seems to panic.

He was a centre as a junior at Sydney but they moved him into the pack, Auckland kept him there so presumably they saw something in his game that was more suited to the back row.

If I'm not mistaken Hock, Hansen and O'Loughlin were all quite slim as youngsters and eventually filled out as they got older.

I was not dismissing him at a back rower and agree that if he can make 200 meters a game when on the wing then he may have potential in the pack.

Just looks a bit lean (well he did last year)



Your right about that and obviously players will naturally beef up as the years go by.

I suppose what i am saying is that i would prefer to have all that size and athleticism in the 3/4's as opposed to just another big back rower.

I was really looking forward to seeing how him and Thornley got on this year.

Hughes has certainly not embarrassed himself in the centres but i do think he should be slotted into the pack before Gelling.

Team will be:

Sam
Josh
Daz
Hughes
Paat
Green
Smith
Mossop
Micky mac
Prescott
Flower
Faz
Lockers

Tomkins
Tuson
Eric
Taylor / Dudson

Given the line up, I think I'm going to have to change my predictions for the opening game.

Which was / is?

Last 20 minutes when the oppositions tiring, and he can slip in gradually

the difference is we are playing for 2 points in this one.
The risk is he might not be up to speed and cost us the game.........and give fans ammunition to shoot at Wane for not giving him preseason game time

This is Sam Tomkins we're talking about. We are not more likely to win by playing his inexperienced back up, we are more likely to win by playing the best player in the league.

If you don't play Tomkins because he's not had a pre season run out when do you play him? You could say the same each week until the end of the year.

I think we're going with a different mentality this year. We've looked at Leeds just ambling along all year only to be fresh as daisys come the back end of the year and thought 'we'll have some of that'. I'm not saying we're going to purposely play poorly but I just get the feeling the first half of the season will be treated as an experimental period to look at some options and keep players fresh where possible.

Wane has gone with the attitude that he's knows what players like Tomkins, Richards, Lockers etc can do so is holding them back for the real action. We'll be rusty for a few weeks but does it really matter if come April/May we've lost half our matches? Probably not.

Tomkins (This can act as his preseason game in preparation for Warrington the following week)
Charnley
Goulding
Hughes (if he's taken the number 4 shirt one would assume he's going to be the starting centre, I wouldn't be changing his position before game one, he's now the first choice 4)
Richards
Green
Smith
Prescott
McM
Mossop
Tuson
Faz
Lockers
--------------------
Dudson
Flower (as a back rower, he's played there a lot in his career)
Taylor
Gelling/Thornley/Powell

Don't rate Logan.

So you would go into the game with only 3 subs (as 1 can only be used in the last 20 mins), what if someone gets injured in the first 5 minutes would you bring him on then ?, what if we have a blood injury and someone comes off, can he go on then ?, I understand what your idea is, but its not practical.

Lauaki is out and Tuson is 50/50 according to Wane. I'd guess Gelling won't be selected either after Wane slated his performance against Wire saying he needs to 'improve quickly'.

I'd love to see Burke given a shot.

We will be playing for two points the week after as well so do we not play him them either? I mean the opposition will be even more match fit than he is by then so he will be further behind so better not risk him then had we?

And if he does end up looking off the pace in whichever game he debuts Wane [iwill[/i get criticism for not giving him a run out anyway. I mean did Murphy really need to play all those minutes in the friendlies given he won't be starting next week anyway?

If you don't want Wane to face some flak over this you need to hope Sam plays v Salford and that he does't look like he has been away from the game for an off season.

Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Thornley
Richards
Green
Smith
Prescott
McM
Mossop
Flower
Faz
Lockers

Dudson
Logan T
Burke
Powell


Thats the team i would like to see, that would be our strongest side given the injuries and i had to take Hughes out he hasn't impressed me in pre-season then again neither has thornley however Wane spoke highly of him after the Warrionton game so he's probably going to get the nod. If Sam Tomkins is out i really think we should put Pat Richards at ful back because the kids weve used in pre-season have simply not delivered the confidence to throw them in, far to many spillages and not enough skill in attack, Richards is safe as houses for me! Use maybe a thornely and gelling combo in the centre and wing.

I agree, I think he has earned it.

I did have Wigan winning with +20. I've still got them down to win, but not so sure that it will be the clear victory I had thought about 2 weeks ago.

A lot will depend on Salford and how they are set up, come the opening game. It's getting a little tight to be bringing in new players.

I don't really care as to who plays. What I DO care about, however, is the attitude of those players donning the Wigan shirt.

We need to see 110% committment for this initial game, bearing in mind the recent off-field distractions.

A mediocre disply and a 'can't be d' attitude is easy to spot, and doesn't bode well for the rest of the season.

I’d take that with a pinch of salt. Last season we saw Gelling and Thornley play on the wing, O’Loughlin play at stand off and hooker and Smith play hooker. Plus the longer term moves of Hughes and Lloyd to the centres and Lauaki and Flower to the front row. I’m sure if Wane doesn’t think Murphy’s ready we’ll see Richards run out at full back