With Bateman, Clubb and Lockers back. How about a pack of

Mossop
McIlorum
Clubb
Farrell
Tomkins
Bateman

Tautai
Flower
Crosby
Oloughlin

Lockers to spell Micky after 30 minutes then at around 55 minutes Macca comes back on and either lockers carries on in the back row or gets spelled?

At this point in his career less minutes for SOL maybe a good thing ?

So we waste a place on the bemch for a player whis obviously finished but too stubborn to retire, no thanks, not for me

I don't agree that Lockers is obviously finished as you put it, even if he has not been able to contribute much so far this season. There are quite a few good 'uns knocking about in SL older than him and with even more miles on the clock.
I'm no expert on the subject of fitness but it appears to me that there are more players lasting longer, if you get my drift. Perhaps there's another season or two left in him, God knows we need the experience.
An interesting side debate is his position as England skipper IMO.

I can't understand this need for Lockers to retire. Put simply - he is our best (and only world class) player.

No-one gets injured on purpose. When he does get injured, it is for the Wigan cause. Yes it is frustrating for us when he is injured, but imagine how bad it is for Lockers himself. There is no reason why he can't come back to full fitness and play for another three or four years, with luck and properly managed.

The absence of Lockers last Thursday throws into focus just how much our pack relies on him. Even a half fit Lockers is still better than any other forward we have IMO.

Lockers hasn't been firing but it's not time for the scrap heap yet. All players go through dips in form and I think that's all he's going through.

He'll be back to his best before long.

Time will tell with Lockers, his current predicament reminds me of Scully and his final days at Saints, wheeled out for the big games before realising his body was no longer up to the task.

Yet he might come back firing on all cylinders more than contributing to our pack/team...

Time will tell.

40+ tackles a game has took it's toll on his body, bout time he retired before he does some serious permanent damage

Been watching a few NRL games over the last few days, and there really are some excellent hard-running (and skilful!) forwards in there who are a pleasure to watch. Perhaps it's not so surprising these talented young halves can do their stuff, if they're playing behind a Martin Taupau, or a Jason Taumalolo, or a Ben Matulino.

How I'd love to see one of those (or even, more realistically, a poor man's version thereof) at the DW.

It certainly puts our forward-related woes into sharp relief.

Tilse at Hull KR and Garbutt at Leeds would have both strengthened our pack, and I'm guessing probably didn't cost the earth. Some good scouting there. Cuthbertson is the signing of the season for me. We tried with Pettybourne, and failed. But that shouldn't stop us trying again.

Needs to be someone with something to prove though because Hull FC got bitten with the likes of O'Meley and Fitzgibbon, who had the pedigree but maybe not the desire.

I think tonight highlighted how important Props are. When ours went forward we looked comfortable, when they lost the wrestle which I feel they did for big periods of the match we were put under huge pressure.

yes we have had our fingers burnt on more than one occasion,but those two I would have back in a shot,

I've said it before but we need to tap into the network Hull KR have in NRL.

They keep pulling rabbits out of thier NRL hat. Guys like Paea, Galea, Wayman, Vella etc all had an NRL pedigree and plenty of experience. All however still had that fire. All would walk on up the current Wigan side as well.

And watching Cuthbertson last night, I mean that guy is a seriously good footballer. It seems unfair to say it, but was he considered something of a journeyman in the NRL? Man of Steel for me, so far.

I agree re Hull KR's scouting. Somebody's doing a good job for them.

I was always a big Mossop fan before he went to Australia but at the moment he is running with zero aggression. At times last night he looked absolutely petrified when taking the ball in.

I imagine the poster who labelled O'Loughlin as finished and too stubborn to retire is feeling pretty silly after his performance last night.

He didn't play huge minutes but his effect on the team was clear for all to see. He seemed to make more yards than any other forward including the props. If it wasn't for Sarginson not passing to Burgess he would have also created a try from a lovely pass which is typical Sean O'Loughlin.

I agree we could do with another prop. I'm unsure of everyone who is off contract in the NRL but I think Sam Tagatese and Suaia Matagi both are and could be worth a shot. Matagi was impressive for Samoa in the Workd Cup.