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.

If it was my choice I would have had Sam on the bench and Micky Mac as 18th man.
We are leaving out a player with "pace" and a good defender to bring in an organiser in Smith.

But, I'm not the coach, and don't see what happens on a day by day basis.

If it was my choice I would drop Riddell. All the other 4 players have had some very good performances over the last few months where although Riddell has been no disgrace he has not really set the world alight.

Where as I would have Riddell as 18th man.

I really hope that any squad decisions made for tonight haven't been done so with next week in mind.

We're not in a position to risk not choosing our strongest side possible.

It's great to have competition for places and it's something that we've been crying out for years to have.

When you do have that though you must use it right to get the best out of all the players. If a player preforms he keeps his place whoever he is and the guy who's out of the side through injury/suspension or whatever must wait his chance whoever he may be.

We do have to get Smith back into the side tonight without question which meant dropping a player but if we look at it on form then more then likely Riddell should have been the man to make way or at a push McIlorum but that isn't as easy for Noble to do as it is for him to come up with excuses for dropping Sam Tomkins due to his old duty of care(a line i've no doubt he'll trot out).

Not good imo.