Either that or it was a sarcastic comment.

Yeah I assume it'll be Wingfield or Bell to come in, most likely Wingfield. I think the rest of the 17 will be unchanged from the weekend.

I am confident our pack can and will get on top, we are fairly ruthless in that department at the moment. Our vulnerability at the minute is our right edge defence with Hurrell in particular uncomfortable as soon as anyone does anything but run straight at him. I imagine you men will be trying to get Field or French in some space around him as much as possible.

We've looked much better with no Isa IMO. He's a grafter no doubt, but asks no questions of defences whatsoever bar his 1-out 1-up carries. His work off the ball is nowhere near our other back rowers, and he creates not even an inkling of doubt in defences. The Field try off Faz at the weekend is a prime example of giving the halfback the option to pick the right pass - as it turns out it worked the other way here with the defenders following Field, leaving the short ball the best option. Field wrapping around Isa in that situation (albeit it would be on the right-hand edge) rarely would have the same outcome.

That's a shame.

Re. Shorrocks, i think i have mentioned this here before but i rate him highly. I genuinely see him as our future for the loose forward position. I feel he has alot of the attributes to make a good go at it, especially if he gets a run of games there at some point to bed in.

Only if the second row is bulked in size significantly beyond what we have now.

Fair comment and a good point, although i don't think he has much issue in the defensive department wasn't he top tackler in the whole league last year? He also made good yardage yesterday, granted one example and he isn't the biggest currently. I do think he has put abit of size on this season and still is only 22.

If he can work out there, i see him as our best current option for a ball playing loose.

I will say, failing that or short term, i really like smithies there for his workload and determination. Ellis has also played some NRL games there aswell but that would very much be a 3 "middles" type NRL situation which i am not a fan of and i don't think really suits the style of open play we seem to be aiming for.

Fully agree. This season was one season too long at wigan for me. To be fair i said the same about tommy last season and during pre season, he has fully proved me wrong so far so would love isa to do the same! Just don't see how.

He’s been a credit to the club Isa and is clearly a real leader in the group but he has had a poor start to the season. He should have to fight for his place and that should always be the case at a club like Wigan. I’m still convinced there’s a place in the squad for him because we are light on real experience in the pack but if guys like Smithies and Shorrocks go past him, so be it because realistically that’s what you want.

Yes this is always the thing when talking about a players worth to the team, it doesn't start and end on the pitch. You can really see isa being a nice guy in general who is easy to get along with and for the younger players to approach with any questions or for advise.

He is also a real athelete and could see him being the person who sets a benchmark of conduct and effort in training.

These are the sorts of things we may not always see or be aware of as fans, but anybody who has being around that sort of environment knows how critical them type of characters can be for a positive and productive team environment.

Making a pitch for a job as Matty Peet's script-writer there, NK?

Will be a tough game on Friday. I'm not under-estimating Wigan at all, they have strike in Field and French and I was quietly impressed with them on Sunday. Farrell loves the derby games and is a superb line runner and Bateman is looking more like the Bateman that performed in the NRL. Mago offers something different and Havard is a great young forward.

That said if we play to our best we will win. We are the best team in the comp and seem to get better when it matters in the big games. Our two real big tests this season against Catalans, we have passed with flying colours and beaten them well both times.

I am concerned about Field up against Hurrell and our right edge does not fill me with complete confidence. However despite the horrible conditions when Wigan played Catalans in France, Field was well shackled so I expect Woolf will have something up his sleeve to minimise his threat. I also saw the Wigan v Salford game and to be fair to Salford they did a real number on Field probably the best of any team this season against him.

There is a clear blueprint to beat Saints but saying it and doing it are two completely different things. You need the field position first and foremost and thats easier said than done with our defence.

Sironen missing is a huge blow as he is really starting to show why we signed him now. Him and Matautia can both comfortably play 80 mins and allow full rotation of the props. Both are now missing which means we will more than likely need to rotate Wingfield if selected.

That won't be an excuse if we lose as of course Wigan are missing KPP, Ellis, Thornley and likely Marshall.

This is a different Wigan side no question and they come into the game in good form from Sunday.

Hopefully it will be a cracker and not ruined by a poor refereeing decision or a sending off.