fielden on bench . smith starting . sam not playing. might all be rumours though

Team news on Sky said Tim Smith would come straight back in for Sam Tomkins.

Again not happy if true considering he has such a big say on the 2nd half last week and the fact that he more then likely will get a rest next week.

If things go well without Tomkins against Celtic i don't expect to see him in the first team for a good while.

The way i read that was Smith was back in the Starting 13.

Think the ones to miss out will be Joel and Mike Mc tonight saving them for a big game next week.
When Joel will go to LF and Mike Mc to SR with Veivers going to FB and Phelps to SO.

Hope your right(that Tomkins doesn't miss out).

I'm all for giving him the odd rest but he got that for the Hull KR game and will more then likely get another next week.

We're a better side with him in it and he has to have a place somewhere in the 17.

Totally Agree - Plus with not having Sam next week, McIlorum is going to be our young bright spark so he has got to be fresh for that.

Id Rather Riddell miss out tonight anyway

From what I am led to believe there will be no more players going out on loan for a while (maybe the rest of the season)
Wigan have been struggling to field a reserve and academy sides over a weekend, so much that they have had to bring in the likes of Kieron Richards and Mick Farell.

Smith and Tommy in the halves tonight, Piggy and Mac hookers. No Sam

Yup.

Shocking.

I just don't see the point in playing Riddell and McIlorum in rotation.

Although both are decent hookers, neither provide noticable impact from off the bench and it's a total waste of a squad space.

I don't get that decision.

It's because it's the easiest option at the end of day.

Times running out for Noble with calls like these.

The reality is we can't have Sam, Tommy, Timmy, Piggy and Mickey Mac in the 17.

One will have to miss out.
Next week it would have to be Sam. Is that the reason Noble is going with the other four this week?

We need to win the game this week though and we have to play our best side regardless of what will be happening next week.

Our best side includes Sam Tomkins without a shadow of a doubt.

Why not go the full hog if thats the case and leave Lockers and Hock out.

With the depth of squad we have now Noble has to make very hard decisions and pick the team he thinks will beat the opposition we face. It might upset a lot of supporters but it is good for the club to have so much competition for places.