Tough test this week against Leeds at Headingley and we’re missing Ben Flower who was concussed against Catalan and probably Tom Davies who hasn’t fully recovered from his ankle knock. We’ve not won on that ground since we thumped them 50-8 in 2012 and it’ll take a special effort to beat them this week. Not like me to lack confidence going into a game really but I think Leeds will get us again. Thoughts....?

Need a good strong start. we seem to have a habit this season of only turning it on when we're behind on the scoresheet, we can't do this v Leeds at Leeds. If we start strong we have a very goos chance of winning. Can't afford to give Leeds a head start.

Depends how we start. Leeds have conceded points this season so their defence is not impregnable but if we give them a start like we did v Saints or Cats even if we score a few later then just like Saints they will only need to score the odd one in reply to take the game. When we give teams a start it's not just that we can rely on scoring a few due to them tiring but we also have to keep them quiet. We did this v Cats but we won't do it v Leeds as we didn't v Saints. Wigan need to play for 80 minutes not 40 to win this. If we do I think we can. Leeds are not invincible but we need to stop being our own worst enemy in the first 40 minutes.

We tend to get bullied at Headingley IMO. Ablett and Delaney will offer J.Tomkins the perfect opportunity to show whether he is now a genuine enforcer.

Leeds have a few back including Cuthbertson which will make things more difficult but I don’t see any reason why we can’t get on top of them ‘if’ we have a better start to the game then we’ve had at times this year.

It’ll be interesting to see the team. I was impressed with Navarette again and you’d expect Joel Tomkins to come in for Flower. We need that mix up option of Escare on the bench IMO and I can’t see Sarginson losing his place so it’ll presumably be 2 from Tautai, Hamlin, Navarette and Isa to miss out.

It would probably be Tautai and sadly Hamlin for me. He didn’t have as big an impact at the weekend as he did on debut but then it was made pretty clear he was 4th sub given the amount of time (lack of it) he was given.

Squad announced. John Bateman, Joe Burgess, Tony Clubb, Morgan Escaré, Liam Farrell, Oliver Gildart, Gabe Hamlin, Willie Isa, Tommy Leuluai, Liam Marshall, Romain Navarrete, Sean O’Loughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Joel Tomkins, Sam Tomkins, George Williams Read more at www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2018- ... hKk9JOt.99 Tomkins Marshall Sarginson Gildart (much improvement needed) Burgess Williams Powell Clubb Leuluai O’Loughlin Farrell Isa Bateman Tomkins Sutton Navarette Escare

Squad announced. John Bateman, Joe Burgess, Tony Clubb, Morgan Escaré, Liam Farrell, Oliver Gildart, Gabe Hamlin, Willie Isa, Tommy Leuluai, Liam Marshall, Romain Navarrete, Sean O’Loughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Joel Tomkins, Sam Tomkins, George Williams Read more at www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2018- ... hKk9JOt.99 Tomkins Marshall Sarginson Gildart (much improvement needed) Burgess Williams Powell Clubb Leuluai O’Loughlin Farrell Isa Bateman Tomkins Sutton Navarette Escare

Burgess and Marshall, who I thought both did very well in defence against Cats, are going to have plenty chucked at them. Watkins in the air will be a real threat. We will do very well to get a result at Headingley. I suppose Bateman to the centres is a possibility, but apart from that pass off the ground, Sarge had a pretty good game against Cats I thought, and dropping him would be a little harsh.

Be interesting to see who plays left wing out of the two. This is our attacking flank which sees most quick ball. I'd be interested to see Davies' try tally if he played on the left edge.

There's also the question of, who faces Ryan Hall. If Marshall is the real deal he should be able to handle Hall in D and well as scoring tries.

Well, it'll be Hall on one side and Watkins on the other, won't it? So however we slice it, they will both be up against tough opposition.

To be fair to Marshall, i think he's scored some tries this year that Davies probably wouldn't have.

I wish we had Gelling to nullify one or the other! Marshall will need some protection out there from Sarginson.

Don't think anyone could have any issue with Marshall's try scoring. Bit hard to say if Davies could have scored or wouldn't have converted the same opportunities, especially when the team plays to the left edge. This is a good opportunity for Marshall, one to show he's good enough (IN ALL ELEMENTS OF HIS GAME) to warrant a first team spot on the wing. Handling the likes of Watkins and Hall would certainly strengthen his position.

I nearly said that in my last post!

For what it’s worth, I reckon we will be lining up:

Golding; Briscoe Watkins Handley Hall; Moon Myler; Mullally Parcell Singleton; Ablett Ward; JJB. Dwyer Cuthbertson & 2 of Delaney/Oledzki/Smith/Walters

with all due respect, I think now is a good time to be playing Leeds at their gaff.

they are in good form, but have had a couple of close games recently that you'd normally have expected them to have walked and are still bringing back a few bods who will be a little rusty too.

And the stadium is half finished which may mean the ref will make the decisions rather than the South Stand.

No reason for us not to go close tomorrow.

Tomkins
Burgess
Sarginson
Gildart
Marshall
Williams
Powell
Clubb
Leaulai
O’loughlin
Isa
Farrell
Bateman

Escare
Tomkins
Naverrette
Sutton

That’s how I’d go, Marshall not up against Hall. Escare to 7 Powell to 9 when TL needs a break.

Marshall not up against Hall, just up against Watkins, though. However you slice it...

Marshall can throw plenty at Hall as well so I wouldn’t be interested in trying to shield him. It’s up to the team to play well enough to not leave him isolated in defence and in attack to try and work him some space. If he gets that he can burn Hall for pace.

Good challenge for the lad.

Problem is, if he plays on the right he won't get protected by Sarge, and he won't have the space he has on the left. When Davies plays on the right he gets about half the chances the left winger gets.

So is Marshall suddenly a defensive liability? If he's good enough, he's good enough. We need wingers who can attack and deal with all oncoming threats. Don't want a winger who needs shielding or protecting. Not when we have the likes of Burgess Davies and (hopefully) Manfredi.

Liability might be OTT, but I'd feel very nervy if Marshall was trying to stop Hall from 5m out or out-jump him for a high ball. Hall is world class on his day after all, one of very few SL players I would say that about. On the other hand, I can see grubber kicks behind Hall paying dividends, as Marshall looks much faster over 20-30 metres.

Which winger or player at any level doesn't struggle to stop Hall from 5m out?

He's a challenge for anyone, but there are quite a few others I'd give a better chance than Marshall. Defence needs to slide effectively, and blockers get in there early to disrupt his run up for high balls.

If you are so scared of Marshall on the right wing put Sarge there and Bateman to centre.

Marshall did next to nothing wrong last week, despite not getting his usual scoring opportunities. NK is surely right that he can hurt Hall too with his pace given the space, and I'm sure Leeds will be well aware of that. I'm not convinced that Sarge on the wing would be a better bet, even defensively.