Wrong.

They have a midweek U19 game v Widnes so the majority of players will have served their bans.

Rogues Gallery was correct it is Sunday and Hull already know

I agree, plus it's a great chance for a lot of them to put themselves in the frame for a 1st team spot or a contract extension for next season. They'll be out to impress Waney as well as us fans. I always enjoy watching them making the step up to the next level.

The most exciting squad I have seen all year, very bould move from Wane, and I personally think it could pay off.

We should be giving the senior players a mini off season, with high intensity low volume work outs aimed towards peaking them for the play offs, and out back up players get a much needed run out.

I remember last year Wane getting slated for not protecting his players for the play offs and now he is, he is slated, who would be a coach?!

The interesting decision will be the selection for next week. Do we run with a young team again or do we use it to build with our senior players.

I dont mind this i like giving the younger lads a chance but i do think that we are sabotaging our chances in the playoffs we need to get some good form and cinsistency back

How many mini off seasons do we need, fair enough if they have injuries but im sceptical they do

He has struggled to find his feet at the top level so far. Still trying to find a settled spot in a settled team. It is not suprising given the loan system at the moment. Last year he was running good lines in teams generally going forward. This year he is defending for teams on the back foot. When he played for us at Wakefield he looked a bit pigeon chested, like he is still filling out. Hopefully the spell at London may have been character building. He is the type of player that would really benefit from the old U21s setup rather than being spoiled by changes in system.

Seriously, there are people moaning that we arent playing a full squad? The Widnes game where we played youth was great, and didnt we just kind of show that we can beat Hull so wheres the motivation in risking players?

Fair play to Wane, seems to have learned from last year, is rewarding hard working youth and isnt afraid to do what he thinks best. The more I see of him the more I like him and hope he stays for a good long time.

Will this be the youngest team ever to play Superleague?

Certainly a back line of Tierney, Manfredi, Gelling, Thornley, Burgess, Hampshire, Powell/Williams must be.

Edited for accuracy



Correct. The most satisfying win for me this season was away at Widnes because of the passion the young lads showed.



How about the Saints team that played Bradford back then?

I wouldn't read too much into 4th supposedly being better than 3rd. I'd agree that Hudds away is favourable to Warrington away in round 1 of the playoffs, but should the top 2 teams win the opening games then it would leave the team in 4th probably having to play Saints, as opposed to Catalans or one of the Hull sides. I'm sure you'd agree neither Wane or McDermott would want to play Saints in a knockout game over one of the other sides I mentioned.

I would have been worried about playing the saints teams of the past that were cheating the cap.. Not too worried about this one...

Quote ="Conroy"Edited for accuracy Correct. The most satisfying win for me this season was away at Widnes because of the passion the young lads showed. =#FF0000How about the Saints team that played Bradford back then?'" I don't think so. www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/ ... ?page_id=7

Quote ="Conroy"Edited for accuracy Correct. The most satisfying win for me this season was away at Widnes because of the passion the young lads showed. =#FF0000How about the Saints team that played Bradford back then?'" I don't think so. www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/ ... ?page_id=7

And I get accused of derailing threads? You are just looking for opportunities to pick an argument now. Stick to the topic, as I have done.

I wouldn't bet on it...

The first team deserves a rest before the playoffs, all other teams in the top 8 with the exception of Hull have had a good rest for a number of weekends while we have been getting to the Challenge cup final so their squads will be nice and fresh and ready to go. With only 2 matches to go in the regular season and this bobbins play off system it's the only chance the team have to sort out aches/pains/niggling injuries. If we are to have any chance at all in the play offs the team need to be fresher than in previous years when they've looked worn out at the business end of the season. Win or lose I'll enjoy Friday night and hope that others will do the same and agree with those who think it will be interesting to see how the team go, don't forget folks they're like garlic bread - they're the future.

Catalans have a good pack and good halfbacks so I'd rather play Saints.

Hull have as good a pack as Saints and better halfbacks so I'd rather play Saints.

Hull KR have better halfbacks then Saints but there pack isn't as good so that's about even.

Haha, I simply don't believe you, but good attempt at playing the threat of Saints down.

Given the record of Catalans on their travels and the recent upturn in form of our good selves, not to mention the return of Roby and Soliola, the idea of you genuinely preferring a game against us than an easy stroll against Catalans is ludicrous.

Staying on topic, there are pros and cons to finishing 3rd or 4th. Given his team selection, Wane obviously feels 4th is no worse than 3rd.

Wane's been owned by McDermott. All we have to do is lose to Catalans and avoid beating you by about 150 points

Well we have visitors from London coming next week so I was going to take the Dad and two lads along to the Leeds game but I am not going to pay for tickets to a game where I have no idea what kind of squads will take the field or how either team will play it.

Part of the argument in favour of the he play off's was they were supposed to keep the interest alive for teams lower down the league. Pity it is at the cost of those at the top!

I've not had the opportunity to go to many games this year but I'm going to this one and I'm looking forward to seeing our young lads, win or lose.

Totally agree with this. We're in the playoffs now, the next step is being fully prepared, that means players getting over bumps and bruises/knocks.
With this he could pretty much play the young lads giving them game time and first time experience and run a mini pre/off season with the senior squad.

What's the worst that could happen? We drop to 4th and face Hudds away rather than Wire?

And keeping match fit maybe? How often have sides who rested players come a cropper? How often have sides who get a week off lost the week after? Momentum is far more important in the play-offs IMO as you need to knock the results out one after the other. The games are not one off finals.



The worst might not affect us. It was laughed at when a HKR fan mentioned this but if we effectively give Hull FC a "bye" then it distorts the league and thus the play-off places. That affects the competitions integrity and it hasn't got much of that as it is IMO.

No doubt some are not interested in the wider picture but to me a competition structure that lets that sort of situation arise isn't one that is going to be attractive to potential investors. They won't to turn up to meaningless matches or have their teams chances scuppered by one side sticking out the U19's in another fixture.

Have Wigan sold any corporate boxes for the Hull game? Who is sponsoring the match? Match ball? etc etc.

It looks like Leeds share your thoughts. They aren't resting anyone v Catalans by the looks of it.

Surely the Leeds players and everyone else's ( apart from Hull's) are already well rested as they had last weekend off.

I think SW is right to give the youngsters a chance and rest the weary bodies and minds of most of the Cup Final 17. Like some others I am more excited about seeing how the youngsters fare - and I am quietly confident they will do well. Hull have 8 players missing too.
Play the best team possible against Leeds and that will give us some momentum. If we win both games ( Hull and Leeds) I think we will finish 2nd as Warrington will rest some players next week against Catalans away. They may even lose to Saints as well but that is more doubtful!