Aye injured, should be back next week. I'm glad they're not rushing him in at least, we'll need him in the knockout games and it'll hopefully make the rest stronger not being able to rely on him in the weekly rounds

it was reported as a slight shoulder strain, a couple of weeks rest

I'm not feeling confident at all about this one, after the Cas game and then the first half against Hull KR. The defence has been shocking.

I'm beginning to think that too much experience has been allowed to leave the club. Others pointed this out at the time and I was keen to be very supportive of IL after winning the double but the evidence of the 4 league games and the WCC isn't great. We miss Sam, Pat and HH. We can't seem to play without Lockers.

Only Burgess out of the youngsters has really played well. Too many of the senior players are playing poorly by their own standards (eg Goulding/Green/Flower) and really only Faz has kept his performance level consistently high.

The Wire game could be pivotal to our season. If we lose we are miles behind Leeds, Saints and even Huddersfield and Wire will be well ahead of us.

I need cheering up!!!

Don't even think this will sell out 12-13k

Not sure why you aren't more confident for this one, our defence has probably been better than yours on the whole, but our attack is not great, I would say you have a better attack than us at the minute. If you attack down our left hand side all game then it's highly likely that you will win.

wires biggest threat has gone, they seem incapable of shifting out wide quick which used to kill us and the kicking game has gone.

be interesting to see if joel Monaghan scores his usual 2 or 3 tries.

I think our problem is we don't know how to fit 3 players into the hb spots, we have Ratchford, Myler and GOB.
Russell looks lethal at fullback, the two games he's played in he looks like he'll break the line every time he gets it, a real exciting player that has you standing up when he gets it.

Personally I think we'll come good, just too soon for that at the moment.
The forced retirement of Briers caught us cold, we are just starting to look like a team that knows each other. We certainly shifted the ball well v Salford and GOB for such a slight player is as brave as they come.

If you're having trouble fitting Ratchford in - we'll have him!

We're only having trouble fitting ratchford in because smith is too stubborn to drop myler who has been poor for a while. Now russell is fit, ratchford should be at halfback where his squad number suggests smith wants him to play. The problem is that o'brien has been much the better of the two halfbacks and can't really be left out. Saying that, scoring four tries doesn't seem to guarantee you a starting shirt the following week at warrington at the moment, so it wouldn't surprise me if o'brien got dropped. Or even worse, monaghan at halfback. We are a bit of a shambles at the moment!

GOB is an excellent player as well as a great goal kicker.
As we all know a top class goal kicker is priceless.
Agree with your view over Myler, can't see how he gets in in front of Ratchford or GOB.
I think both sets of fans are going into this match not quite knowing what to expect.

Looks like a draw is on the cards.

8 months ago myler was the best half back at the club. Unfortunately for him a £200k price tag weighs heavily on him for most wire fans. My concern is Smith recognises Myler isn't quite at his best, and so plays Russel on the bench leaving only a prop and second row to spell the big men it worked against Salford, I'm not so sure against Wigan.

Right now i would take that.

For all the wrong reasons maybe this game has more intrigue than the last few season.

Not for me. The big final was what we had been waiting for since 2010. Now that's been sorted, and our stars from both teams have moved on it doesn't feel as intense. Thursday will be good, but our big match has moved back to Saints. For now.