If we do pull a couple out of the exiles match then there can be no excuse about fatigue at the end of the season. The majority of the big name players will have had a little mid season break. Add in the rotation that's been going on amougst the forwards, Richards being given rests and injuries to both halfbacks, meaning they've been freshened up and we'll not be able to play that card.

I hope we put that issue to bed this year.

A pile of injuries this week, I’m not saying they are all made-up they’re not, but I think the up-coming Exiles debacle may have something to do with some. After all look at what happened last year after Tommy’s absence. I wouldn’t blame SW one bit if there were a bit of smoke and mirrors with some of these injuries. At least I hope so!

The squad has been named and contains no Tomkins, Richards, Green, Smith, McIlorum, Flower, Dudson, Farrell or O'Loughlin. We've got Tierney and Hampshire lilely to debut and Greenwood and Williams also in there. We also have Gelling making a surprise return.

Even with all that we still will field a reasonable side IMO and we stand a fair chance of victory.

I'd line us up-

Tierney
Charnley
Goulding
Thornley
Gelling
Powell
Williams
Mossop
Tomkins
Lauaki
Hansen
Hughes
Tuson

Subs
Taylor
Crosby
Burke
Hampshire

Greenwood and Spencer to sit out for me.

I'm probably looking forward to this game more then usual tbh.

Looking forward to it myself, should be very interesting... Others will be chucking themselves in T'cut....

This is similar to Leeds Away last June - numerous injuries and lots of "kids" playing. That night was probably the best performance of the season and a record away win against Leeds! Some of those kids are now establised squad members ( Hughes, Crosby). Our pack on Friday will be arguably stronger than the pack playing against Leeds, although the backs without Sam and Richards will obviously be weaker.

The performance of our hookers and halves will be crucial, but Wane will definitely have everyone fired up, so let's show the rest of the RL world we can win even with 8 regulars missing!

I play hockey on astro turf, and grazes from that can cause infections which take ages to heal, during which time you can't perform at your best.
That happens when you fall over, but RL players spend a lot more time on the floor.
There is also the chance that they could suffer injury caused by their studs catching, or going over on their ankles.
And as for the Exiles, I don't want to see a Wigan player anywhere near that game. Club over country all day long for me I'm afraid. Losing Tommy last year cost us silverware.

I'm on the fence in the club v country arguement, but am 100% club when it's the exiles game. If it was a real test match then I'd want the best 17 England had.

No point in Tomkins playing in the exiles game as his place is nailed down but guys like Charnley and Faz probably need to go out and impress.

I hope we pull out Tomkins, Richards and Hansen but the rest would be ok to play IMO. I'm guessing Lockers won't make it anyway.

Firstly, widnes don't play on AstroTurf. Second, if we don't do something to grow our sport the decline will continue. Perhaps if the Exiles experiment grows to a full blooded 3 game series we just might expand RL in this country in terms of public awareness. Yesterday's SOO was beamed to 90 countries in its 34th series, a perfect example of realising a dream through perseverance. Of course we'll never get to that position but I do think it possible to get terrestrial tv interested eventually in an Exiles series. At least it's worth a try. So, whilst the risk of losing players is real my opinion is that it is worth it for the greater good of the game. Plus I'd hopefully get 3 top quality games to watch which would make a change to the usual fare served in SL.

Apologies for going o/t.

Please, stop comparing Exiles to SoO. They are completely different and no matter what they will never be as big or have the same intensity.

I actuqlly made a post on the VR sayibg i hope no Wigan players are involved in it and got bagged by the first few replies for sour grapes. I explained i meant for this season and risk v reward and some people agreed. Why would you want you top players playing an extra long full contact training session at this stage?

If Wane is being savvy, good on him, if it just a list of real injuries, credit to him for playing his youth and offering no excuses.

I feel safe saying no matter the result injuries wont be blamed by Wane.

its crazy having the exiles game mid season....ok, its a warm up for England...for something that takes place in 5 months time?

how about we move it to the back end of the season and use it as a proper warm up for WC, Ashes, whatever.
Pick it when the play off teams are known and select a skeleton squad of players not involved. Add to it as teams are eliminated and build up to an exiles game the week before the Grand final on a weekend when both finalists players get a rest, obviously these players are excempt from selection. Then have another Exiles game the weekend after the Grand final, and bring in players from clubs who played in final.
That way we lead straight into post season internationals.
And before anyone jumps in with their size 12s and bangs on about the season being too long..bear in mind, without the mid season Exile games , the season finishes 2 weeksearlier..and NO DISRUPTION of the regular season...simples

I think someone alluded to this earlier in the thread and I know it's taking it OT, but, a few seasons ago people were moaning that England had no real test in the northern hemisphere. A solution was mentioned and it seems the RFL have taken it onboard and are running with it. All of a sudden it's a bad idea because Tommy got injured??

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Some people will really never be pleased. RL fans are the biggest moaners in sport. These same people will continue to moan and be bitter about Union being the biggest code of rugby.

I think it was more that people thought games against France were rather pointless... Which they were.

that RU is bigger, and it always was, is that it gets more coverage in the media, and thats because the people who control in the media, at the top, don't come from RL backgrounds. RU is a knocking bet for them, several "International" matches a year, even tho they are in the main bore-fests, which can hyped up to the max as if they are relevant.

Says who? You? How will we ever know or get the opportunity to at least try and get it somewhere near it with all the negativity surrounding it now. 25/30 years ago people didn't think the State of origin concept would work. It's the biggest game of RL in the world now.

People moan about the RFL not being pro-active and when they try a new concept and people moan.