Personally I'd swap Hamlin and Farrell - not sure how match fit Faz would be in game of such intensity.

Farrell is a machine fitness wise. If anyone will be fine it will be him and I really doubt he’ll have any issues.

I think Wane May leave out Escare but Farrell will be in.

Close call but Id go with four forwards on the bench.

Four benched forwards would revert Wigan back to the clueless in attack period, they need options.

Cas have a huge pack so there’s two ways of looking at it. One is you go with four forwards to try and match it but on the other hand you could try and match it with just three bench forwards and then run Escare at the big men as they tire.

I personally think Escare has done enough these past few weeks to warrent a spot. We have second rowers who do huge minutes so we can afford to fit him on the bench and use him in a tight game to try and crack things open.

Major doubts on Shenton and junior moors for us, the latter would be a brutal blow as he's been back to his best during the 8s.


I think this will be a game too far for us, wigan the form side with so much emotion of players and coach leaving not to mention what sargy has been through, peaking at the right time, think you'll win 22 12 or something

Team for me would be

Sam
Dom
Gilly
Sarge
Davies
Williams
Tommy
Romain
Powell
Benny
Greenwood
Batty
Lockers ( if fit if not then sutton)

Clubby
Sutton (if lockers plays)
Faz
Hamlin ( i actually think wane will play Tautai if he isnt banned but prefer Hamlin)

There will be facepalms aplenty if Tautai plays ahead of Hamlin.

So we look in a bad place.

Shenton touch and go
Eden not fit but expected to play
Moors not expected to play
McMeekan expected to play but not fit
Young Trueman broke his hand. (was a rumour at first but seen accepting his award tonight with a pot on his hand)
I would expect us to line up:
Peter Matuatia
Greg Eden/James Clare
Michael Shenton/Joe Wardle
Jake Webster
Greg Minikin
Ben Roberts
Luke Gale
Liam Watts
Paul McShane
Grant Millington
Mike McMeekan
Joe Wardle/Oliver Holmes
Nathan Massey

Jesse Sene Lefao
Mitch Clark
Adam Milner
Oliver Holmes/QLT

^^ I agree, most players this time of year are playing with some kind of knock/not 100% fit. It's a real shame for Trueman, who has shown maturity well beyond his years this season, but Roberts can just step straight in at 6 so no problem there. Moors has been fantastic lately, but if he's out we have cover. Like you say, we have a decent squad depth this year. It's a squad that wins championships, not 17. I think we've done fantastic this year with what we've been through injury wise, no fullback etc.., and I genuinely believe its been a more impressive year for us than last year because of it. Friday may just be a bridge too far for us, however anything can happen in a knock out game. Whatever happens, it should be a cracker of a game though and I'm looking forward to it. Heres hoping both sides put in a performance and show the TV audiences what this sport can be. See you all Friday, and may the best team win!

According to our website, Truemans cast is protective and they are hoping he'll be OK to play. A lot of silly mind games/rumours flying around at the moment me thinks!

'19-year old Jake Trueman bagged two awards after his amazing 2018 season, which has seen him included in the England Knights Elite Performance Squad. Sporting a protective cast on his hand which the Tigers staff are hopefully won’t keep the half back out of the Semi-Final, Trueman picked up Young Player of the Year and 2nd Place Player of the Year.'

We've had injuries all season, even with a few knocks we're in a much better position than we have been. Also up to 4,000 tickets sold with 500 remaining. Should be a good atmosphere.