Not a big surprise to me. Matty Bowen (like Sam Tomkins, if you will) is/was never the best defensive full-back in the world, but a skillful attacker. He made his share of defensive errors for the Cowboys, too.

I'd like to see Rocky get more game time this season too. And I hope that Tierney and Gildart see some Superleague action as well.

Bowen made the odd error but 'at best inconsistent' is pushing it. I think people forget he was playing pretty well prior to the play offs. I certainly don't remember anyone saying anything negative when he signed on for 2015, quite the opposite in fact.

Bowen
Charnley
Gelling
Sarginson
Burgess
Powell
Smith

Flower (When available)
Micky Mac
Crosby
Farrell
Tomkins
Lockers

Patrick
Tautai
Bateman
Williams

Personally, I think Powell is a better 6 than Williams, and I think Williams really progressed well at Hooker last year. So I'd start Powell and have Williams on the bench, the rest pretty much picks itself.

If fit and firing Mossop will be our best prop.

Completely forgot about Moose! Swap him for Crosby.

It would seem everybody has or at worse wrote him off. Before he left he was our main prop and i can't believe more people are not happy about his return, I can't wait to see our pack next season.

I really don't think Crosby will be anywhere near the 1st team after 8-10 games in unless he has improved massively, i think sutton and greenwood have much more potential.

When everyone is available...

Bowen
Charnley
Gelling
Sarginson
Burgess
Williams
Smith
Mossop
McLlorum
Flower
Tomkins
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Clubb
Tautai
Patrick
Bateman

Although a lot could depend on form.

Bateman could quite easily force himself into the starting 13 as could Hampshire, Powell, and any of the props.

Bloody good team that, especially in the forwards. Some decent talent not even in the 17 too, with plenty of super league experience.

Like you say a good team, but would it be asking a lot of Micky Mac to do the full 80 all the time because this team hints that he would have to do with no halfback/hooker cover on the bench.
Or would he go with Powell on the bench as cover for MM, if Powell was on the bench which of the 4 subs mentioned in the above team would fans leave out?.

An alternative would be the 4 subs as mentioned and when MM is rested move Williams to 9 for a spell and bring Sarginson into halfback and Bateman into centre for a spell, but the question would have to be asked would Wigan be giving Williams and Sarginson a fair crack in the positions (4 & 6) in which they seem to have been given the chance to be called 1st choice.

A quandary for Wane if Wigan have no out and out hooker to spell MM.

I wouldn't pick that team week in week out.

That would be my team from previous playing history but for a big meaningful game like in the play offs or a final only. I think we have enough options to cover injuries, Bateman and Tomkins can cover centre, O'Loughlin stand off, Sarginson FB, Williams/Smith/O'Loughlin Hooker.

A Halfback/Hooker should be on the bench throughout the year though, to spell Micky and also a way to keeping all the fringe HBs active. Whether it be Williams,Powell, Hampshire or L Tomkins.

Two players especially.
Ryan Hampshire for Wigan as I think he's one of the most exciting prospects there are.
The other is Todd Carney, the best player to come to SL from Aus for a long time.

If we really at the start of the season with Flower and Mossop (I assume he is still injured) then.

1 Bowen
2 Charnley
3 Gelling
4 Sarginson
5 Burgess
6 Williams
7 Smith
8 Crosby
9 McIlorum
10 Tautai
11 J Tomkins
12 L Farrell
13 O'Loughlin


14 Bateman
15 Clubb
16 Patrick
17 Hampshire

I have Hampshire at 17 as I'd love to see him given a go at 6 if McIlorum goes off for a rest and William goes to 9.

Then again that might not be good for Williams who needs time to get his partnership with Smith going but I just can't see L Tomkins in the side.

When Flower is back and Mossop fit, I'd expect them to replace Clubb and Patrick with Clubb the most vulnerable.

Can't really argue with that team, although I would start Clubb and bring Tautai on off the bench for impact. Maybe Powell rather than Hampshire on the bench, to act as a straight swap for McIlorum. I'm not a big fan of changing half back combinations mid game or having to move 3 or 4 players into different positions to accommodate 1 sub.

I'm really interested to see how Powell, Williams and Hampshire go this season. I was expecting Powell to get first crack at 6 (and he still might though the squad numbers suggest it will be Williams) but I'm pretty excited to see Williams getting a run there with a full pre season behind him. From the performances last season I still think Hampshire is best utilised from fullback and Williams is the best option to provide an alternative hooking style, spelling McIlorum off the bench. I agree I don't see where Logan fits in and I think it would have been best for both parties if he had moved on in pre season. Happy for him to prove me wrong, just can't see it.

I hope we don't chop and change the 1,6,7 and 9 positions too much. We need a settled spine and I don't think regularly moving players round 2 or 3 positions will be very beneficial.

Since we last saw Logan he is a year older, fitter and stronger. By all accounts he acquitted himself very well at Salford last season, so he has that experience to add. I'd be surprised if he isn't a better player this time around.

Remember he is still only 22. Still far too early to write him off. Micky Mac made it in 2010 at a similar age, after a few years of struggling to silence the doubters.

Bowen
Charnley
Gelling
Sarginson
Burgess
Williams
Smith
Mossop
McLlorum
Tautai
Bateman
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Clubb
Hampshire
Crosby
Joel