Possibly the only reason, but it would have been harsh on Johnstone, for example, to drop him after the Leeds game.

It's a long season and Kelly will hopefully play a big part.

I agree,kicking game has been poor but for me to win this game we have to improve our discipline.
Since the Leeds game the indiscipline has crept back in.

Given that he hadn't played a first team game at that point he was hardly match fit, and one game (or part of) and then two games off, would hardly do anything to remedy that.

I love all these Sunday games, nxt week as well against Catalans, just wish this blinking weather would show some sign of global warming.

Neither was Houghton but he played

It's that painful for some on here supporting our club that I do on occasions wonder if it would be easier for them not to bother.

The big frustration for Wigan fans this year is we’ve chosen to be lightweight upfront, leaving out big guys like Bullock, Clark and Greenwood in the first couple of games in order to play the youth. It was all very admirable but we have an exceptional looking back line but they had no chance of really firing on the back of a young and lightweight pack.

It was much better last week as the game progressed with Bullock and Clark in. There’s a chance Ben Flower and George Burgess could be back this week. It sounded like they wouldn’t be earlier in the week but I read today both may still have a shot (my guess is maybe one will play).

It’s all a bit up in the air selection wise in the pack. We’ve not found the right balance yet with Burgess and Flower out, so hopefully this week will be where it clicks. Each and every one of our young forwards who’ve played this season are top prospects but Lam has gone over board playing them all at once.

Is the feeling in Hull that it’s a must win game or a nice to win
Or does a gallant defeat still seem ok ish ?

Of course it's not a must win game.

Would have accepted 2 out of 4 when the fixtures were announced but now that would seem disappointing ?

Was hardly a gallant defeat last week & really struggled to impose over Rovers ?

Appreciate the injuries but a win would put us back on track, narrow defeat having fully competed wouldn't be disastrous but a poor performance would be.i

The club have said they want top two this year - losing to your rivals at the top is not gonna help achieve that so imo this game is a must win

its an important game as they all are, but must win? so if we lose is that the season over ?