Take a look at the fixtures for the business end of the season and you will see why this season compared with last season, the Coaching Staff have utilised their large squad to prevent burn out when it matters.

Exactly like Man Utd have done for many season's and it has never done them any harm where success is concerned.

100 % agree.

These guys who are threatening to stay away are just non-entities grandstanding.

Sam is a great player who we miss sorely, but he isn't the whole Wigan RL story.

The Wigan squad is actually in very good nick, and the youngsters now being blooded are going to be big news for us in the very near future.

I wonder if these I'll stay away fans thought the same when Shaun Edwards never played the week before Wembley?

Wane has to look at his options
a) If we get injuries
b) for next season

I suspect we'll see a full strength team v Hudds and a LOT rested for Catalan.

I think this is the way it is nowadays with a few teams.
We all see the weekly rounds as a 'non starter' and it comes down to the play offs as a measure of a teams season, so resting players at this point of the season is what us and you guys have the luxury of been able to do.
It's good to see the future of our clubs in the 1st team
And as for not renewing season tickets on the back of this is a poor poor excuse!

The moving of games across thurs fir sat sun mon will impact more on season ticket sales than the coach resting the squad to try to win silverware

We took off Holdsworth, Tickle, and Ellis after 60 minutes on Friday when the game was won.

A tough top of the table clash against Hudds will result in a few players picking up knocks and will therefore not be risked at Catalans.

Precisely. I like most am disappointed not to see Sam play as he is a once in a generation player and all that. However, I don't believe this has or will influence season ticket sales. Constantly chopping and changing the fixture list most certainly will.

I know we are going OT with this but how many Thursday night fixtures do you reckon each team will be affected by? If they are replacing the Monday fixtures then won't it just affect one team each week during the football offseason? If that's the case it hardly seems worth giving up a ST for.

Who knows? That's the problem IMO more than players being rested, that's all. For me, fri night is pretty much all that suits me due to other things going on in my life. Others have serious travel issues being based far from Wigan. You don't need to miss very many home games at all for a ST to be uneconomic.

As it happens I don't have a ST this season, but this is actually more to do with me not enjoying the sport as much due to too many safety driven rule changes and a fairly steep drop in quality (not to go O/T).

Yes he is ! I bet he doesn't sit out so many games for NZ Warriors.

You forget kids want to see their heroes , that's my whole point.

Some good points made from the majority . I just hope the resting of players pays off and we win a couple of trophies.

I have been a critic of Wane for the style of play we have at Wigan but I do like and see the strategy;
Blitz the start of the season, get yourself into the top spot are there a bouts.
Rest players and provide game time for new players giving them the opportunity to play first team SL rugby.
Have your full squad fit and well rested for the 'business end of the season'.

So far we are in the CC final and 1/2 in the league with the likes of Sam and Lockers well rested. Other senior players have also had breaks. This is a squad game, not a 13 or 17 man game.

Lets hope it pays off.

My concern is the amount of "rest" some players seem to be getting is such that they are getting very little game time and the team is never the same form one week to the next which shows in the way it plays IMO and in the league its not been that good for some time with constant changing possibly a big reason.

Some players notably Sam and Lockers have already missed several games this season so should not be in the least bit in need of rest IMO. If anything I would think they need the match fitness.

I understand the idea of protecting your best players from risk of injury (as opposed to resting when they aren't tired - there is a difference) and I note from a post above Hull took off three key players once their last game was won but [iat least they started the game[/i.

With tough games leading up to the final is the first time the Wembley side will play together going to be the 24th? If so I am not sure that is such a brilliant idea.

It's getting that bad that I will be very interested in when Sam actually plays next ! I thought he was playing last Friday.

I used to be a ST holder but cannot these days due to family commitments. I would feel very cheated if I had paid my hard earned cash and in my opinion was being denied our best talents on the field.

As Dave O has stated above, Sam in particular, needs match practise before the big games.

Some of the greatest players can put thousands onto match attendances. Stan Matthews for example could put 10,000 onto an attendance. George Best was similar. Speccies pay to watch stars.

Wigan RL was always in the business of putting the stars onto the field. That is why we have always been the best supported club in RL ever.