Everyone seems to be forgetting about Ramon Silva too who I thought went really well in his pre season appearance. Depth seems to be the best it's been in some time.

I don't get the criticism of Marshall. Obvious attacking threat (and you can't have too many of those!) but, more importantly, has worked hard on his weaknesses to the point they have become strengths. His carries out of defense are excellent for someone without natural size. A no-brainer for mine, although it's good to know that there are strong options waiting in the wings should any of that change.

Hopefully Silva can get a few games in the reserves, maybe a game or two in the CC. He looks to be a good signing just doesn’t need to be chucked in at the deep end straight away

I agree. However, I think if he had to come in to cover for an injury or as rotation he wouldn't let anybody down. When you think he is currently 7th or 8th choice, the depth compared to last year is staggeringly better.

He’ll be a slow burner Silva I’d imagine. He wasn’t involved at Wire and I think it’ll be a mix of reserves and maybe dual reg games for him. I could be wrong but I don’t think he’s played any first team rugby at London yet and he’s been playing the game for only 4 or 5 years, so I think they’ll want to get a good year of training in to him and maybe get him some experience in the championship to get him ready for the first team. If we see him in the first team this season I’d imagine it’ll be in a cup game against lower league opposition or a few months down the track in superleague.

I agree, I have no expectations of Silva at all for next season and think maybe a handful of games depending on how he develops next year will be the most we can expect.

He is a development signing, I think there is a bit of excitement about him because of his no traditional background but at the moment he has a long way to go before he is regular SL standard ready.

Bad conditions, soggy pitch, cold and wet slogathon, I think we need to go big with plenty forwards on the bench.

1. Field
2. Thornley
3. KPP
4. Hardaker
5. Bibby
6. Cust
7. Leulaui
8. Singleton
9. Powell
10. Ellis
11. Farrell
12. Isa
13. Bateman

14. Mago
15. Byrne
16. Partington
17. O'Neill

I’m not sure how their pitch usually holds up but I can’t recall it being too bad and on the plus side the weather looks pretty dry in Hull over the next few days, with even a bit of sun forecast, so the conditions might not be too bad.

It should beat Fev last night anyway.

Sounds like Hardaker is fit so you’d assume he’d start in the centres.

I’m guessing this moves KPP to the bench. Disappointed not to see him get a run at centre in SL games. Not sure how we’ll get him on the pitch with Farrell and Bateman being 80min players (bateman to loose when isa comes off?)

I feel KPP might be wasted on the bench.

Or could Bibby miss out ?

Fascinated to see the team set up

It’s a nice position to be in.
Unfortunately I think Bibby may miss out. A great clubman but for me Hardaker has the edge on him as a centre.
I’m with you in that we need KPP on the pitch not on the bench.

Really looking forward to what I think will be a very tough opening game for us.

I was surprised by Davies in the GF thought he would have ironed out his frailties by now in defence but as you say they still seem to be there,still very good going forward mind.

On the subject of Silva if Wigan get close to having to use him this season I’d be very worried he’s one for the further down the road,not this season.

I’ve liked the look of Miski in the bits I’ve seen of him Over pre season. Looks nice and solid under the high ball and makes good metres running off our own line and looks to have a yard of pace too. Reminds me a bit of Brian Carney, think he could be a very good signing when he gets his chance!

He’s a machine Davies from a fitness and desire point of view and I’d love him back here but I’ve always felt his basic rugby league skills (catch, pass, defending kicks) are extremely limited. He makes up for it in other areas in spades but he will worry he if he turns out for England in the World Cup.

I agree he's more one for the future but I think you do him a disservice by saying you'd be worried if he played. He's a handful carrying the ball in. Ask him to play a simple gameplan concentrating on that and he'll do a good job. His defense was good in the pre season game (and I believe he's actually mentoring more senior players in the contact side of it) so I have no issues there.

I wouldn't like to rely on him at this early stage of his career but as 7th/8th choice he's more than capable of doing a job here and there. Put it this way; I'm not sure who our 7th/8th choice was last year but Silva is definitely an upgrade!

Interesting to note that both Liam Byrne and Patrick Mago are listed as 113kg - not sure how accurate that is but if true they're both just a couple of kilos shy of Alex Walmsley. Obviously not saying they're the same standard but it will be good to have some real size coming off the bench for a change. Definitely a big bulking up pre-season for Liam Byrne.

Largely the same starting lineup from the Wire game, bar a bit of a shuffle in the 3/4s.