I think we can shock the Roosters with a fast start of our own. We're through our pre season, friendlies plus one competitive fixture compared to them who I believe have only had one friendly so they should be rusty (best hope they are).

We have been renowned for making fast starts for a few years now and we need they to be the case in this game to stand a chance.

Sorry to hear about Powell.

On a side note, Wigan have an 18 point start on the coupon. Others may have different opinions but I personally find that very tempting.

Wanes on a hiding to nothing here. Micky's not 100%, Logan's been average so far this year, everyone else, including Hampshire, is untried at 9.
Do we chuck Micky in and go for it, at risk of losing him for a big chunk of the early league games, or try win it with kids and save him for the regular season?

Any chance of Waney not being 100% truthful here and Powell making a miraculous recovery shortly before the game?

We've just arrived in Sydney ,at the same time the team arrived from NZ. Powell is in a cast. He told me he stood on a ball in training and has torn a muscle. The lad is gutted to say the least.

Really gutted for young Sam, he is an amazing professional for one so young and will bounce back.

I never think he offers much at hooker, but at half back against the Warriors, he was outstanding.

I would like to see Logan given his chance, people forget that he is still only young ( 21 ), and as such has much development in him. He is already running much better from dummy half this year and his passing is superior to many of the others. Whilst his energy in defence is amazing.

In such a pressure game, I think Ryan Hampshire may just get peppered with the high ball which always looks to be his Achilles heel. Perhaps a few more league games under his belt would give him the confidence to cope, but not yet.

So, start with MM, give Logan the last 15 mins of first half and first 15 of second.........

Absolutely gutted for the lad, what a time to get injured, when he's in the best form of his career with his first final appearance coming up

Kris Rads said in his latest blog he's never seen a player so devastated as Powell is about this injury and you can fully understand why. The lad has been patiently waiting for his big chance, watching the first team (including many if his best mates)win trophies whilst he's been in the background of the celebrations. He's finally looked like getting his big moment and this happens!

Terrible luck but I think he'll be the type who'll use the experience as a positive in the future.

He always reminds me of a young Tommy Leuluai. Lacks a yard of pace but makes up for that with his workrate and fantastic tackling ability for his size. I'm still unsure of his best position, #6. #7 or #9 but I'm sure he'll be well looked after and bounce back.

If Hampshire were to be in the 17 then surely it would be Matty Smith to 9 on interchage with Ryan to half back?
Bowen will do the 80 at full back.

good comparison rogues, a young tommy but i would say further developed already than tommy was at his age. Can tackle anyone and is a fantastic organiser who can throw a step and dummy to open up a whole just not going to do a full lengthier.

And the person who said the rooster won't know who he is, unless they didn't watch the nz warriors game they will as he was the one player everybody was talking about after that game. Even some bulldogs fans have been saying they would like to see him playing for them.

It definitely leaves a hole in the side not having Powell available. He was outstanding against the Warriors, he was good at hooker against Huddersfield and also in the warm up games, when he completely outplayed Logan, who was very disappointing.

Sure Logan could just have been a bit off the pace to begin with but he's never really been a good player to use off the bench anyway. The team always seems to drop off.

Starting with him might not be wise either as we've been starting games quite slowly and against the Roosters they could pile on the points.

But then if Logan isn't picked then there's an even bigger problem. It doesn't seem likely that McIlorum will be able to play 80 minutes which means another hooker is needed.

One of the form players has been Ryan Hampshire but there's nowhere to fit him in. Bringing him on at fullback doesn't solve the issue at hooker, bringing him on in the halves and moving Smith to hooker would be a silly risk since he got physically dominated the last time he played there against Hull when the forwards kept running at him. To play him at hooker would be so daft it's not worth considering.

George Williams hasn't been particularly impressive so far this year. I still feel that's mainly because he's been playing on the right and he performs better on the left but he ends up where the coach wants him. He's not a sensible option either.

So really the only options are to risk McIlorum for 80 minutes or put Logan Tomkins on the bench.

I like Powell but can't agree with the TL comparison. TL was an established first team player in his teens.

He came to wigan as a diamond in the rough. many used to moan about his performance pre Maguire. Sam Powell has already shown he can organise the wigan and england knights team.