Gildart will probably get a game. I wonder if Budgie is actually injured, or simply dropped because he's leaving?

Bowen
Charnley
Bateman
Gildart
Manfredi
Williams
Smith
Flower
McIlorum
Clubb
Tomkins
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Flower
Powell
Patrick
Mossop

I expect Micky Mac won't play, so it'll be Powell at #9 and Hampshire on the bench.

The decision to let Thornley go on loan is looking more and more strange. First choice centres injured and we're left with a backrower and a debutant playing there.

You have Flower twice did you mean Crosby or Sutton.

Injured - No story here
When it happened I posted that originally it was feared it could be a season ending but after the scan it was likely to be 2-3 weeks.
This week is 3 weeks and "At a Push" he could possibly have played but quite rightly in my opinion they're going to wait until week after Wembley to get him 100%.

About time Gildart got a game anyway. If the club rate him enough to offer him a contract, they've got to play him sometime. At least he's got a couple (?) of SL games under his belt now for Salford. He has talent, and is very quick. As I've argued before, defensive security can come later with practice and experience.

Has Gildart's defence improved at Salford? He looked very vulnerable in the games I've seen during pre-season and v Australia Schoolboys. If he's still that way I think it's a bit unfair to throw him onto the deep end to debut against Warrington away in the Super 8s. Could Mango not deputise there with Rocky at FB?

Depends who he's up against. If it's King/Evans then it's a fair test against another young player (I'd still class Evans as a youngster with the amount of rugby he's missed). If it's against Atkins then that's more of a worry. Whilst Atkins is possibly one of the worst wingers centres I've ever seen, he is a big, physical presence and he'll provide a threat.

I don't have confidence going in to many games at the moment and this one is no different.

Atkins is a big unit, certainly. But you've got to start somewhere; he'll only improve by playing at the top level.

Definitely and I'm looking forward to watching how he goes. He's supremely talented and he'll cause them problems.

It's been a shame to see no debuts given this year until now. I don't think that's actually done us any favours. Young guys on debut bring enthusiasm and help the older guys focus and give them an extra reason to lead by example. I believe we've missed a trick with it this year.

Atkins rarely plays right centre and Waney will avoid putting Gildart against him anyway.
Having said that Gildart and Manfredi on the left look defensively vulnerable.

Hope he rests MM and goes with Powell at 9, interchage with Smith meaning Hampshire off the bench to the halves.

I agree but I don't think Wire away is the best game to debut in. Maybe I'm being soft but a game or two aagainst lower opposition to get into the swing of things might have been the way to go. Don't want another Desi Williams/Jack Murphy situation

Yes, it would have been nice to see Gildart get game time a bit earlier in the season. Are there any others who might have debuted?

But we are where we are. And after all, we're not in such a bad position.

Ted I don't think that is how it will work out if Hampshire is on the bench, he will start with Powell at 9 and when the interchange comes it will be Hampshire to go to dummy half, Wane did this before.
What Wane should do is as you say, but Wane seems to terrified or to stubborn to pair Williams and Hampshire has at halfback combination, he is either frightened of them being to inexperienced or the other reason for not using the combination I will leave you to figure out.

There is no way he play Hampshire at 6 at any point in the game.
I find this totally baffling

He should, for once, play Hampshire at half back.
Wire are all over the place at hb even with Sandow on board.
If Powell starts at 9 then it should be Smith that goes there on interchange.
Against Wire Williams and Hampshire are a dream ticket as Wire have no pace anywhere near the middle. George and Ryan could and probably would tear Wire apart with their pace.
As you say though, alas there is no chance Waney will pair those two at hlf back.
Perhaps as "Stillinthepast" says. It's not Hampshire's build or lack of, it's the "Other" reason he won't play them together.

I'm struggling to think of any coach who would pair two rookies at half back and why SW gets so much stick. He should be praised for his use of Williams this season. It wasn't so long ago that the sainted Madge used to play Lockers at half back rather than give a youngster the chance. No coach in the modern game has given more youngsters a go.

Don't be ridiculous!!!! He NEVER plays the team i think he should, and knows nothing about the game... It's not like he knows any of these players, or can assess their capabilities on a day to day basis... I doubt he has ever even talked to them....

You know, i almost believe that some fans were relieved that Flower buggered up the GF last year... Almost.

I'll make the bold predication that in 10/20 years no one will be talking about Shaun Wane. He'll be assigned to the history books and remembered as much as former coaches like Betts, Endacott, Raper etc are.

What is almost certain however is that people will be talking about the great foreign coaches that have transformed the club and they'll talk about Lowe, Monie and Madge when they do.

Wane might however be talked about as the coach who let Hampshire leave. When it's then said Matty Smith kept him out of the side it's going to be a WTF was he thinking type of comment that will undoubtedly follow.

I am a SW fan and ordinarily I would agree that to play 2 rookies at half back could be deemed to be asking for trouble however, we have never tried the combination so how do we know it wouldn't work?
My frustration isn't that they don't play together every week but for god's sake lets at least give them a chance.
Can anyone genuinely say that they have enjoyed our performances this year? All I want is the chance of these two youngsters to add some sparkle to our attack. It isn't like we are trying to polish a turd as the basics are there and SW just needs to give the combination a chance to shine rather than wither on the vine.

Well, i'd be sorely tempted..

Just checking. Did Betts, Raper and Endacott win the double? I think that's how he might be remembered. That's definitely in the history books.