No Staverly .Severs. Jebson. Thought at least one of them would be included

Let's hope so, not that I want him injured, just gives some justification for him not making this squad.

Lack of pre season gametime will almost certainly rule him out against Rovers.

That's a bit disappointing, going with Lane instead, who we know about and had a nasty knock last week, would rather see one of the above given a run.

Interesting that Charles has been included over both Medforth and Harman. It's a huge step up for the lad if he gets some game time.

Not sure what the alternative Lane?

Think Scott earnt his place in the 17 last year, will play a different role to Cstor or Smith

Get your point re Lane, I think it just shows the lack of depth and the overall poor nature of the squad. Okunbor and Pele will either be rocks or diamonds. I can’t see any change from previous seasons we will pick up a few decent wins and then fall away final third of the season as usual, finishing 8th-10th.

That hopefully explains Balmforths omission from the squad, must admit to being concerned as Balmforth wasn't mentioned anywhere when I first saw the report despite reporting on other omissions through injury.

I don't think the squad is too bad, definitely weakness in the backrow.

I'll be disappointed if we don't improve, but tend to agree it won't be by much.

Wigan have got a bench choose from of -

Cooper
Mago
Thompson
Dupree
Leeming
Hill
Nsemba
Walters
Chan
Eseh
Hampshire

Just shows for me how poor our squad is. We are either massively mismanaging the cap or we are nowhere near it. For me it’s the latter, despite what Adam says.

Hope I’m wrong but I can’t see much improvement.

When you have those two and Cator on the bench and Wigan have as their bench options (from the post above):

Cooper
Mago
Thompson
Dupree
Leeming
Hill
Nsemba
Walters
Chan
Eseh
Hampshire

Then I think that is a very lightweight bench (Pele aside) and will struggle to be a match for Wigan

Waste of time comparing us to Wigan, no squad in SL comes close, they have 3 marquee players amd fantastic youth system.

Not sure what Smith could do better for recruitment, think he did just about as good as he could do.

Aren't you forgetting Taylor??

They can spend the same as anyone else baring 3 marquees which I don’t think makes that much difference over the course of a 25+ man squad.

Cooper
Mago
Dupree
Leeming
Walters
Chan
Eseh

All aren’t from their academy.

I don’t blame smith. I blame the powers that be, not a chance we are anywhere near full cap with our squad and if we are then there are serious problems.

Doom mongers started before season kicks off.Cricky let's give the lads a chance before writing them. Jeez