Wigan Warriors 19-man squad

John Bateman, Matt Bowen, Joe Burgess, Greg Burke, Dom Crosby, Jamie Doran, Gil Dudson, Ben Flower, Anthony Gelling, Jack Hughes, Jordan James, Dom Manfredi, Jack Murphy, Sean O'Loughlin, Sam Powel, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Scott Taylor, George Williams


If all are fit the team id go with is as follows:

Bowen
Burgess
Gelling
Sarginson
Manfredi
Powell
Smith
Flower
Williams
Crosby
Bateman
Hughes
Lockers

Dudson
Burke
Murphy
Taylor

To Missout

Jordan James (Self Explanatory!!!)
Doran in if Powell is unfit but to missout otherwise.

Do us proud lads!

I'd have Doran on the bench ahead of Murphy, he can go into the halves and move Powell/Smith to Hooker to spell Williams.

From that squad I would go:-

Matty Bowen

Dom Manfredi
Dan Sarginson
Anthony Gelling
Joe Burgess

Sam Powell
Matty Smith

Scott Taylor
George Williams
Ben Flower
Jack Hughes
John Bateman
Sean O'Loughlin

Bench:
Gil Dudson
Dom Crosby
Jordan James
Jamie Doran

If Powell isn't fit I'd go-

Bowen
Manfredi
Gelling
Burgess (I'd like to look at him at centre anyway so why not)
Murphy
Sarginson
Smith
Taylor
Williams
Flower
Hughes
Bateman
Lockers

Subs
Dudson
Crosby
Burke
Doran

Get Sarginson taking the line on with that safety net of Bowen at the back.

There wouldn't be much point in playing 5 props against saints with some of our backs and back rowers probably not 100% We need that cover because this issue has bitten us in the behind too many times. Your not honestly saying JJ should play before Dudson, Flower, Taylor or Crosby considering our usual 4 prop strategy are you?

Doran is a decent player, strong with good feet, however he is the most unlikely looking halfback you will see. He's played well in the U19's this season and I don't think he'd let anyone down, but wouldn't expect him to be the game breaker. If he is to play I would expect it to be from the bench, although that could change if Powell doesn't pass his fitness test.

Every time i have seen him in the under 19's he looks the best player on the pitch it looks so easy for him to ghost through the defensive line.

the Chunky half back it will be interesting to see how he plays.

What's happened to Josh?

Hamstring

We have enough talent there to win on Friday. Looking forward to it.
I know it's early days, but I wonder whether we'll have any Saints fans as certain their side is "clearly" better than ours as we had before Good Friday. The spread is zero to zero, I'd say.

they have the best squad in SL 'on paper' dont forget

Doran has played 6/7 and 9 for the 19's over the last 3 seasons. As has been pointed out he certainly doesn't look like a half back but has a turn of pace that would surprise many.
Clever player and wouldn't let Wigan down.

That's why I would play him from the bench. He can cover any of those positions if Wane decides to give Williams a rest.

I think the 19 picked for Friday is done with fingers crossed with regard to players fitness.
In this evenings M.E.N, the article after announcing the inclusion of Doran in the squad goes on to say that Rob Lever, Ben Austin and Oliver Gildart are on standby to face table topping Saints.
Then Wane is quoted as saying "I would loved to have Lockers, Mickey Mack and Faz out against these and give it a real physical dig". That comment to me sounds as if Lockers is out already.
He mentions quite a few things about how it will be a very young team, maybe someone can post the full statement.