I've always that players pick teams with their performances. Make it impossible to be dropped. Those 17 have earned it. Every last one of them. Powell has been outstanding lately. Even Patrick has improved out of sight. Easy for the coach this week, as barring injuries, the team was picked the minute the ref blew the final whistle on Thursday.

Yep, I agree with the majority on here and do believe Wane will pick the same squad as against Huddersfield.

Patrick and Powell are both great to have on the bench due to their utility value. One thing I will say though is that whilst there are positives when Powell comes on such as a broader kicking game we definitely lose some intensity in defence. I just hope McIlorum does do some long minutes and we get the balance of McIlorum/Powell right. It's pointless, for example, having Powell on for a 20 minute stint if w're under the pump and repeatedly defending sets. Anyway, at lease we expect McIlorum to play this time unlike last year when we had the question of will he/wont he play hanging over the full weeks build up.

Tautia has been frustrating this year and his daftness means he deserved to pick up a ban for his reckless challenge last month. And whilst he is now available and no longer suspended I do wonder whether Wane would have picked him had he got some minutes under his belt in the last few matches. I expect he wont play now but our lack of size in the forwards does still worry me and If I remember back to 2013 Wane deliberately went with a big bench back then and even started with Dudson who I seem to remember none of us thought deserved selection.

Anyway, how is everyone expecting the game to go? I'm glad we played a day early and it wasn't too physical as Leeds' game looked bruising and they will hopefully be feeling it. That said, 8 days is more than enough to recover. I honestly do feel as if this is Leeds' destiny and whilst I would love it to be us who ensured that Peacock and Sinfield's final ever games ended in defeats I find it easier to picture them lifting the trophy than to see them sunk in disappointment on the Old Trafford turf as the game ends.

I don't think we have the smallest pack, Mossop, Clubb, Crosby, Flower are playing well. What we do have is a mobile set of big forwards. Wane mentioned the mobility factor earlier on this season. Hopefully the pack can wear down the Rhinos who have had two tough encounters. Bringing on Patrick has waorked lately were is extra pace is begining to pay off.

No one else worried about starting Gildart in this game? He's been good but is he ready for a big final with just a few games under his belt? I think Charnley should replace him.

So, in the SUper League Grand Final you would rather replace a centre (albeit a young one but who has done very well in recent games) with a full time winger who played a handful of games at centre for Hull KR a few years ago and recently has not even been the best winger in the club? I know which I would consider the bigger risk

Gildart has had as many good games for the first team as Charnley has in the last 2 seasons, plus Josh hasn't played centre for 5/6 years. Gelling would be the logical one to come in but tbh I think Gildart has done enough to justify his place in the 17 for Saturday.

Myself and one or two others said earlier in the season that we would go with Charnley or Burgess at centre when Gelling was out injured but it never happened. I think now to play Charnley there in a Grand Final when he hasn’t played even one game there in the past 5 seasons is far too dangerous, at least Gildart is accustomed to playing at centre, has scored four tries in seven games there and Williams and Burgess will have developed a bit of a partnership with him.

I am concerned that we are throwing an inexperienced youngster with defensive frailties into a starting spot though. Someone mentioned maybe sticking Charnley on the bench, I don’t think that’s a bad idea to be honest given that Bowen and Gildart both have the potential to come unstuck (Charnley onto the wing with Burgess to FB or Centre if that happens), plus it would allow injury cover for the rest of the backs as well as the backrow given Bateman could move to SR. Harsh on Powell but we’re better with MM for the full 80

It's a myth that our intensity drops when MMc goes off and Powell comes on. We were better when Powell came on last Thursday which was why he played long minutes. His defence is excellent (though not as hard hitting as MMc granted) and he is more creative. His kick to Manfredi for Bateman's try is something that MMc would never accomplish in a million years, for example.

It wasn't a myth earlier in the season, and there have definitely been games this season where MMc has been left on the bench too long. Powell has done well in the last couple of months though, and fully deserves his place in the 17 on Saturday. I thought the game against Hudds SW got the balance spot on with regards to spelling the 2.

Yes, I'll agree with you on that. Lets say that Powell has earned his place and that his game time earlier on in the season has paid dividend now, as an injury to MMc wouldn't be the disaster it was this time last season.

I reckon that the 2 sides will line up asRhinos

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Sinfield
McGuire
Garbutt
Burrow
Leuluai
Ablett
Delaney
Cuthbertson

Keinhorst
Peacock
Singleton
Achurch

Wigan

Bowen
Manfred
Bateman
Gildart
Burgess
William
Smith
Crosby
McIlorum
Flower
Tomkins
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Powell
Clubb
Mossop
Tauta

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Put Patrick on the bench instead of either Tautai or Powell and you'll probably be right for us

I know this a controversial statement, but I would be tempted to have Gelling on the bench instead of Tautai or Patrick, he could be the x factor who could play in the pack ( he has good go forward ) and could move into the Centre if Bateman is required if Lockers is struggling.
Lockers seemed a bit off the pace last week.

Setting off now. Can't wait!