Feeling Joel at centre is with the WCC in mind and testing him out there-

Was thinking this the other day and Joel at centre for the WCC seems the only sensible option - With Pat and Finch out, and no interchange hooker, I think Sam HAS to go back in the halves and go with the recognised pairing of Sam and Tommy, to allow Deacon to give us options off the bench - If not, we would have to go with Tommy and Deacs in the halves and no option of a pivot off the bench to mix it up!

Therefore, Sam in the halves means Amos has to go back to FB, which leaves us with only one recognised established winger in the rest of the backs.

So for me the equation is either Joel to centre, or risk Charnley or Marsh, who while will in time be undoubted good uns....do we really fancy putting them up against their frankly frightning 3/4 line of Cooper / Gasnier/ Morris/ or Nightingale?! Also putting Joel to centre frees up a space for SR where we are immensely strong.

For me the only option for the backs for this game will be with Joel in the centre, lining up something like

Amos, Gleeson, Joel, Carmont, Goulding, Sam, Tommy, Lima, McIllurum, Fielden, Hoffman, Hansen, O'Loughlin. With Deacon and three from Prescott Coley Farrell Tuson Mossop on the bench.

When you look at their backline though compared to ours without Richards and Finch, you realise we're goin to have to make it one almightly foward battle to have a chance IMO.

My Dad agrees it was possible with the Blan family. Billy being the best.

As I said on the VT: not seen anything from him to excite me. Gets the ball and it's head down, charge in. Never passes and on at least a few occasions last year was badly out of position in defence or missed tackles to concede tries. I'm sure he'll do well somewhere but I can't see it being at Wigan unless on the wing.

I appreciate he's young but there are better players at his age (Charnley being one) and I just don't see anything special in him at the moment. Of course Madge & co. see him day in, day out and are far better judges than I, but still...Wigan have high standards right now and I don't see him reaching them.