Wheeler is our most naturally gifted player and would have a place in any 17 I was picking, if fit.

Wellens
Foster
Shenton
Wheeler
Meli
Pryce
Lomax
Graham
Roby
TP
Soliola
Flannery
Wilkin

LMS
Clough
Moore
Eastmond (if we MUST persist with this bloomin "back on the bench" policy)

Having said all that, I see the merit in the alternative of Eastmond out, Wheeler to the bench, Meli back to centre and Makinson on the wing (given the combination Meli/Foster have built up). But I think Wheeler is a better centre than Meli, even taking into account Meli's excellent recent form.

Above all, I hope we play two props on the bench. This means Flannery starting in the back row and TP prop.

Wheeler is nothing but a crock. If we play him, someone will have to cover for 60 minutes of the game. Meli can't be moved and Wheeler is not better than either Pryce or Eastmond in the halves.

1 - Wello (Horrific)
2 - Makinson
3 - Shenton
4 - Meli
5 - Makinson
6 - Pryce
7 - Lomax
8 - Graham
9 - Roby
10 - LMS
11 - Wilkin
12 - Soliola
13 - Puletua

14 - Flannery
15 - Clough
16 - Moore
17 - Eastmond

Hopefully Royston will rise above the mediocrity and put Eastmond in at fullback, but I doubt it. Comfortable for Wigan.

I agree it will be comfortable for Wigan, no way Makinson is experienced enough to play on both wings.

I had this down as the best thing to do at the beginning of the season, but would it be wise to move Meli at this stage of the tournament? He's had a very impressive season playing down that channel, should we be disrupting what is possibly our main attacking threat?

It would still be our main attacking threat if it was Wheeler/Meli.

Meli has been very good at centre, but Wheeler is a better player. We would still have Meli's close range danger on the wing. Meli has shown good hands in the centres but Wheeler has that and also the ability and nouse to step and jink through the line.

My concern would not be around what we would lose in attack (we would gain IMO), but what Meli we would get on the day fielding kicks.

It wouldn't just be disrupting an attacking threat, either. If we moved Meli onto the wing now we'd be reintroducing one of our biggest weaknesses just in time for the playoffs.

Keep the Meloster combination, it's been great for us this season.

Oops. On my phone so I can't be bothered fixing it. It might be the tactical masterstroke that can take us to glory.

To be fair buddy, that assesment is pretty similar as to what you'd use for Lomax last year.

Wigan? I'm afraid they know the best way to play us in attack and defence. Unless we come up with something slightly different, then its going to be the same old story, I'm afraid. I don't think we can rely on powering through like Wire can do against them, in fact the chance of that is near zero if TP isn't back.
Maybe we'll get a couple of peices of magic that will take us through, but I wouldn't hold my breath?

As an aside, isn't it nice to be able to talk about different potential combinations rather than just shoving whatever 17 are fit onto the park?

I'm quietly confident about next Sunday, no excuses this time if only Ade/Perry/Magennis are missing.

I, like other, am a big fan of Wheeler, so I ceertainly wouldn't mind him being picked. I agree with what you say, but if I were coach I'd probably err on the side of caution and stick with Meli at centre.

T'is. I think if Royce is bold with his selection planning for next year, we could see some very exciting attack for the Saints.

The only thing that gives me hope for this Saturday is the fact that we're "due a win" against them and the exertions of winning the cup may catch up with them. I'm afraid I just feel that the McGuire smarts are keeping them one step ahead of us at the moment.

Is Puletua fit for this one?

No official word, but we're hopeful of him lining up.

If he's not we might as well field the reserves and focus on week 2.