After Leeds beat us quite comfortably last week, does anybody know if we're likely to have any forwards back for this weekend? I think our back line can cope with one or two injuries but we need to be more competitive in the forwards to give Leeds more of a game. Whilst the likes of Pettybourne and Flower might lack match fitness, I'd like to see them play if available. Lockers is the big one though, I really hope he's fit!

A report on the WEP site said Pettybourne, Farrell and Lockers are 'close' to returning but it didn't say if close meant this week.

We could certainly do with those three on Saturday.

I don't rate our chances for this one. Leeds are tough enough when we are at full strength. I do think Wane will have them up for it though.

I think it will take something special for us to beat a very in-form Leeds side with the amount of players we have out

It would be a difficult task with everyone fit

If we play like we did on Friday - we'll come pretty close.

Leeds won't play anywhere near as terribly as Hull though.

Were Hull bad or were we good?

I think that we never get any credit were it's due, even from our own fans. Before the game I thought this was 50/50 and afterwards was really proud of the way our lads played.

SW said it was the best performance of the season - and I agree.

Maybe Leeds won't be as bad as Hull, but they lost to Saints second string, so why couldn't we beat them?

Hopefully Bowen, Farrell, Flower, Pettybourne and, most importantly, Lockers are all back for Saturday. Charnley would be a bonus but it's probably more of a risk to throw him straight back in against Leeds. We need to match them in the forwards, and with Clubb and Sutton now missing I think we're going to need at least 3 of the forwards mentioned above back to have any chance of that.

Going off the 15 min highlights on Wigan TV it was a combination of both. We were good, especially considering the players we had out but Hull were also awful. Some of their defending was inexcusable. I think we have enough to give them a game but I don't think we'll win.

It's been said there are a few on the brink of returning. I hope we aren't bringing anyone back too early and risking further injury. At this stage of the season I'd rather play the kids and ensure we have as many fit as possible for the cup.

We do need as many forwards back as we can get.
A couple of things may help our cause though.
We can avoid kicking to Ryan Hall on the 6th tackle. He's one of the best kick returners in SL, so why on earth kick in his direction?
At Headingly we got the one penalty awarded to us in the whole game, as Leeds are away from home the refs won't be under the same pressure not to penalise their infringements.
The press conf tomorrow I presume, so SW may give some indication of who's playing and who isn't.

Two good points there about-

a) why were we so insistent on going to Hall? You can say if not Hall then who I suppose as their backline is threatening all over but Hall is error free. Get it to Briscoe who comes up with a few errors and can be physically dominated more easily. The main thing to remember though regardless of who we kick to is to kick well! The bombs we put up at Headingley were terrible! No height or direction to them.

And

b) The chances of getting penalties at the Etihad in comparison to Headingley are much improved. It's embarrassing how much Leeds get away with at home with the South Stand along with Peacock and Sir Kev reffing most games. We need to keep our discipline and pressure their defence with quicker play the balls.

That's really funny NK
Of course the southstand dominate the refs and they are too scared to give away teams any penalties.
Unlike your own players who take their opponents heads off and get hefty bans, oh wait a minute!!
Come off it I do believe you have got your fair share of dodgy decisions from referee's over the years be it on your own ground or in cup games.

It's testament to our side and squad depth that with all of the injuries we could possibly line up like:
1. Sarginson 2. Manfredi 3. Goulding 4. Gelling 5. Burgess 6. Green 7. Smith 8. Taylor 9. Williams 10. Dudson 11. Hughes 12. Bateman 13. McIlorum Subs 14. James 15. Crosby 16. C. Farrell 17. Powell. We may not win the game but we will be very competitive which is all we can ask for at the minute

Second part is absolutely laughable given some of the decisions you've got over the last few years