Agree with that. Hansen may not offer great skill going forward but he'll run it in as hard as he can and tackle his heart out every game. Solid squad player.

I feel Joel is more of an attacking threat with the lines that he runs, especially with more license to roam about the pitch at loose forward.

They don't call him Hitman for nothing

I thought that was because EVERY time Hansen takes it forward, he gets absolutely smashed at impact. Sometimes it's quite funny, he puts in the graft tackling, then goes forward and gets hammered for his efforts.

You post that whenever Hansen's name is mentioned

Was watching the quins game back the other day and he made 4 tackles in one set. What an effort

Hes gotta start, hes our best defensive player.

He doesn't get the recognition he deserves IMO

imo we did not play that well against the quins but it was a win.we should keep the same team and maybe we will get more consisency,i don't see the point of change.

Richards
Roberts
Bailey
Carmont
Ainscough
Smith
Leuluai
Fielden
Riddell
O'Carroll
Hansen
Hock
O'Loughlin

J Tomkins
S Tomkins
Feka
Prescott (believe he had a stormer in the reserves)

exactly.........he's carried the water bottles with confidence in the last few weeks and now this!!!!!!! the lad must be rock bottom

Pretty much spot on mate.....personally though i think id start sam and put leuleui off the bench for mcillurum. Think tommy's impact would be massive off the bench as an interchange hooker after 30mins

i dont agree.i think oloughlin has been one of wigans most creative players so far this season.surely its better to have one of the teams better ball distributors at loose and have a strong running second row like joel running off him and the halves.

But Lockers isn't the most creative player, just shows the lack of creativity we've had. I think Joel has been running excellent lines especially last season, something he should be able to do by roaming the pitch.

O'Loughlin is not creative enough for a 13, yes he tries hard but the skill isn't there. Compare him to P Sculthorpe and K Sinfield, these 2 could create a try on their own. I don't know about you, but when O'Loughlin gets the ball I don't think - Oh we could score here - it's more on the terms - Oh please don't cock up in some way.

That might be a little harsh, but O'Loughlin is not creative. A hard runner maybe, like Langley, with good upper-body strength.

You could argue he's a decent kicker maybe, but not consistently.

He's a 12, same with Tomkins IMO. Yes he scores too, but he doesn't have the ball-in-hand skills you need. These days a 13 is just a 6 with more muscle.

hes been the most creative player this season so far just by the number of assists yet you want to take him out of that position and put joel there.joel runs good lines as you put it because hes involved in set moves and knows which players to run off.if he was roaming the pitch he wouldnt be in those positions half the time.i think both players have been two of wigans better performers this season but to me i just cant see the point in them switching positons.it would be no benefit to the team except to disrupt it.

i think oloughlin is creative.he was involved in 3 tries on saturday.if thats not a creative player i dont know what is.i think oloughlin gets a raw deal on this forum.hes a better player than people give him credit for.people say all he does is tackle like its a bad thing.defense wins you games.his attacking play is also v good it just seems people like to highlight his mistakes and disregard his good work.

could u bum joel abit more? hahaha

I rate O'Loughlin highly, and if I remember rightly he had a hand in Ainscough's 1st try from a second row position?
I don't believe Joel's strength lies necessarily in 'strong' running, more the gaps that he spots and takes advantage of with the angles that he runs.

Richards
Roberts
Bailey
Carmont
Ainscough
Smith
Tommy
Fielden
Riddell
O'Carroll
Hansen
J Tomkins
O'Loughlin

S Tomkins
Hock
Feka
Pryce

1.Paaat
2.Roberts
3.Bailey
4.Carmont
5.Ainscough
6.Timmy
7.Tommy
8.Fielden
9.Riddell
10.Prescott
11.Hock
12.Hansen
13.Locky

14.Feka
15.O Carroll
16.Joel
17.Sam

Personally think Hock is miles better off the bench bill. 'Ommering the big lazy Bradford forwards when he comes on

No chance, hes needs be starting IMO. If hes going to continue to develop into the player we want he wont do it being a Feka-esk impact player.

This is what i would put out only a couple of changes to that line up
1.Pat
2.Roberts
3.Bailey
4.Carmont
5.Ainscough
6.Smith
7.Tommy
8.Fielden
9.Riddell
10.Prescott
11.Locky
12.Hansen
13.J Tomkins

14.Feka
15.O Carroll
16.Hock
17.Sam

Think Hock offers more impact off the bench and Offers a bit more in defense in the second row Joel is a better support player
Then in the interchanges i would put Smith to 7 Tommy to 9 and Sam to 6