www.totalrl.com/cronulla-name-wo ... nge-squad/ Missing key players from the Final winning team but pretty strong nonetheless.

www.totalrl.com/cronulla-name-wo ... nge-squad/ Missing key players from the Final winning team but pretty strong nonetheless.

We needed a couple of losses to even things up a tad even though you never wish injuries on anyone.

I still can't see us having enough to get the job done but you never know. This talk of a real cold snap in Feb could do with coming to fruition to make things uncomfortable for them. Add in a hostile atmosphere and we've got some small things in our favour.

After watching the All Stars game yesterday some of the Cronulla players looked ready for next week Graham was one of the best players on the park, Fafita looked like he had kept his weight in check over the off season, Bird looked class when on the pitch.

Cronulla will be up for the game a strong squad, no excuses of using the trip for a holiday. It will be a big challenge that hopefully Wigan are up to

Our forwards are going to need to be at their very best to give us a sniff. I think he'll do ok but winning it seems unlikely.

Really looking forward to it though.

Fingers crossed everyone is fit after Saturday. If so, I'd obviously bring Bateman back in with Willie Isa dropping to the bench. Probably Joel to miss out. Isa's speed in defence will be needed over Joel's greater attacking threat. I would start with Sutton over FPN.

Bateman clearly comes back in but I'd be stunned if it was for Joel. I think Wane values him as highly as any player and in fairness I thought he was good Saturday.

My guess is Tautai will miss out. It'll definitely be one of him, Isa or Clubb IMO.

I agree that Joel did well. I think that at his best he would be a certain pick, but he's only really feeling his way back after a long lay off and I think that this game has come too early for him. For that reason I'd go with Willie Isa. If T is fit he should play too.

I would leave out Clubb, I think he is the least mobile of the pack around the middle of the park.

I thought Clubb was miles better than FPN, for example, both in defence and in attack. FPN came flying out of the line on a few occasions in the second half and completely missed the tackle. Hopefully he can tighten up, but I would leave Clubb in; it was an impressive comeback.

What a feeling to even have a debate about who to leave out!

I'd certainly have Clubb in because if for no other reason, he'll smash a few of them to pieces which will at least cheer me up if we're taking a beating.

It's a straight choice for me between Isa and Tautai. Do you go for a guy who's not the biggest but will run all day and defend for his life or do you choose the guy who's more of a short spell, high impact kind of player. I think for the fact that we have a couple of high impact players already in the team in Nuuausala and Clubb (presuming he is picked) I'd leave out Tautai and go with Isa.

Looking forward to this game big time

I think the conditions will play a big part and the cold air will be hard for them to Handle especially whilst running as it will no doubt burn there lungs (not literal) However there never say die attitude will be a huge challenge for Wigan and will mean we cannot switch off for 1 second

I'd run with J.Tomkins. Isa proved himself a very good squad player over the course of the season but we need our game breakers for this one. If we play the game their way (5 drives and a kick until you get into the opposition 20), then they will win. We need to take chances and hope fortune favours us. That approach suits J.Tomkins better than Isa.

I can't comprehend leaving Tautai out. He was one of our best players last season IMO. FPN or Clubb would make more sense but they are both big guys who hit hard, which is important against an NRL pack, particularly when you have a lightweight back row in Bateman and L.Farrell.

When we consider the hammerings the English clubs have had over the last few years I think it's essential we give them a real game. We took Brisbane close a couple of years ago but in general SL clubs have been miles behind! The Aussies don't take these games half as seriously as we do but in general still have far too much class for us.
It's clear from all the interviews in pre season that this game has been the big focus and I think we'll win it. It's a final this time and not just a warm up before the main event. We'll be right up for this game and restore a bit of pride in the English game.

Cronulla have had the day off today sightseeing round London and the players are off to Paris on Wednesday for a day trip to see what France has to offer.

Lets hope they're just as relaxed on game day.

Tautai was excellent in 2016 I agree but his lack of a pre season worries me because of how much he seemed to struggle with his fitness in 2015. He admitted in an interview that he's not been able to do much and that he's behind. I just can't help but feel Isa will be more valuable with his defence should we manage to get in to an arm wrestle.