After this weekends massive result against Castleford in the Cup we now begin our Championship campaign at home to London. Taking down a team from Super League is a huge statement, but one game doesn’t define a season. It’s important to start strong, stay focused, and build on the positivity and consistency we've demonstrated during the pre-season. Let’s not fall in love with ourselves after one big result. We have to keep the same intensity, the same hunger, and set the tone for the season ahead. London are almost unrecognisable from the team that played in Super League last season with wholesale changes within the playing group. It would be great to put a marker down against the Broncos and start the season on a high.

[quote="dddooommm":2h4npv16]Let’s not fall in love with ourselves after one big result.[/quote:2h4npv16] This is going to be our biggest watch out. I'd like to think Nobby is talking about this and ensuring is doesn't creep in to the camp. You'd like to think we have the beating of London, but it's as much about performance and intensity as the actual result.

[quote="Wigan Bull":252h58ur]This is going to be our biggest watch out. I'd like to think Nobby is talking about this and ensuring is doesn't creep in to the camp. You'd like to think we have the beating of London, but it's as much about performance and intensity as the actual result.[/quote:252h58ur] Really would hope we can beat these 12 pros a couple of loaneesand some conference players… goole beat them so surely….

Nobby was quite complimentary of their Coach and said London would bring a strong physical game. I expect he will have brought the Team back down to the reality of the Season starts here. With decent cup runs the Championship may be a bit stuttering regards wins, but as Nobby is an expert in getting Teams up for the business end of the season, I'm not going to worry re early results not always going our way.

Do London even have a full team? Think they had around 7 trialists for their Goole game. Are you even allowed trialists in a league game? Eccles has done wonders at London but there's only so much he can do the tools at his disposal. I wouldn't risk Keyes. Think it showed Sunday how important he's going to be this year for us. I feel we've enough depth to maybe rest a few who turned their blood to water against Cas. Heavy pitch, higher intensity than normal game. Some did bigger minutes than they normally do. Maybe a good idea to not risk a few key men.

What was the injury that caused Keyes to come off?

[quote="Bull Mania":27f1ivaj]Do London even have a full team? Think they had around 7 trialists for their Goole game. Are you even allowed trialists in a league game? Eccles has done wonders at London but there's only so much he can do the tools at his disposal. I wouldn't risk Keyes. Think it showed Sunday how important he's going to be this year for us. I feel we've enough depth to maybe rest a few who turned their blood to water against Cas. Heavy pitch, higher intensity than normal game. Some did bigger minutes than they normally do. Maybe a good idea to not risk a few key men.[/quote:27f1ivaj] Personally wouldn’t rest anyone id put armitage in for gill but we are so early in the season i think you will find nobby will not want to rest anyone we are so early on he will want everyone to be playing regularly. Keyes i thinke we need to be 100% on his fitness before we make a call

[quote="Bullseye"]What was the injury that caused Keyes to come off?

Rest Keyes then. Lilley to halfbck and Ott onto the bench.

As long as its not Hallas at Hooker!!

Haha. I saw he was 18th man at the weekend. I like his commitment but he's behind a few now surely. If we wanted to rest Donaldson and Lawrence for instance I'd be looking at the likes of Waine, Peposhi and Mason first.

[quote="Bullseye":261yr65m]Haha. I saw he was 18th man at the weekend. I like his commitment but he's behind a few now surely. If we wanted to rest Donaldson and Lawrence for instance I'd be looking at the likes of Waine, Peposhi and Mason first.[/quote:261yr65m] And Bailey Liu.

Think we might see a couple of changes, don’t think he will risk Keyes, maybe rest Lawerence. Agree we need Ott on the bench after Souters superhuman effort. Maybe Waine or Liu to come in on the bench, and give Armitage a run out.

We do have good quality options, which is unheard of for us in recent times. I think Nobby will be using the squad. Ott is an obvious swap. Armitage if fit, would like to see him play. We know what Hallas is about, but Waine is possibly ahead of him.

We definitely do not need to be playing Keyes to death - we know he is susceptible to injury and we have a few options - I'm sure Nobby will be looking to rotate where possible.

I'd expect Donaldson, Lawrence, Keyes and Gill to be rested with Waine, Mason, Ott and Armitage to come in to replace them.

[quote="dddooommm":2c1761ef]I'd expect Donaldson, Lawrence, Keyes and Gill to be rested with Waine, Mason, Ott and Armitage to come in to replace them.[/quote:2c1761ef] Id be stunned if all those players are rested as that is every ounce of leadership we have barring lilley id expect to see it more staggered

From what we've seen, London has barely even got a team at the moment. Providing we don't fall in love with ourselves after last Sunday, we should beat them quite handily. As for changes, the whole point of having a first-team squad is to be able to rotate the team. We ought to be resting a few and bringing in Armitage, Waine, Lui and Ott. It's a long season in the Champ, plus we have the 1895 and Challenge Cups as well.

[quote="paulwalker71":1enh395c]From what we've seen, London has barely even got a team at the moment. Providing we don't fall in love with ourselves after last Sunday, we should beat them quite handily. As for changes, the whole point of having a first-team squad is to be able to rotate the team. We ought to be resting a few and bringing in Armitage, Waine, Lui and Ott. It's a long season in the Champ, plus we have the 1895 and Challenge Cups as well.[/quote:1enh395c] Agreed, but it's about finding that balance between keeping the squad fresh with no disruption and making too many changes that it affects fluidity and momentum.

I have a vague memory of some rules restricting the number of hours/matches players can play in the course of a season. Has that rule become active for this season? If this is the case it makes a lot of sense to use our big squad and rotate who is playing from the very beginning of the season, otherwise we'll reach the end of the season and our most important players will have used up their hours.

[quote="bull on a canary":1kcuai1o]I have a vague memory of some rules restricting the number of hours/matches players can play in the course of a season. Has that rule become active for this season? If this is the case it makes a lot of sense to use our big squad and rotate who is playing from the very beginning of the season, otherwise we'll reach the end of the season and our most important players will have used up their hours.[/quote:1kcuai1o] That happened to Souter last season if I remember, not sure if it's age related and affects younger players below a certain age 21 or 22?

It was only a recommendation last season and not enforceable. This season it has come into force.

Looks like this game is going to be streamed live on www.247.tv at a cost of £10, this is the same platform that Fev have used for their pre-season games.

Looks like this game is going to be streamed live on www.247.tv at a cost of £10, this is the same platform that Fev have used for their pre-season games.

[quote="The Phantom Horseman":24la4ybv]Looks like this game is going to be streamed live on www.247.tv at a cost of £10, this is the same platform that Fev have used for their pre-season games.[/quote:24la4ybv] If this is true, will this be for away games as well?

[quote="The Phantom Horseman":24la4ybv]Looks like this game is going to be streamed live on www.247.tv at a cost of £10, this is the same platform that Fev have used for their pre-season games.[/quote:24la4ybv] If this is true, will this be for away games as well?

Looking at the weather for the weekend, sleet, cold breeze and temperature's that feel -3. Summer Rugby is back!