If everyone is fit the team will be the same as toulouse with fages for Cogger and mcqueen for Hewitt.

I'd be tempted for pryce over golding if Russell is a doubt. Golding has been really good but if he has to go to fullback in the final it will completely stifle our attack.

but our defence will be better which could well be key in a final.
also he can cover at 9 - who else can do that?

Completely agree on the defence, and I don't like the idea of pryce coming back for such a big game after so long out, if he was going to play off the bench Watson would have run with it against toulouse.

However im just pointing to the fact that often in big games if both defences are tight you need some magic or individual to win it. And pryce offers that. Unfortunately for Golding he's good defensively but that's the end of it.

Regarding hooker cover both Russell and Fages have played there plenty previously.

If Russell doesn't play Cogger will play imo

Watson couldnt play pryce on the bench against Toulouse as his ban was still in force.
russell and fages cant be cover for hooker as the point is we are likely to have either one or both of those not available. and we really do not want to be taking out our main attacking player to put into the hooking role to cover injury in a cup final.
golding offers cover across the whole of the backline and hooker. allowing tui to move in to cover the halves, with forwards on the bench that then gives us cover across every position on the field! to me that's preferable than playing a green kid who's been out for two months and has actually got to prove himself yet.
I know this wont go down well but I feel a lot of this stuff surrounding Pryce has been hyped up out of proportion. he's good but he's very raw and hes not the messiah. Im sure there will be a backlash to that statement but the reality is he's played half a season so far

Looks like no suspensions for either side. I reckon Pryce only makes the squad if both Olly & Theo are out. Personally, I'd play him in the halves if Theo wasn't fit. I do agree about Pryce, though, Jools, to me he has real promise but that's all it is at the moment, and even if he was match fit, I don't think he makes our best 17.

I think it would have been the same side as for the semi final but for Russell's injury. I hope Chris Macqueen is available. I would play Cogger too.

Sounds like McQueen is definitely fit and going to play which is excellent news.

I reckon Cogger is definitely in if Ollie isn't fit. I hope he makes it as he has done really well since the back end of last season and this one as well.

He definitely deserves to get a chance to play in a final. He’s come on loads in the last 12 months.
Let’s face it you want to see both sides playing their best players in the big games.

If you'd told me last year how much I'd be hoping for Olly to be fit for our biggest game in many years, I'd of laughed hard. Happy to admit how wrong I was and how much credit Olly himself, Watson and all the coaching team is owed.

I think both Theo and Ollie are fully fit and Watson is trying to force Wigan to have gameplans for all our halves and spend less time on each. Would be suprised if both of them don't play.

Agreed regarding pryce he has been overhyped, last year Russell was the star of the show in terms of control and assists and he's carried his form into this season. Didn't know toulouse was pryces last game serving his ban thought he completed it the week before.

Lots of talk this week about matty playing in the final, I assume that means he will be playing for Seb?

Disappointed with the injuries affecting Fages and Seb but hopeful for Saturday.

Pryce, McGillvary, Leutele, Golding, Lolohea, Hill, Levi, Lawrence, Jones, McQueen, Yates, English, Greenwood, Cogger, Trout, O'Brien, Wilson, Cudjoe, Russell, I Senior, Hewitt.

Ive seen two teams named in the media- first one had fages in it - the second one did not! It looks like Fages is out which is a massive blow. you would think watson would name him anyway just to keep wigan guessing though!!!!! seb out too and no wardle so leroy will definitely play.
the only thing is will it be pryce or cogger.........
tui
jerry
leroy
leutele
I senior
cogger / pryce
russell
hill
levi
english
jones
mcqueen
yates
greenwood, wilson, trout, golding

Oh dear, i am trying to be upbeat but Fages is really who makes us tick against the better teams, i'm disappointed in the safe options in there too, lawrence and cudjoe are past it for me and it should be wardle and seb. Struggling to see us winning with this team