I thought he'd be cover for SOL and also add considerable size and skill to our pack back row.
Although long gone, Gaz Hock was a big man and with Hasen and Lockers formed a formidable threesome in the pack.
A three of Hansen, Farrell & Tuson doesn't have the same size, power or skill.
If Hopkins had arrived then he could easily have fitted into our back row. Another advantage for SW would have been he can play prop too.

According to Wigan Today and the article 'Big Guns Back For The Leeds Clash,' Lockers won't make the game but everyone is hopeful that he'll be back for the play offs after another week off. Seems it is still his ongoing calf injury with no mention of an achilles problem which is good news, if true.

Having lockers fit for the playoffs will be the difference between us getting to the final or not.

He's been for a scan in London today according to the official site. It says its a new calf injury picked up in the cup final.

It seems very specialist to send him to London for a calf scan though so something smells fishy. I'm no medical expert but that would seem a pretty straight forward thing to get done locally?

Fingers crossed.

No, I know of a couple of the lads having scans by the specialist in Wrightington, as I had one too. He was chatting about the Wigan lads a bit but even he said that some of the bigger names always get sent down to London for the specialists opinions. So I think it would be correct that they would want the best diagnosis and no chance of errors in bringing him back too soon to do permanent damage perhaps.

Agreed

Out for the season according to Phil Wilk in the W.E.P.oh I wish Hock was back! Just what we need at the minute

With Hock & SOL in your pack the outlook for the play off's would be very different. But one thing that Wigan do seem very good at is adopting a backs to the wall mentality. It would not at all surprise me for Wigan to reach the G/F. This years play off's are the most open and unpredictable for a good few years.

As a best guess I think the G/F will be contested between Warrington and any one of Huddersfield, Leeds, Wigan with Saints & Catalan as the dark horses.

He's a big loss for sure. From the more obvious contributions, like the track back with Charnley at Wembley, to the positional & tactical nous, he's big for Wigan & England.

On the down side he is to blame for Sinfiled being at 6 because he's tying up his loose forward spot



Winner will come from top 3 this year. Wigan should win on Thursday.

That's us out of the race now IMO no lockers no trophies.

Why the hell did they release a statement saying he'll be right to play in 10 days, then two days later release another saying he'll be out for at least a month and 10 days?

Very disappointing blow for us that. It looks like he gave it everything in the CC final in the knowledge that it may end his season. At least we have that trophy in the back and the pressure is off going in to the play offs.

Who to play at 13 is the question! I'd be tempted to put Ben Flower there and play an extra prop. Andy Powell could be that extra man and maybe a surprise package for the play offs.

We should get through to the semis and then it's a one-off game where we won't be under any pressure having banked the cup. Wane says he's learned lessons from 2011. The more who write us off the better.

Massive blow and I think it makes our playoff challenge even greater. People always go on about how much we miss Sam, But for me O'Loughlin is someone we miss just as much if not more. The difference when he is in the team is massive and with Blake Green in poor form having O'loughlin in would have helped us going forward along with the defensive effort that he puts in.

I was pretty confident of doing the double this year with the players we've rested lately but losing Lockers is a HUGE blow.

Only 4th favourites for the GF now.

No pressure on us. Lets enjoy the next few weeks.

I'd give A.Powell a crack this week (as they are doing from the looks of it) and see how he and Dudson get on, one of them to make the team along with Mossop, Crosby and Taylor. I agree though we need to chance our arm a little bit with selections to put ourselves back into the running. Guys like Gelling, Hampshire and A.Powell are all risks but they could all cause a big impact if it comes off, rather than steady but often average players like Thornley, Green and Dudson. Flower at loose could prove a masterstroke in giving the bit of extra size we've often lacked against Wire, Leeds and Hudds while still having the ball handling skills to take pressure off the halfbacks, neither of which are as good as Brough, Sinfield or Briers.

Prob cos we all complain about lack of announcements. So they gave us 2.

Here's hoping for a third that tells us he'll be back for the semi final.

BBC are reporting he may have an outside chance of making the final if we get there so you never know.

could mickey mac be an option at 13?

has the passing ability and can whack people in defence.

I think the only problem with that is who plays 9 alongside Logan. Perhaps rotating MM from 9 to 13 is an option with Logan replacing Tuson, but I much prefer position for position swaps if possible.

so do i but he gives us both.

Green did play in the back row at cronulla as well i think????

It's certainly a good option

I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Green playing 13. The type of setup that Wane has, 13 is essentially a key pivot. He simply needs a ball playing 13.