In my opinion with Deacon out our best option is to add to our kicking options with our best kicker missing. Moving Sam into the halves is one solution, but our kicking game won't improve because Sam has been just as shocking as Leuluai and O'Loughlin in recent games.

Moving Richards to fullback also means we'll be missing someone with a good passing game at fullback. Pat's biggest problem at fullback is that when the ball reaches him it generally stops and he just drives the ball in meaning the wingers don't get the service they do with the likes of Roberts, Phelps or Sam at fullback. He improved a lot with this during this season but it still took him a few games to get going and he never really had the same effect as our other fullbacks.

Unless we bring in someone who has a decent kicking game, which it seems Phelps does have, then moving Sam into the halves isn't going to improve our kicking game at all and we will still have the same problems as before. I think Phelps is the better option going into this game given his form and what he offers to the team.

Roberts could be an option at fullback, which should at least allow Richards to play in his best position and not disrupt the team much but he's not exactly been great since his return from injury. If anything he's been a little disappointing, especially last week in the under 20's.

There's also Charnley, who could be brought in on the wing, but I'm not sure what that choice will offer us, since it means taking Richards from his strongest position and doesn't help our kicking game. There is the chance that Charnley could be keen to impress against his old loan club and so if he plays well then it could make a difference.

The one option which I hope is avoided completely is playing O'Loughlin at stand off. It didn't work against Leeds and I doubt it will work against Hull KR. There's just nothing threatening about an O'Loughlin - Leuluai halfback pairing.

Good assessment and post

I think you've hit the nail on the head there.

With Lockers and Tommy at 6 + 7, and Riddell off the pitch we'd seriously lack direction.

Agreed, for quite a few sets in that situation, we had players just stood round scratching their 'arris not knowing what to do, and started playing 1 up rugby.

Phelps
Richards
Carmont
Gleeson
Goulding
Sam
Tommy
Fielden
Piggy
Prescott
Hansen
Joel
Lockers

Coley
Feka
Faz
Mcilorum/Deacs

We need impact from the bench and bringing on Coley and Feka will provide that.

Also seeing that we've now lost our get out of jail card Piggy needs to be kept on the pitch for as long as poss. He's the difference maker in our side.

I would leave him till next season IMO, changed my mind about him. Let him have a top pre-season and come back blistering start of next year for the WCC.

+1

That's a decent team. Personally I'd swop Phelps and Sam around. Purely for the kicking game of Phelps.

who is going to kick goals then?

I could probably do a job in there with all them paddys knocking about

Got to be Phelps at full back hasn't it. Leave Pat on the wing and Lockers at loose forward please. I agree that Tommy and Lockers in the halves offers no threat whatsoever. Our kicking game without Deacon is poor so Phelps has to come in. On the Roberts issue, I heard that he has lost some confidence after the injury, but i hope i am wrong

That seems to be the best bet for Friday.

I'd be tempted to put Phelps at SO though.

Not sure he is any good at playing away. I think he's ended-up a loser both at home and away.

Based on what some Bulldogs fans said when we signed him & from talking to people who watch the 20's, its perhaps not a bad idea.

Got to be worth a shot, Amos looks off the pace still, and I really can't cope with another Lockers at 6 display, i'd rather have Gleeson there (can't believe I just said that)

If Phelps does come into the team what is there to stop us rotating Phelps and Sam between SO and FB during the game - gives us a lot more option.

Perhaps. Certainly I'd play Phelps ahead of Roberts on U20's recent performances, and he has mostly been playing at #6 for them. MM favours defence, though, and I still feel we need a better defensive fullback than Sam, which really means putting Pat there, despite the loss of his attacking prowess out wide.

That also blunts the attack from fullback too. As much as i like Pat, he isn't a ball player like Tomkins, Webb, Greenshields or even Wellens.

When asked the question about half back partnerships (about 3 mins into the clip) MM's first reaction is we have plenty of combinations and mentions the first as Sam at 6 and Pat at 1. Could be the pairing for Friday. www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... &type=news

When asked the question about half back partnerships (about 3 mins into the clip) MM's first reaction is we have plenty of combinations and mentions the first as Sam at 6 and Pat at 1. Could be the pairing for Friday. www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... &type=news

Wigan may miss Deacon, but we will have a very strong team on Friday.

In fact, a few months ago we got along very well without him. Whether we play Roberts, Phelps, Charnley, Marsh or Pryce in his place, we should be ok if we play to anything like our potential. If he is fit, I'd go with Phelps and Sam at 1/6, swapping as necessary.

What hurt us on Sunday was his early injury and playing 65 minutes with a key back missing. Lockers, unfortunately, will always struggle at SO against the better teams.

I agree, I'm kinda going off MM's concentration on defence. We could still play Sam at #1 in attack and Pat when we're defending, though. Sam has the speed to defend on the wing, where he's not going to get trampled by the big guys in the middle.

Charnley can play full back,wing,centre.He played full back at St Pats fuel for thought...