Obviously Mellor stood out to me more because I was watching the Wigan players. Didn't even know O'Brien had played until It was mentioned on the radio on the way home. He might have had a decent game but he didn't do anything special enough for a opposition fan to notice.

To sort of answer your question though, I was quite impressed with Mellor, he scored a good try and was jinking around the way Sam Tomkins does, set up a few clean breaks with good off-loads and was there in support play most of the time, if we had injures in the halfs, I reckon Mellor will slot in well in super league

Mellor and Gelling should have played today imo, as the coaching staff need to see if they can step up next year and replace the outgoing Tommy and Carmont.

We have seen time and time again Sam kill off the so-called lesser teams almost single handedly and definitely should have played. I've only seen Russell play a handful of times but he does look prone to errors defensively, I think blooding him in with a few wing appearances would probably be the best approach, and with him only being 18 there'll be plenty of opportunites.

Bottom line is we have a talented group of youngsters coming through and Wane has made a mistake by trying to play too many of them at once rather than drip feed them 1/2 at a time. I can't see him making the same mistake again. We need to get over this week with a big performance against London next week to prepare for Wire the week after. Not all doom and gloom it's all down to how the players respond.

O'Brien has a good kicking game with field kicking and attempts at goal.
No one doubts his ability but Warrington should be spelling someone as good as him into their first team on a regular basis.
Wane just over did the "introducing youngsters" theory today and paid the price.

We have always had players out of contract at the end every season and I have never yet seen the club deal with that by doing what Wane did today as long as I have been watching Wigan.

There are plenty of games in the season to give younger players a game without leaving five first team players out.

There was no reason to do it. Certainly not the fact we have those players above out of contract.

You are actually implying Wane will do this again which fills me with dread. It is just not the right way to do it. These young players need to play alongside the established pros not instead of them. He won't learn anything watching them get beat (which they will) if he does this again. He needs to evolve the team not replace it.

In any case it is totally unrealistic to expect the experience in the list above to be replaced entirely by the young players in the squad in 2013 so I fail to see the connection between the two sets of players. If we lose Finch and Tommy the young players we have won't be good enough to replace them both and the idea they will be if we drop five first team players to give them games is unrealistic. We will have to recruit form outside for at least one half back slot if Sam remains at full back.

The club does need to be mindful of who is out of contract and I am sure it is but it needs to get the balance right about promoting young players and recruiting experienced players from outside.

We produce a lot of young players and its just a fact some will leave because they do not get the opportunity.

However none of this which is all pretty obvious and nothing new requires five first team players to be rested.

To be fair Warrington play a half-back same age as Mellor every week plus Ratchford has played every week as well. That's two young British half-backs in the 17 already so it makes sense O'Brien getting game time at Widnes especially as he returns from injury.

How did Mullaley go for Widnes? Looks a good youngster.

Wayne Bennett seems to think you need to do your business now otherwise you miss out on the top talent, his reasoning behind the Beua Scott signing.

Couple this with the likelihood of us losing both halfbacks in 2013 then you can understand the urgency. It was a gamble that didn't pay off, maybe next time he'll expose less kids to SL at once. He is still green and I'd rather he learnt lessons now than in October.

We may have lost, but Leeds proved last year that today's poor result means nothing. I'm more concerned about wane learning about all his players and moving himself and the squad forwards for Oct and then 2013.

Bennett is probably right but I'd bet my house on the fact Bennett has never rested five first team players at once to see if younger players at his club are good enough.

The idea Wane did this out of a sense of urgency about next years squad is crazy IMO. If he did we are in trouble!

He didn't need to drop Sam and Lockers to give Mellor a game.

He wanted to see how Russell and mellor went as they may be pivotal for 2013, we should be finalising plans for next years squad within the next month. It is a matter of urgency.

Yes too many kids at once doEsnt work and we've seen the evidence for this when millward was in charge of us. But let's look at the bigger picture - Leeds proved you Win nothing for finishing first in the d1ck waving contest like wire did.

Nothing changes with regards to Oct.

Well that is two players. Mellor to start as Tommy was injured and Russell on the bench to allow Sam to go to 6 and Russell to come on. Once the game was won if he really wanted to see them play at the same time he could do so. Or do it the other way letting them both start and have Sam on the bench as insurance.



As you say too many kids never works and you are right we first saw that with Millward but I wish people would stop banging on about Leeds. What Leeds did has no relevance to what Wane did today. Sinfield played in 27 SL matches and Burrow 25 and their coach never rested five senior pros at any time. They were just off form and had some injuries early on. The fact they won it from 5th wasn't because they rested players.

Marsh ripped right into you today and was 1 of the reasons we won lol.
We will have him to do the same again he is quality

The idea was spot on from Wane. I just think it would be beter suited to a home game. The hostile away atmosphere won't be easy on the youngsters. Still relatively new as a SL coach, got to be be given time. We(wire) lost at home to Salford last year. I think it's more credit to Widnes than anything else.

Remember it's still early in the season with everything to play for. We were devastated in losing to a team like Wigan earlier in the season but have bounced back to win every game since. Chin up lads!

I am sorry but what is that based on. Tuson was outstanding last week when he came on and is always a dependable player off the bench who does nothing wrong. We need to keep players like this.

Marsh has not once let us down in the few games he has played for us, he has good footwork and has the makings of a good centre. Im sure Wigan will be watching him closely at Widnes and at some point in the future he could be in line for a run in the team at centre just like Goulding has had this year.

In terms of who I would keep...

Marsh
Tuson
Mcillorum
OLoughlin

all british and all great squad players.

The jury is out for both Fielden and Amos. Right now I think we will give Fielden a contract and Amos will go but things can change.

Ideally I would keep Finch but if hes not happy then let him go. Hes a good player he can really pull the strings for us at times but at other times he can be a liability with knock ons and stray passes.


If Finch goes we need to line up a suitable replacement. Dureau would be great signing.

I like the look at Moon at Salford, he would be a good buy to replace Carmont.

We must by a 9 to replace Tommy in my eyes, but then they say this Carberry is good as people say he is I can see us give Mickey Mac the full reigns for a year while we bring this lad through but if we do that I am not sure 2013 will see us win any silverware, as Mcillorum is too inconsistant on attack.

Wane would of learnt a lot from yesterday regarding the youngsters and how far he can take it when resting a few players. Its a game we should of won but its not the end of the world. I would rather sacrifice the two points yesterday and get a good idea how some of the younger players are compared to bottom end super league opposition and in the process improve our chances of having our best team on the field come play off times.

Some Wiganers need to realise the competition has changed. The full steam ahead in every match system is not the best way of winning this championship anymore. We need to move with the times if we want to keep picking up trophies.

Im more dissapointed with the fact some of our younger guys werent up to beating Widnes.

Keep Fielden....are you feeling ok?