Faz to Hooker & Mickey Mac to 6, Lockers stays where he is

Well, I do have confidence that Waney knows the players capabilities and readiness best, though I'd have preferred to have seen Mellor get a shot.

When is Sam Powell due back from his injury?

I have MASSIVE doubts Lockers can get the team going.

He's a world class 13 but I don't think he's a HB.

He said a couple of weeks on twitter last week but then would need at least 3 games in the 20s for me

I'm not that worried about playing O'Loughlin in the halves. He's done alright there a few times before and when it comes to passing he's probably better than Leuluai. He might not be a massive threat running with the ball but Leuluai hasn't been running with the ball as much this year.

The big issue is the loss of Leuluai's kicking. I can't believe I'm saying this given how bad his kicking was last year but he's made a huge improvement with his kicking and it means one less option with the boot. O'Loughlin used to be able to put in some decent kicks but given how little he's kicked over the last few years he's become a bit erratic.

Defensively though he should be just as good as Tommy and one of the benefits of O'Loughlin in the halves is the cut out passes that he can send out to the winger.

Tommy has a top passing game.

He doesn't throw the cut out passes because we play a different style of play to that.

I've seen Tommy throw some truly fantastic passes in his time at Wigan.

At no point did I say Tommy wasn't a good passer. He is. I said I think O'Loughlin is better. Before Finch came he was probably the best at the club.

Gelling to full back sam to stand off pick any winger you like, simples !

ive said it b4, SOL for a substantial period of time is not the answer. We need to look at Mellor or Powell or move Sam to 6 and bring back Russell and put him at full back. We need a partnership that potentially gel to the end of the season and lockers is not the answer

That's a decent shout actually.

What gives you the impression Gelling can play full back. Hes never been exposed like he would be at full back. Positionally it has taken Sam time to adapt let alone a young lad who has only just come to grips with playing out of position on the wing. Terrible shout. Be far better bringing a ready made half in such as mellor or powell( when fit) or moving a tried and tested Tomkins back to 6 with a natural full back Russell coming back from Hull to fill the full back berth

Gelling has done pretty well but is still the weakest player in our 17 at the moment and you want to swap him for the best player in the league? The best English player for years?

I am in the brigade which thinks Sam will one day play at 6 or 7 when he is older, maybe sooner. But right now he is just playing the best rugby of his career at FB. The games against Saints and Leeds recently are the best performances I have ever seen from a Wigan FB. He was devastating. They just couldn't touch him.... but nah we'll stick a 6ft 3 centre there

I still think the most sensible option is to keep Tomkins at fullback given that he's been simply outstanding in that position, most of the attacking moves seem designed to get the most out of Tomkins at fullback and having him in that position creates opportunities for other players to take advantage of, mainly Finch.

I certainly don't see why people would choose to move the whole team around, call people out of retirement or various other suggestions rather than play O'Loughlin in the halves. He's filled in there before when necessary and he's done well.

I've said it many times but last year Deacon played in the halves and basically had the most basic role possible, pass the ball to Finch when needed and occasionally put in an attacking kick. At the very least O'Loughlin should be capable of doing that which should be enough for the coming weeks.

The most important part of replacing Leuluai is replacing what he gives in defence and O'Loughlin should be best placed to do just that. We might lose something in attack, we might not but hopefully defence will not become an issue.

But we arent talking a few a weeks, we are talking up to 10 potentially the rest of the rest of the season depending how Tommy reacts on his return. We need a partnership that can potentially gel for the rest of the season and will be a blessing in disguise for next season in discovering who has the potential to step up. We cant afford to waste.risk that with SOL at 6

I agree that moving Gelling to fb isnt a good idea. But the fact Hull fans are hardly raving about Russell suggests to me he isn't ready to play in the Wigan 1st team regularly, and certainly hasn't warranted moving Sam from his best position. Lockers at 6 should be fine for Widnes, Bradford and Wakefield but I'm not sure it is a permanent solution with the Leeds cup semi in mind. It doesn't look like either Mellor or Russell are going to be recalled anyway and I'm not sure how far off full fitness Sam Powell is. I guess Wane will see how Lockers goes against Widnes then reassess the situation next week.

What we need is the best available replacement for Leuluai that allows the team to remain strong and capable of continuing what has been put in place this year and be as competitive as possible. I see no reason why that wouldn't be SOL. There's just as much chance of SOL gelling with the players around him.

When it comes to looking for a future partnership I can only use guesswork, but I would deduce that the fact that Mellor hasn't been recalled suggests it's already been decided that he won't be here next season so recalling him doesn't fit in with what you've suggested.

Powell is the obvious choice and would be my preferred choice but because he's injured that isn't possible. That only leaves Williams and Hampshire and it's just too much to ask of them to expect them to go from playing under 16's to Super League rugby in a year.

Now if Mellor still has a chance of being a Wigan player next year then I think the sensible thing to do is recall him and give him a chance but I'm assuming that Wane wouldn't be willing to pass up that opportunity.

So really, if Mellor could still be at Wigan next year then he should be recalled, if he's leaving then O'Loughlin is currently the only sensible alternative and the best possible option.

I know you haven't suggested this and it's been others but anything involving moving Tomkins from fullback just isn't a sensible option at all and obviously wouldn't do anything in terms of finding potential replacements for next year and would just be disruptive.

For me it's a real shame that Powell is still out injured. I rate him quite highly and this would have been the perfect opportunity for him but I think his injury may well prevent him from getting any first team experience this year.

With Richie Myler now fit again Warrington have Briers, Myler, Ratchford and O'Brien vying for two spots. It might be worth Wigan approaching Warrington to see if any are available for loan in the short term if Wigan have no suitable options to replace Lelulai. I guess a problem would be that Warrington are unlikely to allow them to become cup-tied in the Challenge Cup but at least it would give you two Super League level half-backs for league games.

Myler looked far from fit on Tuesday in the nines at Wigan. Haven't the others already played in Cup ties this season (maybe not Ratchford)

Lockers in halfs and one of our many talented kids in lockers place .

I'd forgotten Mellor is suspended for the next game, but in any case Wane has ruled out bringing any loan players back for now.

[urlhttp://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-warriors/wane-we-ll-make-do-and-mend-1-4664459[/url

Good job you didn't see Solomona the week before then!

First run out for sometime for Myler so no great suprise. I'd guess it would be a win/win as with the u20s season break it would allow Myler to get his match fitness back before returning to Warrington whilst helping Wigan in the short term.


Seriously though, the comments from Wane pretty much puts the nails into the coffin of Mellor's Wigan career. His injury was a killer for him.

It's a shame. He's just lost that half yard of pace that made him so dangerous. I think he'll sign a permanent deal with Widnes next season.