Thornley gets nearly two week's off which will help, but I agree you can't beat a little competition to ward off complacency.
I'd pencil Gelling into centre for the Cas game (if fit).

Does Gelling get the chance to play rugby at all? When he isnt in the first team (about 3 or 4 times this year he has been in) is he allowed to play for anyone else? I didnt think he was. Meaning he has gone nearly 2/3rds of a season with 4 games. To play like he does with no hit outs is in itself a credit to the player.

Do some Wigan fans actually know anything about the game?? To question his attitude is just plain ignorance. You can question parts of his game, sure. But to question his attitude is just wrong.

Its nothing to do with him being Antipodean, thats a pathetic statement. I just dont think he's a very good player, full stop. Last night, apart from his first try, he contributed very little, he dropped the ball in front of more or less an open try line, and then when he did get us level with his second try, he failed to put the ball down nearer to the posts with nobody anywhere near him, hence why we missed the kick and the rollocking he got off Paul Deacon. There just doesn't seem to be much about him, I hope he proves me wrong, but I just dont rate him, I cant see a future at Wigan for him.

I think Gelling will quietly disappear into obscurity - just the wrong player at the wrong time. I would not be surpised if a new Centre came in with Thornley going to the wing (IT would be a decent replacement for Pat, with deceptive pace and good in the air). I imagine they are also looking at youngsters like Manfredi and Lloyd's to see if they have potential to be good longer term options at centre.

However, if Gelling did eventually show improvements and makes himself into a 1st team player, I would be very happy. He has an amazing physique for RL, and is exceptional in the air, so I can see why SW wants to persist with him on the flank.

I would really like to see Gelling have the chance to play at centre more, and I agree with you I like Thornley, and think he is going to be a great asset to us, but for me his defence last night was very poor.

It was a difficult night for both our centres defensively with 2 rookie halves defending inside them. I think we need to keep persevering with Goulding and Thornley. They've both been pretty consistent this year barring a couple of blips. We've no "easy" games left and I really don't think now is the time to start experimenting with Gelling in the centres. He does a job on the wing when we have injuries but when Charnley, Richards, Thornley and Goulding are fit he won't get in the team. The fact Gelling now has no opportunity to build match fitness outside of the first team doesn't help his chances either.

Gellings positional play is poor. And to use Thornley as an exemplar ?

Thornleys positional play is just as bad.

will make.

Apart from the dropped balls, Gelling had a very, very solid game, he didn't do anything fancy, he got on with his work, and did everything to a high standard. To say you don't rate the bloke because he knocked on and didn't put the ball down near the posts is laughable.

what an absolute retarded thing to say, i'm not having a go because he's foreign, i genuinely thought he had a poor game, if he was raised in shevington i'd same the same thing

Whatever we think, professional coaches obviously think he is worth his place. I don't understand the criticism he gets, he is young and raw boned, playing in a vulnerable position. If people think that his ability to come inside and take on some of the forwards work is a bad thing, i don't think you will find that the forwards will agree. Mistakes will be made when you are a player who is not getting consistent runs in the team, thats inevitable. I think he does ok....

What a ridiculous post. Iv based my opinion on gelling over the period he's been with us, not one game. Its a forum, it's my opinion, don't take it to heart