Reckon most of team picks itself, big question is Isa, keep him at centre and drop Halsall or move him back in the pack and drop one of Smithies/KP-P, reckon Shorrocks is safe to spell Powell at 9

Halsall has been solid as a rock. I openly admitted that in the limited times I’d seen him in the academy I thought he was ok but I wasn’t hugely convinced he’d be up to first team level. Whilst he has a way to go yet, I can only admire the start he’s made. He just looks so assured with and without the ball. He maybe lacks half a yard of pace to become an absolute stand out but I’d certainly keep him in for Thursday.

The rest of the questions would then be around the make up of the pack and bench. I very much doubt it being in Lams plans but if Bullock is available, I’d want him in and so we’re not getting pinned in our forty from the off, I’d probably start him and go-

Hardaker
Halsall Bibby Gildart Marshall
Smith Hastings
Singleton Powell Bullock
Isa Farrell Bateman

Subs
Havard Byrne Partington Smithies

Harsh on KPP and Shorrocks but you can’t fit them all in. In reality though I doubt we’ll see Halsall or Bullock and KPP and Shorrocks will be on the bench.

Some difficult decisions on paper but we all know that Lam will do what he always does and agree that he won’t play Bullock and Halsall.

I agree with 100% on Bullock. He’s never going to give you 60 minutes a game but somewhere if it can be untapped is a half decent prop who can make some much needed yards.

Isa at centre for me. His defence and aggression has been good all season and at times he’s surprised me with his willingness to offload and keep the game open. He’s not brilliant but very dependable apart from the odd BF.

Halsall with the high ball has been first class but I’m still to be convinced that he has the size or pace to be a decent centre but he still has lots of time to develop and hopefully with a better coaching setup he will kick on.

I quite like Shorrocks but he will never be a hooker and only Lam knows why he plays him there before lads who have all of their rugby in that position.

Not sure what team Leeds will have available but I suspect a bit of the old arm wrestle and quite honestly can’t predict who will win however, I don’t think Leeds will nil us again but we haven’t got it in us to score more than 2 tries if they turn up.

As a footnote it wouldn’t totally surprise me if he finds a place for Clubb in the 17

We are likely to have Tetevano (back after his latest suspension) Oledski, King & Mellor all back from injury

I'd have Bullock in as well but we all know that's not happening. can't remember him coming back on after that opening 20mins and considering Havard had a bit of a 'mare by his standards I think that sums up where Lam has Bullock in the pecking order, looks like Leeds will have their big lads back so we might be back to our Achilles heel of not being able to clear our own line.
I'll be amazed if Singleton and Partington aren't starting with Havard and Byrne on the bench.

Bullock broke 2 fingers and thus didnt come back on. He wont play this week.

Well that just about sums his season up, gutted for him, so much potential there, if Powell gets it out of him next year at Wire there will be questions asked

I think that almost assures that Clubb will play.

I think Clubb is done tbh. His reaction after the final whistle seemed that of a man who knows he won’t be in the side again. The players were all posting on social media yesterday about what a great bloke he is against the picture of him in tears. You never know but it seemed to be his farewell.

I still wouldn’t put it past Lam selecting him though lol

Sounds like that you are right.
With Bullock and seemingly Clubb out then Clark could probably make the 17.
Some interesting decisions to be made.

We had 3 senior props playing against Cats is that the answer.?

Of course three senior props is the answer. Almost the first game he played three senior props we beat the best team in the league who massacred us 48-0 at their place. Catalans didn't face a Wigan pack that Lam had selected all season and found themselves up against a set of forwards they never expected. Wigan were up at them from the kick off with Jacko hitting a 40/20 from the first set.

Whether Lam plays that winning formula is very doubtful indeed. With Bullock injured he'd have to play Clubb, Singleton and Clark. It really is stretching the imagination to expect to do play all three although it probably would be another winning formula. Lam has his ideas and that seems to exclude playing more than one senior prop.

I really admire the way Leeds over the last couple of season have accepted that they needed a period of transition. Thursday's match could be evenly matched but if this fixture was being played next season it could be a walk over for Leeds. They have made some really good signings for next season and the continued progression of the already brilliant Odeleski (sic) and Newman plus the emergence of Broadbent and Gannon stands them in good stead. We have really dropped the ball over the last few years and could do worse than looking at how Leeds are on the way back.

I don’t think we’ll see a repeat of the debacle the other week v Leeds and I also think we go into this one with a lot of confidence which is absolutely warranted.

We should be winning this game IMO.

Really looking forward to this game - a difficult one to call as defence is so important come play-offs and Wigan, for all their limitations with the ball, remain a tough and tenacious team in defence.

I fancy Leeds to sneak it but a real 50/50 I reckon.