I thought the point of the 19 was that it was the final decision of who will play? Obviously you can swap someone out if they get injured after the announcement, but if you can just change them around for no reason then what's the point of it?

From memory, you can make one change to the 19 man squad.

Powell would have come into the Wigan squad much earlier in the season had he not broke his leg in an U20 game v Wire at Orrell.

You can make as many changes as you like to the squad as far as I'm aware, but within reason. If a player is ruled out through injury but passed fit to play later on he can be added to the squad, or if players are injured they can be replaced. You couldn't name a 19 and then play a completely different 19 though obviously.
Last week against Hull the team was announced on Wednesday and on the Thursday three changes were made. If Finch can pass his fitness test he'll be added to the squad either today or given until the last possible moment to prove himself fit.

If Finch doesn't play and Wire's tactic is to target Powell down Wigan's left hand side then I wouldn't be too worried. Without Hansen on the right hand side that side of the pitch might be a little weaker and Smith will be the important man in the halves. The less he has to do in defence the better it is for Wigan.

Hodgson

Joel
Ratchford
Atkins
Riley

Briers
Myler

Carvell
Higham (in better form than Monas atm)
Morley

Waterhouse
Benny
Grix

Hill (Bigger impact off the bench imo)
M. Monas
Harrison
Wood

Cooper is prone to throwing ridiculous offloads from time to time,
And even though Tyke has been playing brilliantly lately, I don't trust that he'd come through V Wigan.

Cooper is also prone to giving penalties away for high shots!

The problem is - how can you announce a 19 man squad not including Finch about 1pm for him to say to a live radio audience about 8pm that he is definitely playing. There's no way in a space of approx 7 hours he's miraculously overcome an injury.

What's the point in the 19 man squad? You did the same last week with Lockers. IMO you should stick with the 19 men you picked 2 days earlier. If you pick a not fit player, that's a risk you take and should suffer the consequences of not having the chance to call a replacement. That or just drop the whole thing altogether as its pointless.

It's either really poor mind games from Wane or he's starting to crack up now we're reaching the pressure end of the season.

I'm not just having a dig at Wigan because all teams do it, but this is just blatent and makes a mockery of the process.

HKR did it with Dobbo against us this year in our home game, that didn't work either.

In all seriousness, tyke has been easily playing towards a wembley appearance. Why needlessly stunt him showing his best for a nothing game against Wigan?

Tyke is the first name I'd put on the bench. Has shown he has what it takes and I want to see him perform against a real opponent.

Shaun Wane playing "mind-games" - Jesus Christ imagine how much his head is hurting now.

he couldn't open his banana today.

interesting point, my dad looks like Shaun Wane, and hates me pointing this out, he'll be reading this later on sat there calling me a swear word.

Might as well rest him then, save him for the important games coming up the next two weeks.

Honestly thought TS would have made changes and seen this as a game we don't have to win. There is no point in finishing first, despite what Wane says, and I though he would have taken the chance to "rotate" the squad.
Shows what I know!!

People saying they don't want to see him against Wigan (a hard team) is like saying I don't want to use this fire extinguisher on my sofa, which is on fire, cause it might not be good enough.

Use it and see how good it performs. If it doesn't work then use a different one.

I don't think Tyke or anyone else is being rested for this game, I think TS wants to build up some momentum and confidence going into the playoffs. Tyke has definitely been great recently, especially off the bench when he is breaking tired tackles more often, and while Wigan aren't going to tire as easily I reckon we need him anyway to make those extra couple of breaks that could make all the difference to the result.

McCarthy and Coops have missed out.