Joel to miss out, Davies to come back in.

What's Joel played in the last 2 months, about 30 mins ?
Can't see how we could risk him at Wembley, it'll be hard enough containing Hull's forwards as it is.

Joel IMO is a prop now not a backrower. He should be used in our prop rotation. What's the latest on Clubb? He went off injured against Salford and didn't look in great shape.

Definitely Davies in for Marshall, if fit.

Regarding the hooker role, bear in mind the club have all the biometric data to use, and it seems to me that shows MM is much better in shorter explosive bursts rather than pacing himself to last the full 80, so Powell stays on the bench for me.

JT vs Isa is the tricky one, I'd be inclined to stick with Isa but as others have said I feel Wane will bring Joel back.

His form prior to his first injury was actually his best imo since he came back to the club. He moved to prop for the Warrington quarter final and was superb both in that game and the following week at Huddersfield. He then had a problem and came back for the semi but clearly wasn't fit and didn't play many minutes.

I'm with Wane on Joel Tomkins. I think if he's fully fit then you find a spot for him. I'd actually start him at prop alongside FPN (who for all his weekly round laziness does seem to turn up for the big games) and let Sutton and Clubb add some energy from the bench. I think Willie Isa has done enough to earn a spot so that leaves the last place between Tautai and Powell. If FPN is a big game player then Tautai in his Wigan career has sometimes been the opppsite. He's mentioned himself that he let a couple of Grand Finals pass him by and sadly he'd probably be the one I'd leave out.

start with Powell and have MM on the bench

I'd put Frank in the stands for this one.

You could tell he wanted a shirt for Wembley couldn't you? How many of them had their best game so far this season against Salford?

Bloody hell...we agree again

Winder said in the bar after the Salford game that Clubb had gone off with a dead leg and Should be ok.
If Clubb is fully fit I'd start him instead of Sutton as v Salford. Sutton on the bench.
Davies, again if fit, to replace Marshall and Joel to miss out.

Phil Wilkinson has tweeted saying Wane seemed to hint Joel would miss out at the press conference today.

Clubb was doing the press duties also so you'd have to think he's fit or else he'd have been having treatment (not travelling to Leeds).

What is good to see going in to this game is two healthy teams. We're minus a couple of starting players but by our standards that's incredible. There's no excuses for either side and it should hopefully be a top game.

McIlorum has admitted himself in interviews he can't do the 80 minutes.

Previously when we had a under performing Logan Tomkins he would do 30 mins to start then come on after 50 mins.

Whereas now with Powell as a back up, Macca can go full on for 20 minute spells.

I do like the idea of starting with Powell then bringing Micky off the bench. Should combat the intensity drop off when lockers goes off.


According to Wigan today Isa's place in the team seems safe.

Glad we actually can have these discussions for the first time this year!

Ahh didn't realise he had said that, J.Tomkins and Marshall to miss out then. Agreed it's good that a decent player will have to miss out, the last time that happened was probably the WCC. I do wish we had Escare, Manfredi and Flower to call upon though!