I wanted to see some young players and a closer game so I'm a little disapointed.

He will break records.

Sheffield will get absoluted hammered.

I can actually see Sheffield holding us (relatively) in the first half. Maybe 20-4 or 6 at HT.

In the second half, we should be well on top, and I can see us running up a good 30 to 40 points after HT.

Obviously, Sheffield could surprise us all, but if they do, I would expect Waney to strip the paint from the walls and MM to drop the entire team in favour of the kids for the Quins game.

Leaving them to watch the new coat of paint dry presumably

I really hope that we dont get any injuries and see this backfire.

Pat could set a cup points scoring record, easily, given his current strike rate.

Still, its refreshing to see everyone behind the coach, had Noble named this squad.............

Basically, if we lose we're out.
I still think we could win if we played our whole reserves team TBH.
If anyone desperately needs resting they can be rested for the Quins game which isn't as important as this game.

Insightful.



So why would we not play some kids this week then? Resting to many against Quins will see us lose, had they held the ball/had a fair crack from the ref, they would have beat Saints last week.

St Helens were poor last week though.
Quins were definately improved but if we play like we have done at home all season they won't have a chance IMO.

I agree, but I dont see the logic in you wanting to play a full strength team against a championship club on a great big pitch, but then rest players against a SL club.

Me neither.

You'll score 100 points.

Maguire is the boss and gets paid for what is best of WRLFC if thats playing a full strengh side against a weaker side he is not dis-respecting the cup/sheffield, i cant see sheffield seeing a SL club in their home town/city for a few years so why deprive the sheffield public of seeing the top of league team.

Whilst I apreciate the sentiment, why is 'giving the Sheffield public the chance to watch a top of the league team' in any way in the best interests of WRLFC? Not sure I follow that logic...

We too (Saints that is ) have also put out our strongest side and our fans are of the same opinion as most of the wigan fans, in that they were hoping to see some of the young players in action.

We rested a few at Barrow at the same stage in the cup and we were lucky to win. They played the better rugby.
I can't fault Maguire so far and I'm not going to start now. Plenty of our young players are getting good experience on loan so they don't need to play for Wigan unless there are injuries.

If anyone wants to watch the young lads play go watching under 20`s and under 18`s . In fact under 18`s play warrington at orrell on saturday i think

Nah he said why on the lastest wigan warriors podcast, its simply that hes treating it like every other game an putting his strongest side out

TBH i think they would rather be deprived than embarrassed

Thats what makes me admire the way he has gone about his job. He doesnt give a toss what other people think he should be doing or what has been done in the past. He just does it his own way and wants to do everything as close to perfect as possible.

The ONLY right thing to do IMO is to play our strongest possible team.

The rugby league season (CC included) is about momentum. The more you play together, the better you get as a unit.

IF, we do start thumping them, it becomes an opportunity to try a few moves against a 'live' defence. Better this than it becomes a struggle and our more experienced players left in the squad have to expend extra energy by doing more than they should have to.

If I were in Maguires shoes, I'd be looking to nil them.

I'm glad he's gone for this squad, shows the impact he wants to make at this club, and at the same time, could make an example out of Sheffield, perhaps wanting to give the fans a trophy for the first time since 2002?

Quite. It's amazing what you can get away with when you are 4 points clear at the top of the table, isn't it?

I think complacency has been one of our biggest issues in so-called easy matches in recent years. And I'm not just thinking about Barrow last year, very unnerving though that was. While I don't think there's much danger that Sheffield will do us, I still think it's better to respect the opposition, send our top boys and hope to win with a good score. The last thing we want is to get into a hard scrap that could go either way.

Even the best sides can come unstuck if they take the mickey. Remember Oldham v Wigan in '87.

I look forward to seeing the first team in this outing. Hopefully we can get a bit of momentum going with the forwards getting on the score sheet.