It's not easy to change something that is embedded. This group has been together a long time, playing a certain way under the same coach. When you're tired you naturally resort to the path of least resistance, which is the thing you're used to. It's going to take patience and some good coaching by Lam, and belief and a lot of effort by the players to change how we play.

Combine that with losing one of our main organisers in Sam, the team has a lot of changes to work at.

This isn't just a Lam thing, the entire setup has to work hard.

I'd pretty much go with the same line-up as we fielded v Saints, apart from one change; Escare for Isa. Escare is a game breaker, at times this sort of player is valuable in a tight game, coming on running rings around tired legs.

We're a team who have a new coach with new structures and attacking patterns. They need time together to gel and play the way Lam wants us to play, for this, keep it as it is.

Same team for me with Tautai or Byrne replacing Navarrette.

When have escare ever ran rings around anyone in a wigan shirt?

He even did in the GF.

Is Manfredi another serious injury, or due back soon?

I think.. potentially back for the WCC. But perhaps the week after.

He’s 2-5 weeks according to Lam yesterday. At the very best he’ll be back for the Roosters but he said it’s unlikely.

It doesn’t sound serious, just a clean out of the knee to remove some floating bone. It’s always going to be nervy with Manfredi though.

+1

Hopefully back sooner rather than later had some rotten luck with injuries. Him being in my sl dream too makes me want him back fast too lol 85k Is a bargain and his trys will make up for his time on bench!! Hopefully not against us tho lol

I have to agree - I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't understand people's obsession with Escare. He's fine, but he wouldn't get into another of the top teams. And he isn't in the same league as Hardaker in attack or defence.

I don't think he is as good as Zak in attack or defence. But looking at our options for bench spots I see the value in having a back on the bench. Especially someone with pace and quick feet, how can use his footwork and ability to break defences.

The trick is not to compare him to Zak or Tomkins before him, but see what he can offer our team. And obsession? Slow down.

Apologies if my post made it seem like I was aiming at you, I wasn't. I was referring to the people on the Wigan Facebook page constantly moaning about why Escare isn't playing.

The problem I see with Escare on the bench is where do we play him? Before this season we could move Tomkins into the halves to accomodate Escare coming on, but this season Hardaker isnt a half back. Added to the fact that Hardaker is more than capable of playing the 80 at fullback - and I definitely wouldn't want to make him less influential by moving him into the centres just to fit Escare in somewhere.

I think Escare is good cover for injury, but nothing more. And when Sammut's ban is over I can see us starting games with Sammut at 7 and Tommy/Powell on the bench.

Have to agree,hes good for cover and now quite where he fits in is anyones guess, the way some go on about him though is a little over the top I feel.

I'm pretty much with LSOW on Escaré, I do think he is of value to the squad. Push comes to shove, we could take off a centre to accommodate him in the last twenty.