sinfiled & widdop partnership would be my choice

I like the thinking behind pairing Sinfield (a fairly rigid, structured organiser) with a more unpredictable, quicker half back. As a partnership it didn't work. In part because when Chase did the meandering roaming across in front of the Australian or Kiwi defensive line that had served him so well for Cas he just ended up looking like a headless chicken, ran his wide players out of the game and got rid of the depth Tomkins needed. Chase is capable of a plan B, but didn't produce it. I know not why, when his Plan A so transparently doesn't work at Test level.

Given that 6 and 7 are increasingly interchangeable these days, I'd go for Sinfield and Widdop as a first choice pairing. We don't produce top class 7s in this country, at least in part because no SL teams play with any one player consistently in the old scrum half position.

We have to bring Tomkins into the game as much as we can, but we have to do it in the areas that he's most dangerous from, chiming in from deep with runners outside him. That means halves that don't have a liking for hanging onto the ball too much and arcing out wide. Burrow plays like that for Leeds, and it works for Leeds, Chase does similar for Cas (when he isn't too busy trying to engineer an exit). But it doesn't bring a player like Tomkins into the game in the right places, which is why Leuluai and Finch don't do it so much for Wigan. Tomkins is our most dangerous player and the biggest attacking threat we've had at Test level in a long time, so we need to pick halves that allow him to play.

This post pretty much sums up what I think, and I agree that currently sinfield and widdop would be the 1st choice HB pairing, and it's a shame that widdop has required surgery and we can't see it in the upcoming games. It's not, however, a long term option and the lack of depth in those positions is worrying.

He captains a team that's average for 27 games to a grand final win and people moan haha.

I agree that o'loughlin would have been as good or better but give him his chance. Just don't play him at 6!

Should Tompkins be made captain ?

I'll probably get shot down for this but I actually think Sinfield is a better than Lockers.

Different style of 13 but for me with his kicking game and goal kicking he brings more to the side.

He can control a game far better than Lockers and, imo, he's a smarter thinker.

I admire your honesty pal and i totally agree with you on this,but i bet you wouldn't dare stand on the town hall steps in Wigan <if they have one?> and shout that out?
If you did i would envisage a stoning for you just like that scene in the Monty Python film "The Life of Brian"

Agree with sinfield being capt and that he and widdop would be my first choice. However again agree not long term and the lack of depth nationally is a worry.

What are your thoughts of Sam moving back to SO, with hardaker at FB.

Totally agree with what you suggest,the team would be far more balanced with Hardaker at FB and Sam at HB.

Sam at FB is good,but when he is there and Sinfield is at HB the ball gets turned inside every time. But what I would do is Hardaker FB with Sam at HB ,Lockers at SR and Sinfield at Lf for his kicking game.

I will more than likely get shot down in flames for these suggestions,but a different opinion is my choice to which I am entitled.

NB . Widdop would be my other HB,I think him and Sam could strike up a really good partnership.

IMO Sinfield and Tomkins combined well in last season 4N considering they have played together very little. Sinfield has not played 13 for a couple of seasons now so will play in the halves. Tomkins is our most dangerous attacking player and needs to be given as much ball in the right areas as possible. Successive Wigan coaches have thought this is best achieved by playing him at fullback.That is where he will play IMO. Just leaves who will partner Sinfield. Chase has had a poor season with off the field issues but McNamara seems to have invested a bit in him and will probably stick by him. Wrongly IMO.

Sinfield and Sam in the halves for me. I think both have sufficiently good rugby brains to strike up a partnership. Let Hardaker deal with kicks, he's exceptionally proficient at this and whilst he's no Sam in broken play he's no slouch either.

the problem with hardaker is every other aspect of his game.