Joel Tomkins has been tearing it up this season.

One bad game doesn't change that.

In the face of all this support for him, perhaps I should reconsider! He's certainly been enthusiastic; I remember that chase back to make the try-saving tackle with Bateman against Cas (?), when Bowen CBA. But I seem to recall a few dropped passes too, and he was responsible for the (very unnecessary) penalty which led to Burrow's try.

If the Cas and Leeds games were a better watch, I'd see them again to re-check his performances. But I'm sure Wigan fans can understand, I don't have much enthusiasm to do that.

What I am sure about is that a few dropped passes by wingers are far from being Wigan's biggest problem at the moment.

That's true!

I'd go:

FB 20 Hampshire
RW 22 Manfredi
RC 3 Gelling
LC 4 Sarginson
LW 5 Burgess
SO 6 Williams
SH 7 Smith
P 17 Clubb
H 23 Logan
P 23 Mossop
SR 14 Bateman
SR 31 Connor
LF 9 McIlorum

S 11 Joel
S 12 Liam
S 24 Tautai
S 28 Sutton

I don’t think Bowen is anywhere near as bad as people are making out but realistically Hampshire needs to be playing FB against the likes of Wakefield now if he is to take over the position full time next season. Plus if he can be safe defensively he would be the better option anyway.

McIlorum brings experience and a bit of direction to the side. I don't really think we can afford him off the pitch at any point whilst Lockers is injured. Having said that Logan is outplaying him at hooker currently so putting him in at loose makes sense to me. He did a good job there last year in the same circumstances.

Liam Farrell and Joel Tomkins being benched may well give them the kick up the backside they need, 11 penalties from Joel and 8 by Liam within 6 games is shocking. Bateman is an aggressive player doing pretty much the same job and has given away 4 in the same time. Connor Farrell has impressed me in all his opportunities so far this year so I think he would do us a good job there. I think having an extra back rower on the bench might just keep us a bit fresher, hopefully mitigating the chances of us running out of juice in the second half as we have been doing.

According to shaun wane both hampshire and tierney need to up their game if they want to play in the 1st team

If that is a true comment by Wane about Hampshire, it beggars belief - yet again. Maybe if he had picked him at 6 rather than trying to turn him into a Sam MK 2 fullback, he might see a different player. And Wigan did win the only game (against Huddersfield) that Rocky started at 6, even though he was only drafted in 10 minutes before the kick off.

In all honesty, it is maybe the coaching staff and IL and Rads if they are in charge of recruitment who need to up their game!

Grimmy's team is ok for me apart from the back row.
Connor, Bateman & MicM is far too small for my liking.

I'd try and "go big" with Clubb, Logan, Mossop, Joel, Gelling & Patrick as the pack.
They are big, fast and skillful. I'd put Bateman left centre and Sargy right centre, With Rocky as FB.

Waney's comments about Hampshire are odd.
Which super star who is on top of his game is keeping Hampshire out of the team, may I ask?
Hampshire started one game at 6 and we won it.
What more do they want from a 6?

It's the pack that needs sorting, 3 4 & 5 carries from three of our props in an entire game is utterly dreadful. That needs sorting. If it isn't and we give Saints the freedom Cuthbertson and Peacock were given then Saints could run riot.

Hampshire has 1 more assist than Smith this season despite playing 4 less games......

But yeah Smith is doing "just enough" no doubt.

Because Wane has his knife into Hampshire for daring to suggest that he would be more comfortable playing halfback.

It's difficult to know for sure where the problem lies without seeing what goes on in training.

Maybe Wane is not impressed with Hampshire's wrestling technique......

It has been tried a couple of times having M Mac at loose forward, therefore if we are thinking outside the box why not give the following a chance.

Until Sol comes back I would play Liam Farrell at loose forward, fans may say that he is not creative enough, but neither is M Mac
One thing Farrell has is a good engine and he will tackle all day, as well he runs good lines and if the halfbacks can pick these lines he would cover both sides of the pitch.
In Farrell's place in the second row I would have Gelling, with him running the left channel and Joel on the right, to my eyes this would give us added weight in the second row.
To take Gelling's place in the centre why not play Bateman, in the past he has shown promise in the position.
Drastic measures I know, but it may just freshen (or shake up) a few players.

Sounds a good idea but, given Farrell's less than stellar form, I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him ride the bench for a week or 2. MMc showed up well last year at loose (I seem to remember him having a stormer there against Hull but I may just be imagining things) and if not him then I would look to add a little size through playing a 3rd prop.

Patrick has been mentioned but his form is poor;
Flower would be ideal but that isn't happening any time soon;
Clubb would be effective but the long minutes may affect his game;
Tautai is a maybe but I think his powerful running could be better utilised out wider in a 2nd row position;
Greenwood is young, pretty unproven, and seemingly not one of Wane's favorites but probably my choice (I'm just eager to see him play);
Sutton would be a great option but we run the risk of overplaying him at his young age.