And for me this is why we will be at the top for the next few years. Our strength in depth. For them lads to travel to the other side of the world and to put in a 2nd half performance like that just shows why Waney took 27 players with him.

I think for next week Bateman deserves a shot over Clubb, Hughes should also play in the back row and Powell definitely gets the 4th interchange.

A major + for the first half as well I thought was Sarginsons performance, he looks like a quality acquisition.

I have a smile on my face this morning!

My line up for next week

1. Bowen 2. Charnley 3. Goulding 4. Sarginson 5. Burgess 6. Green 7. Smith 8. Taylor 9. McIlorum 10. Dudson 11. Hughes 12. Farrell 13. O'Loughlin SUBS 14. Flower 15. Pettybourne 16. Bateman 17. Powell

I actually really do rate Hampshire and would have had him in the 17, possibly the 13, but saying both the men of the match from our two finals last year 'offer frig all' is plain laughable. Smith is a very good at organising, kicking and passing. Green on his game can throw killer passes and has a great step as seen in the Hudds play off and the GF last year when he scored in each. Having said that he has been inconsistent so I wouldn't have been against the idea of Hampshire playing SO instead.

As you know on here I am one of Hampshire biggest fans, I've been banging on about him for the past three or four years. However, I want Wane to be careful with him. Would I have played him on Saturday? Maybe from the bench when Powell was ruled out.

Where should he play?

Eventually I see him as a#6 and it will be interesting to see what happens next year if Bowen and Green leave. However look through the teams both here and in Australia and see how many players under the age of 23 are playing in that key roll. Physically I don't think Hampshire at the age of 19 is ready YET.

Playing him at #1 gives him that bit more time to pick his line and avoid the major hammerings he would get at #6. I expect this year we will see him play 10 - 15 games in the first team, the majority at #1 but some at #6 to allow him to continue his development.

Patience with the likes of him, Williams, Burgess, Manfredi, Gildart and Shorrocks etc is key to Wigan producing a team that will continue to be around the leaders for years to come. Overplay or play too many too soon could stifle their progress and end up like we did around 2003 - 2006 with the likes of Brown, Aspinwall, Robinson, Hodgson, Wild, Tickle etc.

Completely agree and I think SW has youth development down to an absolute tee. I trust that our youths are being brought through in the "Wigan Way".

+1