I think you are being a bit naive here Gotcha.

Yes he is targeted by some refs. I can think of numerous incidents where I've thought 'there's nothing in that 'incident' it must be his rep'.

But you mention these indiscretions that end up as penalties against Bailey.

But (if I'm correct) he doesn't even average a penalty against him per game.



So what actual damage can that do?

Your argument IMO doesn't really stack up.

If anything he will also win penalties, so where does that leave calculations!!

Like I say, I'm waiting for another Kanas City Shuffle from the big man!!

If Bailey's fully fit then we need him in the team. I'm not his biggest fan by any stretch but given this game could (and probably will) get very tasty we need the big fella's out there.

Ideally of course we'd be happy to go with a mobile pack and run 'em ragged but with Silverwood in charge, Wigans style of slowing us down at every opportunity will almost certainly be allowed and the game will degenerate into a bit of a slugging match

Although in all seriousness I wouldn't disagree in having Delaney and Senior in the centre positions for this match ....I do wish you would desist in refering to Delaney as a "natural" or "specialist" centre.

It's hard to reconcile that dogma with a guy who is good at taking the ball up and who is unquestionably defensively solid (unless he's compelled to leap for a high ball of course - sure Deacon might utilise that particular achilles heel)....BUT is not pacy, who always turns back inside into trouble when released and demonstrates no compunction to get any semblance of a good pass out to his winger.



Qualities maybe to warrant a place in the 17, but certainly not to command a regular centre position.

(Roll on next season with the new centre partnership of Jones-Bishop and Watkins.

)

I've got to say I agree to some extent.

In our first game at Crusaders I thought Delaney demonstrated some real good centre play by getting on the outside of his opponent and releasing Donald. However classy touches like this have since been few and far between.

Like you say his defence and workrate are good and he is capable of running the right line in the opponents 10m. Let's remember he is still relatively young (23?). I still think he could shape up to be a very good threequarter.

Ask yourselves who offers the better chances of winning the game - Kirke or Smith? If the answer is Smith then we should play Senior in the pack to add some pace to allow Smith into centre. We cannot drop Donald.
I would also consider playing Ambler before Bailey.

On what grounds?

Fitness issue?

Nah ! Not Bailey. Diskin. Come on guys...convince me he is the better option to Ambler.

Leeds are being written off in a lot of quarters (me included to an extent) but when you look at that Leeds squad you remember why they have a great chance in any game they play, even without McGuire/Peacock.

Still think Wigan will win, but doubt it will be the walkover I was previously thinking about and wouldn't be too surprised to see Leeds win the game.

Looking forward to a good weekend of RL!

Better go forward, possibly more energy

I don't know of any Wigan fans who think it will be a walkover.

I wouldn't agree.

If fit, of course he will play and start.

Need the tried and tested.

The experience of the big time is vital.

Ambler hasn't played in a long time for Leeds, can't see it happening tomorrow if TMFMISL is playing.

We will need every 17's A game.

The one that springs to mind is the last time we played Wigan at HQ when Ganson penalised Bailey for raising his knee in the kick return on Carmont (I think? Possibly Roberts not sure now) From where I was sat it never looked like he did but it seemed more like Ganson (or touch judge) assumed he did because of the way he bounced the tackler off. I think there was another incident in the same match where he got penalised for something which was a 50:50 decision.

Personally I'd risk playing him. He's one of our better forwards for getting us a quick play the ball if nothing else.

Unless we save him for the final that is