As expected, the squad is missing plenty of our 1st choice players. Bateman's back in but Lockers and Farrell out. John Bateman, Joe Bretherton, Greg Burke, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Oliver Gildart, Nick Gregson, Jack Higginson, Willie Isa, Dom Manfredi, Lee Mossop, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins, Jack Wells Read more at www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2016- ... YKkIv72.99

As expected, the squad is missing plenty of our 1st choice players. Bateman's back in but Lockers and Farrell out. John Bateman, Joe Bretherton, Greg Burke, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Oliver Gildart, Nick Gregson, Jack Higginson, Willie Isa, Dom Manfredi, Lee Mossop, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins, Jack Wells Read more at www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2016- ... YKkIv72.99

Surprised no Waterworth on the bench, we need to be careful flogging Powell.

Hope no risks are being taken with Bateman. Sure there won't be - I'd imagine he'd have to pass a concussion exam.

Sarginson
Manfredi
Higginson
Gildart
Charnley
Gregson
Smith
Clubb
Powell
Mossop
Tomkins
Isa
Bateman

Tautai
Sutton
Burke
Bretherton

Wane could go with Tierney at 1 and Sarginson at 6 if he wanted to.

Waterworth didnt look right on his debut against HKR, i think he was rushed in and was struggling to play his usual game, no point rushing him at this stage

Rushed as in rushed back from injury or before he's ready for first team rugby?

I thought Waterworth went ok. Decent distribution but struggled a bit in defence against a Hull KR side with a point to prove.

Bateman is a huge boost for Sunday. He could be the difference between us winning and losing.

Rushed back from injury, he was struggling to keep up, not easy to get up to S L speed if you are not close to 100%

I hope Bateman isn't being brought back just to have a "name" forward on the field after what seemed quite a knock to the head last week. I presume he has passed the stringent concussion test that is supposed to be in place before a player can take to the field again.

I think that if he did have concussion then he can't possibly play on Sunday.
I'm sure if I'm wrong then someone cleverer than me will correct me.
I think we are on the bones of our Harris and the squad is a bit of a smokescreen.
Wakefield with +8 looks very attractive.

I'd prefer to see Powell & Smith in halves rather than Gregson & Smith. Think Gregson could probably fill in at hooker

We really could do with getting another hooker in if Williams is going to be out much longer to allow us to get Powell in at stand off. We shouldn't be needing to put a loose forward at 6 or sticking an academy back rower in there.

A loan option would serve us well.

Problem is that there are not many quality hookers or standoffs hanging around looking for a game. Who would you suggest? Is it time to throw Ganson in?

Not sure. They could do with maybe looking at the NRL unless there's somebody they fancy over here. The talk about signing Bob Beswick seems to have died down but he'd be a pretty solid signing and would at least free up another option for us with Powell.

Leave Powell at 9, Recall Hampshire from Cas to play 6.
Then if needs be rotate the halves into 9 during a game with Powell going into the halves.

Anything as long as we don't go back to the bad old days of having a hooker on the bench and used as interchange. That way we waste two interchanges with neither being able to impose themselves on the game as they do 2 x 20 mins stints which is hopeless.

Given time and a near full team I think Powell will start to do a lot more from the 9 slot.

It's about how strong the squad is at the back end of the season , hopefully in the not too distant with just MM out long term we will be in better shape
Tomorrow / today will be a big ask but game time for the youngsters can only be good in the long term