First game back in poor conditions after an off-season of recovering from pretty major surgery. In context I'm ok with Mickey not doing the full 80. There's a bigger more important picture to consider.

Completely agree with all of the above!

The title is won in October, not February. I'd rather Wane sub by the clock and keep our pack fresh for them to be fully fit and firing come the business end of the season. Bare in mind Catalans pack, Wane managed the forwards well last night and we controlled their middles. I don't think our forwards will come up against the likes of Stewart and Dave Taylor every week!

After the match last night, I'm happier than I have been about the start of our season since Madge's first year in 2010. Considering the internationals have had 1 week of training with the 1st team, we looked cohesive and considering the conditions- tried to play a bit! There wasn't much rust considering the internationals haven't played in 3 months.

After last night I am confident that we will be successful this year, a lot of teams seem to be in a transitional period whereas we have maintained that squad balance for the first time in I don't know how long!

If we don't want to burn Micky out, how about giving Waterworth some playing time?

I certainly don't understand the regular replacement of Micky Mac with Sam Powell. Yeah, Powell is a willing lad, but does anyone really think he has a future at Wigan? He never adds anything to the team and as others have said, we seem to lose vital intensity when he comes on. It's almost as if we're playing him out of some kind of misguided loyalty. We need MM on the pitch a lot more than he currently is.

Quote: DaveO "I don't think the weather of the state of the pitch helped as it really affected the game. The pitch wasn't fit for a school team. Some bloke in the south stand just before kick off deserves a medal. Got everyone going and was brought up on the big screen waving hos shirt around. Give him a job!'" Cameron Hughes https://twitter.com/cameroncheers

Quote: DaveO "I don't think the weather of the state of the pitch helped as it really affected the game. The pitch wasn't fit for a school team. Some bloke in the south stand just before kick off deserves a medal. Got everyone going and was brought up on the big screen waving hos shirt around. Give him a job!'" Cameron Hughes https://twitter.com/cameroncheers

How can MM burn himself out? He has had zero go forward for the best part of two years.
In the past he was my favourite player but recently he is so laid back he is almost horizontal. No urgency comes from him at the play ball and he hasn't improved his distribution one iota in years.
In his defence he is probably playing to instructions which includes knowing he doesn't need to play 80 minutes.
I await the howls of derision from the MM can do know wrong club.

I recall the same being said of MM...

Never been a fan of Powell, he doesn't seem to offer much, and has a tendency to give away pens and yellows with cheap shots which doesn't endear me either. Agree that we might as well give Waterworth some first team game time; I hope that happens. Gildart took his chance well last year (and at the business end of the season too), be nice to see other youngsters do the same.

We have a first team squad of 31 players so I don't think the salary cap is any excuse. If when Wane subs Mick Mac we end up on the back foot which we do virtually every time this happens we need to manage the cap differently.

What I mean by that is Wane's game plan of subbing by the clock [irequires[/i us to have another very good hooker in the squad (and another prop at least as good as Flower since he subs them by the clock as well). As we have not got one then Wane either needs to change the game plan or go and find another good hooker. If the salary required to recruit such a player meant we had to reduce the first squad to 29 then so be it. Powell as sub hooker is no good and the fact he can cover other positions doesn't seem very relevant either because he rarely does that.

Salary cap is obviously a factor otherwise we could bring in whoever we could afford. Do you really think our team would be the same if there was no cap?

Nothing wrong with spelling McM on the first game of the season after he's come back from quite serious surgery, I think a smart club looks after their players and considers the season not just the first game of the season.

Powell is no world beater. I don't know why people are focusing on him. But I see why he's played, currently in our squad I don't know who would be better to cover the halves/dummy half than Powell. And for the moment he's on? It's savy cap management.

What about Hampshire on the bench with Smith moving to 9?

Obviously not going to happen this season, but is that the way to integrate him into a permanent spot in the match day squad?

Have to say I agree with that.
When you put him side by side with someone like Roby it's then clear that Roby is far superior. He does as many (probably more tackles) but makes 5x as many meters and breaks.

That's an option, and options are good. Like all of us on here I hope Rocky is a sensation this year and becomes too valuable to let leave. With him, Smith, Williams, Powell and Tomkins we have options in key positions.

How is Bateman did not come back on did he have a head collision.

Totally agree. If we rotate our subs as we do the bench hooker is one of the most important players in the squad and that should reflect in his ability and importance on the cap.

Our bench hooker should not be a gap filler given the game time they are expected to play.