What is our best pairing? It would be brave to tinker with the halves at this stage if the season, but, the form of Green since his injury has been average at best, would/should Wane look at giving an in form Hampshire a start at 6?

It would be worth a look against Leecs to see how they go !

I think Hampshire looks better than Green. I'd give him a bench spot on Thursday and see who looks best.

In a word No. I dont really know about the in form bit either as he was very average in the couple of games before yesterday. I also think he is far from ready physically, especially to be defending in the line against the top teams.

Very average? Think we are watching a different player.

If locky is injured as is rumoured in other threads, I would run with Green at 13 against Leeds with Smith and Hampshire in the halves.

I don't think Green at 13 would work at this stage of the season and with him in poor form. Moving him around into another pivotal position but one he hasn't played at Wigan is surely just going to increase the chances of him playing poorly.

Hampshire's recent form has been better than Green but I've always seen Hampshire as a player who plays much better on the right hand side (the same as Smith) and I'm not sure how well the combinations would work if he switched sides.

It could be worth a shot though as Powell wasn't too convincing last night and he was previously the most likely to step in for Green.

Not that speculating will make much difference. I'm pretty sure Wane will stick with Green right through to the end of the season no matter what.

Not at all. He has shown some good glimpses in attack but he has shown many faults and is a long way from ready, which is to be expected from an 18 year old. Physically I certainly dont think he is ready. Hyping a youngster up to be the next big thing, and ignoring his faults and limitations, does no one any favours, particularly the player himself. For example against Huddersfield he made some real blunders and was woefully out of position for 2 tries but that was barely mentioned, again not knocking the lad as he is 18 so it is to be expected.

Hampshire is class and was/is wasted playing at Full Back.

I like this idea but doubt we'll see it happen. Green is generally fairly solid in defence and would probably be OK at 13.

Hampshire looked the part to me last night. As for Huddersfield game, didn't he play out-of-position at full-back and against one of the best attacking kickers in the competition?

Hampshire on the bench for me with Green/Smith in the halves.

Could the same not be said of Sam Tomkins?

Tomkins even at the age of 19/20 established himself into the top tier of HB's. If I'm correct his 1st intentional honours came at #6 against Australia and he showed the world he could hold his own against the best HB's in the game.

Sam's move to FB hasn't hampered, held him back or wasted him in anyway. Playing FB allowed him to showcase his broken field running and elusive pace.

That being said if Sam was staying at Wigan i'd be screaming from the roof tops that next season would be the time for him to return to #6 and let Hampshire find his feet in the game at FB.

For me at times this season we've cried out for Sam to put up at HB and just give us something different. He's got that natural ball playing ability to make something magic happen. Think back to his time at #6, in particular Madge's 1st season and the Wire away game. That night he destroyed Wire on his own and topped the night off with a lovely deft chip over and gather. That off the cuff play is something Green doesn't or can't offer.

With that in mind i'd run with Hampshire at FB and Sam at 6 for the remaining games of the season. Teams think they've got us worked out with the wrap around and they think they can contain Sam by sniffling out the ball he receives. Moving Sam to 6 would have teams cr@pping their pants as they'd have to factor in his threat at 1st receiver whilst also trying to stop the wrap around with Hampshire there.

Cherry it saddens me to see this reference in the modern game that one halfback plays on the right and one on the left, in my day the halfbacks and the loose forward played as a unit and appeared all over the field.

I can just imagine the reaction off Greg, Edwards and Hanley if told to stick to left or right (especially Greg).

Might playing out of position have had something to do with these blunders.

The lad is an halfback and he should not have had the pressure of being played out of position so early in his career.

Most players will have a preferred side of the field, just like most players are considered either right or left handed. The under 19's generally play the same structure as the first team and Hampshire has played mostly on the right side. It's inevitable that if you play the majority of the season down one side you're going to become more accustomed to defending on that side and passing more frequently in one direction. If you're playing on the right you're more likely to be putting out short passes to the right and long passes to the left; do that for the majority of a season and it's understandable if timing is a little off when forced to switch that around.

I'm not saying Hampshire can't be just as effective on the left, just that there's more to consider than just form. If I'm not mistaken the vast majority of assists, breaks and all round good play from Hampshire while at fullback came down the right hand side.