Last year is gone. Powell looks to be on form. In my opinion you pick on form rather than reputation.

Powell looked far hungrier than Green during the Huddersfield Game and was excellent from what I saw today. As I said it's a tough one and will probably come down to who is performing the best away from the critical eye of the fans.

I'm pleased others are also seeing the difference in play between Hampshire and Bowen, we look far better when Hampshire is on the pitch.
If you'd have Bateman over Clubb, which I also agree with, would you have Hughes over Clubb as well? Who gets the bench spot?

But you also have to take into account who the form shown is shown against and why. Powell may have looked enthusiastic v Hudds but that didn't translate into anything much at all. He didn't look effective in defence against them as while he made tackles he didn't really do so with much effect. While Green did nothing much either you have to ask yourself who is going to handle the pressure of such a big game against far better players the best?

The same applies to full back. Bowen was playing against these guys in the NRL a few months ago and should be able to read their game far better then any other Wigan player.

Wane has been known to let is enthusiasm for the younger players rule his head such as when he chucked Murphy into the play-off semi-final v Leeds a couple of seasons ago.

In any case the big issue for me v Hudds was the right side of the defence which looked wide open at times and Green wasn't to blame for that but I am sure it will have affected his game.

I'd go

FB 26 Hampshire
RW 2 Charnley
RC 3 Goulding
LC 23 Sarginson
LW 32 Burgess
SO 19 Powell
SH 7 Smith
P 8 Taylor
H 9 McIlorum
P 16 Dudson
SR 10 Flower
SR 12 Farrell
LF 13 O'Loughlin

S 15 Tomkins
S 17 Crosby
S 22 Pettybourne
S 25 Bateman

Hampshire just impresses me every time he takes the field. I'm sure Bowen will be the better option once he's settled in but we don't have that luxury for the WCC, we need our very best team out for that one game. Sarginson and Burgess should go without saying IMO, I don't really see any big advantage Thornley has over either. Powell over Green is obviously a bold move but Powell's an out and out half IMO and his form is far better than Green's. Flower in the back row because neither Clubb nor Hughes fill me with much confidence, we need a reliable defender there, preferably with a bit of size to offset Farrell and Bateman being quite small, so Flower's my man. Reluctantly picked Tomkins on the bench because McIlorum looks out of sorts and he's the only other specialist hooker we have. Just to add I fully expect Wane to pick Bowen at FB, Green at SO, Clubb at SR and Powell benched.

Picking props at SR is nothing short of suicide for such a big game against such a quality opposition. We'd get torn to shreds outwide. There are concerns over Clubb's mobility when defending out wide, I don't think either Pettybourne or Flower are the answer to this. The speed of our defence out wide will be more important that just putting big bodies out there, leave the big guys in the middle.

I'm aware Flower and Pettybourne have both played in the backrow, but Wane sees them as props and they will have spent all pre season training there. Even when Flower plays at LF he's effectively just a 3rd prop.

It's very rare I agree with your team selections when you post them, in fact I think this is a first but I agree 100%.

I also agree with what you say beneath your selection.

as soon as mitchell pierce or James Maloney realise hampshire can't catch a high ball we would be lucky to ever receive the ball again.

Also hampshire in the air against the like of Daniel tupou, RTS and anthony minichello no thanks. I agree he has been better in attack i think bowen needs to loose a bit of weight he has had a long off season.

Bowen has always had that typical Aboriginal frame.

Absolutely, that's just his shape. Fitness isn't a worry at all (beyond the knees), it's just his integration into the team is not up to standard yet, and though obviously I can't tell properly, he hasn't exactly seemed particularly happy yet.

Check the full match out on a well known vid sharing site.
Cricket is for pu#$¥s.

Class.

You could always have Lockers defending at SR and Flower at LF if you see it that way. Flower is a lot more mobile than Clubb anyway IMO. If we lack size in that back row by going Hughes-Farrell with Bateman on the bench I can see them steam-rolling us, we'll need that extra wallop IMO

Well even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day.

1 - Bowen
2 - Charnley
3 - Goulding
4 - Sarginson
5 - Burgess
6 - Green
7 - Smith
8 - Taylor
9 - McIllorum
10 - Dudson
11 - Farrell
12 - Bateman
13 - O'Loughlin

14 - Flower
15 - Crosby
16 - Pettybourne
17 - Powell

NZ probably have the best secound phase creative forwards in the NRL.
They probably have one of the weakest / disjointed back Lines in the NRL ( on the edges where Wigan are exceptional , we are pathetic on attack and in defense ).

Mateo was the best off loader in the game before SBW returned. In that regard the NZW were the right team for Wigan to prep against for the Roosters.

By the way Wigan fans. Based on what you know of Tomkins , how do you think he will go in a team that has forwards looking to offload at every opportunity like the NZW ? will he chase up looking for those offloads ?

My other question is around our back line deficit.....as I say we desperately need a player that can move the ball well to the three quarter line....Wingers and s Like Hurrell and Vatuvei who up until now have to make a fist of slow poorly timed passes / feeds from our spine......is Sam Tomkins a player who would set up our frighteningly powerful and fast outside backs ?

Just like Sam Thaiday and that Aboriginal fella who played at Cas a few seasons back.