I reckon we should use the Leeds game to experiment.
Half a game with Flower at 13, if its not working, plan B, whatever that is



or we could do the sensible thing and play Tuson or Faz at 13

Green does nowt at 6 so I can't see him improving out of position. I'd give him a last chance on Thursday with Powell at 7, Logan at 9 and Rocky on the bench. Best 2 of those 4 get to play stand off and one bench spot in the play offs.

[i'or we could do the sensible thing and play Tuson or Faz at 13'[/i

Tuson or Farrell can not link the play up like O'Loughlin does, that's why i feel Green is a better option.

I agree Sean is class & Wigan are a far better team with him.

Did you see Flower in the internationals last year? That's what he was primarily doing. We use him as a battering ram but he does have these skills

People seem to be suggesting Green moving to LF just to accomodate Hampshire in to the team. To my knowledge Green has never played LF before and IMO it's Locker's defence in the middle that we miss more than his creativity (although that is still a big part of his game). We don't have a like-for-like replacement in terms of someone who can do the tough stuff in the middle but then still offer a top quality passing game, it's either one or the other. I'd go for Flower personally. Honestly can't see us getting anywhere near Old Trafford if Locker's season if over though.

IIRC Tuson was a hooker until he broke through, so surely his ball playing skills will be pretty good. Even though he's never really had the opportunity to show this, perhaps he could do a job filling in at loose

[iPeople seem to be suggesting Green moving to LF just to accomodate Hampshire in to the team.[/i

No not really, we are debating the options at loose forward as it seems O'Loughlin may not play again this season. My preference is to go for ball skills primarily with competent defence rather than out & out defence and little ball skills, that's why I favour Green to replace O'Loughlin.

Tuson hasn't played hooker, I think he played centre as a junior.

Yep, we utilise the 13 pivot a LOT (too much) which is partly why we miss Lockers when he doesn't play.

If he is out, then a ball playing 13 is a must.

GELLING.

I would use Flower at the back. The pack needs to be as strong as possible in the play offs.

+1

One player who would be free to join Wigan next week would be Hock once his loan spell at Widnes finishes.

Give him a deal on a short term basis on Wigan's terms.

A match fee of £1000.00 per match as long as we are in the playoffs.
A fee of £200.00 for every try he scores during a match in the playoffs
A fee of £100.00 for every try assist he gives during a match in the playoffs.

A fine of £300,00 pounds for every brain fart during a match.
A fine of £200.00 pounds for every penalty he concedes.

Wigan could finish up grand final winners and make a profit in the meantime.

Just a thought.

With those fines he would probably end up owing Wigan money

Thing with Hock is that he's missed 3 years out the last 11 seasons here at Wigan. 8 seasons playing = 0 trophies. 3 seasons absent = 3 trophies. Coincidence?

Probably yes. Unless you think he's the sole reason we didn't win a trophy in those 8 seasons..

Not entirely but he's missed 6 games suspended* playing for Widnes this year. That sums him up. Not got a cool enough head and thus makes him a liability. Shame because on his day he is absolute class but the sad reality for him is he is in danger of his career ending and wondering how on earth he won nothing. Sadly he only has to look at himself to why!

*He would of missed two of those 6 games anyway as he was ruled out of playing Wigan but was still banned for them.

Have we not tried the 'strong as possible' option already this season with Farrell or Tuson or Burke at loose forward and it's not really worked. If we do the same again we will get the same disjointed performances, i feel.
Also if you put Flower at loose forward then you still need four other props which means Dudson playing, who is a liability at the moment.
I'd still like to see Blake Green at loose forward, against Leeds initially to see how it goes.

Had all the physical talent in the world and could have been the standout backrow of his generation.

Sadly has all the mental talent of a fieldmouse with learning difficulties. A crying shame from an RL supporters perspective.

Yeah hope he is fit for the WC - for a lot of seasons I didnt get all the fuss around him to be fair, but last couple of seasons has really highlighted how important he is for you guys and would be a good shout for 13 in the WC

Still can't understand why we didn't bring Sam Hopkins to the club when we signed him. Wears the 8 shirt at Leigh but has played 13 most of the season.
No SOL but he would have been decent cover, he's a big man and has the skills.
Fitness would have been an issue and he probably couldn't have done 80 mins as Lockers does.
Still think he'd have been decent cover for SOL though!

I suspect that part of the deal to sign him would have been to leave at Leigh for the rest of the season. In addition if he had come to Wigan he probably would have spent a lot of it not playing at all as it is hard to see who would have been dropped to make way for him. Sure he could have been cover for SOL but when SOL was playing where would Hopkins fit then?

I think you're correct. Didn't the same thing happen with Chris Hill when he signed for Wire?

Also the possibility that we dont have enough cap room for him