After good performances by the fringe players today, Hamlin, Woods, Naverette, Marshall, Ganson. And with players becoming available for Saturday, Escare, Lockers, Powell, Clubb, Burgess, Tautai.

What team would people go for on the trip to France?

Did Sarge do enough to stay in?

Marshall or Budge?

Who plays 1,6,7,9 ? Sam T Escare, Williams, Tommy, Powell, Ganson, Woods? Switcheroo?

Big competition in the front row.

After 2 games in 4 days does anyone need a rest?

Should be an okay game with big tests against Leeds and Cas after that.

Let me know your team

We will have different squads for the Catalans game compared to the Leeds and Cas fixtures.

Catalans -
S Tomkins,
Davies, Sarginson, Gildart, Marshall, Williams, Powell,
Flower, Luluai, Navarette,
Bateman, Farrell, O'Loughlin.
Bench - Sutton, J Tomkins, Hamlin, Woods.

Tomkins
Davies
Sarginson
Gildart
Burgess
Williams
Powell
Flower
Leuluai
Clubb
Bateman
Farrell
O’Loughlin

Sutton
Hamlin
Tomkins
Escare

As usual I’m pretty certain what I’d want and what it will be will be different but I’d go-

Tomkins
Burgess Bateman Gildart Marshall
Williams Powell
Clubb Leuluai Flower
Isa Farrell Lockers

Sutton Hamlin Navarette Escare

Burgess or Davies the only real tough one for me. I went Davies in a side on another thread yesterday and Burgess today which shows how tough it is. I know Joel Tomkins hasn’t done big minutes over easter but I’d also give him the rest ahead of two big games.

I’d stick with Sarge at centre, give him some more game time to get up to speed, he was showing improvement yesterday. Bateman in second row ahead of Isa, unless perhaps Faz could benefit from a break.

He played well Sarginson and ran over 160 metres. I also thought Isa had another top game so it’d be tough to leave him out.

It’s so refreshing to have these problems!

Hallelujah Brother!
I've said this for many years - I want EVERYONE Fit and raring to go
Without stirring the hornets nest in one of the Wane interviews from yesterday he also said that Hamlin & Navarette had given him food for thought and it heaps pressure on the other props such as Sutton & TT (I think he said TT - He deffo said Sutton).

Sarginson being fit puts pressure on our Backrow as that means 4 into 3 doesn't go which spurs Bateman/Isa/Farrell/Tomkins (Plus the others in waiting i.e. Jack wells etc.)

Bateman performing well at LF keep sLockers on his toes (Or more likely takes the pressure off him in this instance).
Marshall & Burgess are spurring each other on (Is it 15 tries in 8 games for these 2 now in SL?) and both are responding very well.

I want Dom back putting pressure on Tom Davies (And giving each other a break as & when they need it).

Long may it continue!!!

Tomkins
Davies Sarg Gildart Burgess
Williams Escare
Flower Powell Naverette
Bateman Faz
Lockers
-----------------
Clubb Sutton Tommy Joel

Happily swap out a prop for Hamlin.

Maybe, but I wonder of SW might play Marshall, and keep Burgess for Cas and Leeds.

Marshall has to play imo or else it just sends out the wrong message. That could be for Burgess or Davies because he’s outperformed both this season when he’s been selected. He had an utterly unbelievable 9 try’s, 3 assists and 11 clean breaks from Just 4 games and if that doesn’t warrant a place this week then I’m not sure what he can do.

I hear people mention the defensive side of his game as a reason to leave him out but the worst game we’ve had defensively down that side was Wakefield when he didn’t play. He is also no worse under a high ball then Tom Davies (in fact I think he’s better) and he’s more clinical when chances come his way.

Picking on form he should ‘currently’ be first choice pretty much regardless of opposition.

Do you think Burgess deserved to be "Dropped" Monday after his performance Friday and previous games (6 tries in 4 games?).

Not arguing about Marshalls abilities and it's a fantastic position to be in but I thought Budgie on Friday had probably his best game since returning despite not scoring any tries.
IMO his all round game is superior to Marshalls and as long as his Effort is there I think he's the better player.

I don't perceive any weakness for Tom Davies under the High ball? Not sure where that comes from TBH but again I don't think he could have done any more than he has and he is deffo a Better Right winger than the other 2 who are both "Lefties".

Marshall's all round game is improving - He's getting better under the high ball, he's not falling off as many tackles and he looks stronger returning the ball than 12 months ago.

I think Budgie was really good in his first 3 games in a winning side this year and then IMO has his best performance in a losing side at Saints under real pressure. I just think that's something Marshall needs to do, perform under pressure in tight/losing games.

Burgess has been good and he was certainly rested more so then dropped but then did Marshall deserve losing out in the first place if we’re looking at it like that? He had 2 blinders followed by one ‘quiet’ performance at Wire in a game where everything was fatigued and couldn’t get going. I’ve said previously it’s a great spot to be in but if he’s not in at Catalans after Monday then I just think that’s extremely harsh.

Moving on to Davies, I think he is weak under the high ball. He doesn’t look like grabbing many contested bombs in either attack or defence. He hasn’t had any howlers from memory where he’s dropped one with nobody near him but in those tight situations I think he’s got work to do. He has also made a number of errors when he’s been given the ball in positions where he’s got the chance to go for the line. I’m not bagging him, I think the world of him but he to has things to work on. As you say the fact he’s a right sided winger could really help him.

Would you drop Davies and play Marshall and Burgess?

I know your not asking me but FWIW - No

It's an interesting debate with our wingers.

I'm pleased Marshall is improving as an overall player, at the end of the day we want Wigan to win games and be successful, so there's no bias over players they're all Wigan players. Saying that I think, and of course could be wrong, but currently Davies and Burgess are the best all-round wingers currently available. Marshall's try scoring record and pace is a pleasure to watch, but as Burgess finds fitness he's a better all-rounder. He has pace and can destroy defences when clear, we'll see more of this as he returns to his old form with fitness. as much as Marshall's try scoring is natural eye-catching, Burgess' defence v Saints was exactly want you want in a winger. He's big, athletic, can stand up to all wingers due to his size and pace, and is great under the high ball, someone mentioned his Aussie rules hands high style, this sums up his ability. V saints he worked hard, covered at FB and still shifted to the wing in attack. He's still young and has the physical attributes and ability to push for an England spot and be enough to match the big strong international wingers.

I honestly never feel safe v top teams with Marshall, knocking on in the CC final for example, or putting him up against some big athletic wingers which are now at a lot of teams in SL.

Davies is developing, he's solid, not perfect, or the finish article, but has the making of a good all-rounder. I'm pleased we have him.

If Manfredi is anything like he was before his absence I feel the competition on the wings will be between Burgess, Davies and Manfredi. I well could be wrong, but I feel Marshall's career at Wigan is going to as a stand in, or he'll become tried of not featuring and go elsewhere.

Of course people will disagree, which is good, it's good to discuss.