Miski only playing in the reserves next week along with Cooper - might be touch and go for the WCC.

He does and I hadn't considered that he might actually be ready. I'm guessing it might be a little early for him but who knows? I suspect Thompson and Cooper will share the 'senior prop' role this year and spell each other in the team, injuries and availabilities allowing.

Fingers crossed on Miski. We’d have an interesting decision to make for that spot if he didn’t make Cas or Penrith.

Eckersley would be favourite I would assume.

think it's very difficult to see much in that performance without our normal exit strategy, we set up early hard yards with a mixture of Marshy Miski, Wardle, Keighran, Faz and whoever will be the other second row. Marshy as always been great at that and Miski was a bit of a game changer in the role I'm not sure how much we will miss King who was also solid in that area to say the least and along Smithies and KP who all added to it . It also makes the above more polished when Smith is directing things along with the extra threat outside with the players mentioned and Field and French. I also imagine that will all lend to Leemings style of play. Thompson Byrne blowing cobwebs off, Mcgilvery and Griffin are still as good as most early in hard yards.... I'm determined to be positive

Great point about the exit strategy.

I am still though concerned that we lost the contact in both attack and defence, however it was just a friendly so no need to panic.

as That mon says, big difference though between 5 young lads bringing it out and our 1st choice backs

I've posted previously that Miski earned his place on merit last year, to that point that the club had to make a decision on French (at 6) and Cust to leave the club, and fair play to the lad. His yards (along with the other mentioned) coming off our own line are invaluable

On Friday, we made very little yardage out of our own half but i thought Thompson & Walters showed glimpses of why we signed them. With Thompson, Bryne, Wardle all playing 1st game back after injury / long term absence, happy for them to get through the game with 20-30 minutes under this belts, and get that rust and cobwebs blown off

Surely brining in big powerful props would see us shying away from us using our backs to get us up field. Maybe explains why our props are now looking leaner and will be used more to cart the ball in the later stages of sets and maybe in the opponents half. Plus making them more mobile in defence as our middle is usually where teams target Wigan.

Harry Smith retains the goal kicking for the season.

Thoughts?

No strong thoughts either way - both Smith and Keighran were kicking well at the end of last year.

He’s showed in the test series he can do it, so no issue at all. If he loses his way with it, then it’s a great option to have Keighran waiting in the wings.

Correct decision. Better goalkicker

He showed In the Test Series AND the last 3-4 months of last season and the whole of 2022 he can do it

Agreed, good thing this season is we have a solid back up kicker if he's having a bad day.

I'd say 3-4 months is pushing it (it seemed to turn for him about 4-6 weeks out from the GF). He got that winning drop goal against Hull FC at home towards the end of the regular season but had a mare before that with his goal kicking. He missed a few against Cas at home (but did go off early) and was generally below 70% on average. It turned around though for him and he was excellent in those last few weeks and then in the test series and as you mention, he was decent in 2022, so there is no issue with ability. I think it was just a concentration thing that maybe turned in to a confidence problem but he looked to be well over it and he deserves to keep it for now IMO.