Lockers broke into the Wigan 1st team playing at 6, the last time we got to a Grand Final he was playing at 6, so he has more than enough experience playing there.

We HAVE to play Sam at stand off and lockers at 13. Then the only question is do you put Pat at fullback(defensively sound but will lose out on a an extra pivot in attack, and Pats potency out wide). Roberts/Phelps at Fullback

If Pat is at fullback we have Marsh/Charnley/Roberts for the wing spot.

We should also play 4 props.

Isn't it amazing how having Deacon out, who most people(me included) thought would only be cover this year, cause such a headache.
We need a good kicking game and tommy and lockers are not the answer. Sam is the better option at 6 for kicking alone.

Not a very good example to prove your case...

Does anyone think that it's a good idea to play Lockers at #6?

For me it's the equivalent to playing Joel at centre - he could probably do a job in an emergency but he plays much better in natural position and we shouldn't start a game with him there. We've had 4 days to try Phelps and Roberts back in the team - they must have been pretty shocking if neither is preferable to Lockers playing stand-off! Either that or neither of them will be here next year so MM doesn't want to reintroduce them to the squad.

My optimism for tomorrow night is starting to evaporate!

No.

We might aswell just go wide after every set of 6 tomorrow because we'll prob get better territory from doing that than Tommy or Lockers kicking.

To start with O'Loughlin at 6 is ludicrous. It's totally unfair on Lockers, and offers us little chance of playing how we should. He's an out and out loose forward, and probably the best in SL, so why move him to stand off?

He shouldn't have been moved to 6 on Sunday and certainly shouldn't start there on Friday! Sam at 6, Roberts at 1, Pat at 5 and O'Loughlin at 13 is surely the only way to go given the squad we have announced?

If Roberts isn't fit and in form, he shouldn't have been picked and if that's the case then it's a huge error from Maguire.

Watch him have a blinder now

No.



Feka is playing so if its a case of needs must with him then I don't see the problem of picking either of Roberts or Phelps even if they aren't going to be here next year. Next year is next year and the idea is to win the thing at every opportunity. Looking to next year and so putting out a poorer side than you can is not the right way to go about things so I doubt that is behind it. I wish I knew what was because it's crazy.



Ditto.

Dave

Another concern I have is that although with O'Loughlin at 6 we may still struggle to a win, we're not going to win big, and given Saints pick their opponents at the end of the weekend, I'd like to win in as much style as possible to dissuade them from picking us, as I think a trip to Headingley offers us an easier (although still very difficult!) route to Old Trafford.

I don't think it's that desperately bad a situation.

Ideally, we'd have Lockers at 13 and not at 6, but other than the changes for that positional switch, everything else is pretty strong.

We've seen Saints cope with losing 1 (and indeed both) of their halves this season, and the quality in the team has been enough for them to win games. I've seen enough of Wigan this season to believe that if the team plays as well as it has done, we can win the match despite this.

Assuming tinytim is correct (and he usually is) we've got arguably the best 6 and 13 in SL both playing out of position when there is no need?

At least the prop situation seems sorted. We might get away with it on Friday, but is anyone confident with this situation in two further games against Stains, Whinos or the Dire if we want to win the title?

This makes me think Deacon will be ok should we progress to the semi. Mcguire probably doesn't want to shuffle the back line much.

I'll be over the moon if we play Wigan with TL/SOL in the halves.

Then again, Deacon doesn't concern me in the slightest either.