No risk at all, i believe that is where his long term future will be.

Thanks Tiny Tim

Great decision to line joel up at centre. I think this could be his new position and for me its good news for england because we have been crying out for an aggressive centre for years! Finch to 7 and leuluai to 9 when macca comes off for me.

Happy with that team.

The more I look at it the better it looks...

And I like the strong backs.
Bring on Friday!

McIlorum has been doing 80 mins but Maguire is going from that to spell him with Tommy to 9 and Finch to 7.
With Joel at centre it gives us experience being alongside Amos.
It is an experienced man's game and our younger lads were found out last week v Wire.
Looks a very physically strong squad and Lockers went well at hudds playing at 6. Long time ago but I believe he played 6 at school.
Leeds have a couple back this week with Lee Smith and Lauatiti.

I like that side, against Leeds, particularly because of the size it adds with Lockers at #6 and Joel in the centres, it gives us two extra forwards.

I've said for years the Lockers isn't a standoff, but beginning to change my mind after some recent performances.

hopefully if lockers has another good game like he did at 6 against hudds the other week that should lay the platform for a great performance from our back line.

i'm happy if that is the team as it utilises our fit and available players.

Wigan Warriors 19 Man Squad

Sam Tomkins, Darrell Goulding, George Carmont, Thomas Leuluai, Michael McIlorum, Andy Coley, Harrison Hansen, Joel Tomkins, Sean O'Loughlin, Paul Prescott, Jeff Lima, Ryan Hoffman, Brett Finch, Amos Roberts, Lee Mossop, Liam Farrell, Chris Tuson, Stefan Marsh, Josh Charnley.

Referee - Richard Silverwood

A good move I think to take Marsh and Charnley out of the firing line for the time being.

Tomkins at centre is worth trying, it could be great and it could go really badly but worth a go.

I've said before that i think that Joel has all the physical attributes to be a top drawer centre. He's strong, quick, deceptively agile and has good feet, as well as a handy offload. I just worry about his decision-making, which is probably the most important aspect of centre play, in both attack and defence. We've seen Joel make the wrong choice after a clean break on more than one occasion and if he's going to be a centre he should find himself making more breaks and being put through more gaps than he would at second row so he needs to be making the right choice once he's through or tries could go begging. In other words, cut out the brainfarts Joel and we'll be reet!

Happy with it.

Ah, ok. Cheers.

He isn't. However, we need to settle Finch into the side, and this is best done against the lesser opposition so he can establish himself.

True, and Lockers last 2 game at 6 have been against Huddersfield and HKR in the playoffs. Both games we needed to dig in and perform in, and did so,

Decent enough side this..good enough to take the points at Headingley.

Interesting comments in regard to Joel on here too. He has all of the physical attributes to make a great centre - the question is can he develop his passing game. If he can work on this aspect of his game and make the necessary improvements he will make an excellent centre.