With the improvements in Hocks fitness the back rows needs less rotation during the game. The props are some of the fittest in SL. I would go for the extra versatility of Hughes for the bench.

That has nothing to do with it. Its professional sport.

I haven't said Tuson isn't good enough to be at Wigan and I agree every side needs a player who will do the ugly work etc however I just feel on current form other players deserve to be in the 17. Not saying every week, I'm just talking in general. With the greatest respect to Tuson, Mick Cassidy was in a different league in terms of that type of player. Hansen is the only backrower that I have seen who comes close to Cassidy and will eventually be a much better all round player in the next 2 years (although hes great now). I think "He doesn't make any errors and his work rate is good" isn't a reason to be kept in the 17 each week, that's a bare minimum you expect from a player in the modern day game. You need that something extra to give you the edge and sadly on current form I just can't see it

I do like Tuson as an option LF/SR/H cover........it is just a shame that we can't play them all week in week out.........but we have too many of top super league standard...at least competition for places keeps the forwards at the peak of their ability or they don't make the 17.......

A nice position to be in really

You're spot on. What a fantastic debate it is to have. The fact that we have too many good players to get in the squad is such a refreshing position to be in compared to other teams and our own team in past years. Add Hughes, Crosby, Spencer to our other forwards and we have a fantastic squad of forwards. It could be the difference between winning a GF and running out of gas. I haven't seen another team with such depth in their squad. It keeps all the players on their toes also as they know one bad game and they risk dropping out.

No team has anything like this strength in depth in the forwards, we are streets ahead of any British side. IL should be congratulated.

Agreed.

to our chairman especially with the majority of our pack being British (bar Lima and Lauaki). Our outside backs have some depth too, just the halves looks an area we may struggle in if we get injuries.

Also the age of our forwards that are British means if they stay free from serious injury and maintain their form or if god forbid they continue to improve we have a nucleus that will be around for a fair few years yet.... Keep up the good work IL/SW......

Who was the young lad in the warm up today? Never seen him before.

Wondered the same myself.

Was it Jack Murphy? www.wiganwarriors.com/WPlayerP.a ... &SquadID=3

Was it Jack Murphy? www.wiganwarriors.com/WPlayerP.a ... &SquadID=3

Quote ="FIOS"Was it Jack Murphy? www.wiganwarriors.com/WPlayerP.a ... &SquadID=3'" Just noticed that Jamie Acton is listed on there. I thought he had moved on?

Quote ="FIOS"Was it Jack Murphy? www.wiganwarriors.com/WPlayerP.a ... &SquadID=3'" Just noticed that Jamie Acton is listed on there. I thought he had moved on?

Quote ="FIOS"Was it Jack Murphy? www.wiganwarriors.com/WPlayerP.a ... &SquadID=3'" It could have been.

Quote ="FIOS"Was it Jack Murphy? www.wiganwarriors.com/WPlayerP.a ... &SquadID=3'" It could have been.

I thought it was Gil Dudson with a shaved head? Had same build

Whilst I personally think Warrington have greater strength in-depth (no surprise there) to suggest that Warrington doesn't have "anything like strength in depth in the forwards" as Wigans is under any terms stretching it a bit far.

Feel free to do a player for player comparison between respective squads and remember players can only play in one position at any given time.

Quote ="Paul Youane"Whilst I personally think Warrington have greater strength in-depth (no surprise there) to suggest that Warrington doesn't have "anything like strength in depth in the forwards" as Wigans is under any terms stretching it a bit far. Feel free to do a player for player comparison between respective squads and remember players can only play in one position at any given time.'" Before anyone does, just bear this in mind viewtopic.php?f=28&t=507174&tsmp=1337084383 Play nice

Quote ="Paul Youane"Whilst I personally think Warrington have greater strength in-depth (no surprise there) to suggest that Warrington doesn't have "anything like strength in depth in the forwards" as Wigans is under any terms stretching it a bit far. Feel free to do a player for player comparison between respective squads and remember players can only play in one position at any given time.'" Before anyone does, just bear this in mind viewtopic.php?f=28&t=507174&tsmp=1337084383 Play nice

Why would I do that when I was making a point about strength in depth?

If you want to start a debate about whose first choice 13 or 17 is better, fine, happy to do that, but I was making a point about strength in depth, which I stand by.

I agree. With our best 17 fully fit, the likes of Lauaki, Flower, Dudson, Hughes, Spencer, Crosby don't get in the squad.

I know what you are getting at, which is why I referred to squads, however I do think you are rather dismissive when you state nobody comes anywhere near Wigan's strength in depth.

Warrington have forwards who haven't played first grade yet who when ever I have seen them up against the likes of Spencer and Crosby have always come out on top. In fact the reason the likes of Evans and Laithwaite haven't played first grade yet is due to the number of better players in front of them at Warrington.

I would definitely state that Warrington's front row depth in strength is better than Wigan's: Morley, Carvell, Wood, Cooper, Hill, Evans and Riley as props with Monaghan, Higham and Dwyer as hookers all in full-time training withe the first team squad.

(this is without counting the likes of Harrison and Solomona as props and even Grix at hooker as that's not their primary role).

I rest my case your honour.

McIlorum
L Tomkins
Mossop
Prescott
Lima
Fielden
Lauaki
Flower
Dudson
Spencer
Crosby
Hock
Hansen
Hughes
Farrell
Tuson
O'Loughlin

I may have missed someone and I haven't included Leuluai because he wears 7 and normally plays in the halves, though clearly he's a world class player and if he plays at hooker he's as good as anyone in the comp, bar Roby.

There's a lot of quality there.

The following are as good if not better than anyone in SL (not just Wire players): Lima, Mossop, Hock, (the massively underrated) Hansen and O'Loughlin.

Close behind we have players like McIlorum and Prescott.

There is then a really good mix of solid players who any club would want, very exciting prospects like Dudson and Hughes who look to have what it takes to be stars for the club in the future, plus a few kids trying to make their way into first team football, which is what you always want to see.

It's a superbly balanced squad in the forwards.

We've got some very talented backs - in Tomkins we have the best player in the competition and in Finch (with the possible exception of Dureau) the best half back on form at the moment (SIGN HIM UP IL!) -but we don't have the strength in depth in the backs that we do in the forwards and there is no way I would claim otherwise in relation to the backs. It's injuries there that could cost us trophies this season. We can afford to lose quite a few quality forwards and still be able to put out a pack that will cause any side problems, but we don't have the same strength in the backs.

Our strength in depth was there for all to see tonight.

Our strength in depth was definitely there for all to see tonight!

Superb strength in depth showed by Wire today. Er, hang on a minute...