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Dan Sarginson looks set to start ahead of Morgan Escare as Wigan travel to Leeds tonight.

The centre switched to the role at half-time during Warriors’ 19-18 win at Hull KR last week and impressed with what coach Adrian Lam described as “probably his best game of the season there.”

And with first-choice No.1 Zak Hardaker nursing a hamstring injury, Lam has to make the call of whether to start Sarginson in the role at Headingley or go for specialist full-back Escare.

“Talking to the senior players and the coaches, and my own thinking is Sarge played probably his best game of the season there (at full-back),” said the coach.

It was a massive effort and I’m leaning towards him playing at full-back.

“Morgan hasn’t played a fair bit this year so I’d like to see him go around, but I’m leaning towards Sarginson for the Leeds game.”

If Lam does opt for Sarginson, Chris Hankinson would be likely to start at right centre for the clash, in which 10th-placed Leeds are looking for a third straight win while Wigan, in eighth, are aiming for a second success on the bounce

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/dan-sa ... -1-9821084

Talking to the senior players and the coaches, and my own thinking is Sarge played probably his best game of the season there (at full-back),” said the coach.

“It was a massive effort and I’m leaning towards him playing at full-back.

So does he stay at FB for the rest of the season instead of Hardaker when he is fit again??

If this snub doesn't prove that Lam has something against Escare, I don't know what does!
Fecking disgusting!

I'm seriously thinking of not renewing my season ticket next year! I even asked the ticket office yesterday to cancel my auto renew status! That is how disgusted I am with the whole set up at Wigan this season

I think it's a fair call, but some of Lam's comments have been very OTT. Sarge switched to fullback against Rovers and impressed and also played his best games for us at fullback in his last spell at the club. That's enough of a reason for him to be considered in my opinion.

I like what Sarge can bring with his kick returns and that's something that Escare doesn't offer. But then Escare has the edge in terms of handling and can be unpredictable.

Lam might not like Escare, either as a person or he doesn't rate him as a good enough player.

For me, I'd probably go with Sarginson because I think his kick returns might make him more valuable in this game. We'd have to create a bit of space for Escare to be at his best and I'm not convinced the team is capable of that right now, though I do think Farrell being back on the left edge would bring more out of Escare.

Either way I won't be disappointed who gets picked at fullback (unless Lam goes mental and picks Tony Clubb). I just hope the team play well enough that the fullback can play well regardless. How the pack plays is likely to be more important.

josie andrews wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:26 am

Talking to the senior players and the coaches, and my own thinking is Sarge played probably his best game of the season there (at full-back),” said the coach.

“It was a massive effort and I’m leaning towards him playing at full-back.

So does he stay at FB for the rest of the season instead of Hardaker when he is fit again??

If this snub doesn't prove that Lam has something against Escare, I don't know what does!
Fecking disgusting!

I'm seriously thinking of not renewing my season ticket next year! I even asked the ticket office yesterday to cancel my auto renew status! That is how disgusted I am with the whole set up at Wigan this season

I'm very much in the same boat, its nothing to do with Sarge as he does okay at fullback but to not play a SL level FB and to pick a Centre that does Okay at fullback is a joke and really does make it look like Lam has something Against Escare.

If Sarge was such a brilliant FB why did we bother recruiting Morgan?

If Escare doesn’t play tonight when the first choice fullback is out then surely the club have to let him go elsewhere? Personally I think he should play as Sarge for me offers nothing .

It’s a joke

You just have to trust the coach in these situations. Sadly, Lam hasn't proved he warrants that trust.

Escare is eating up salary cap and should be let go.

Ive often thought Sarges best position was fullback

however i reach that conclusion because he cant/wont pass for toffee at centre and the only borderline good thing about his game is his footwork and he has the potential to have a broken field to go at in full back.

I wish we could dig out some of the match reports from when Escare was filling in for tomkins while he recovered from injury. 90% of posters on here myself included were calling for tomkins to earn his place back because Escare was brilliant. Not only was he chiming into the line he was game managing for us kicking for touch when needed etc.

His treatment basically since tomkins returned by the club has been shameful - why they gave him the 1 jersey this is beyond me

nathan_rugby wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 9:43 am You just have to trust the coach in these situations. Sadly, Lam hasn't proved he warrants that trust.

Escare is eating up salary cap and should be let go.

My Opinion is Lam should go . Morgan earned his shirt and place in the team. Lam has done nothing yet to show he should be kept on... .

The more amusing part is vs KR we were appallingly bad so say sarge did well at fullback isnt high praise as we played shockingly.

Wigan_forever1985 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 9:44 am Ive often thought Sarges best position was fullback

however i reach that conclusion because he cant/wont pass for toffee at centre and the only borderline good thing about his game is his footwork and he has the potential to have a broken field to go at in full back.

I wish we could dig out some of the match reports from when Escare was filling in for tomkins while he recovered from injury. 90% of posters on here myself included were calling for tomkins to earn his place back because Escare was brilliant. Not only was he chiming into the line he was game managing for us kicking for touch when needed etc.

His treatment basically since tomkins returned by the club has been shameful - why they gave him the 1 jersey this is beyond me

I agree, potential issue I have with him at Fullback is his experience, Rugby League IQ and passing.

1 - How is his positional play at FB? Can he read the game and anticipate?
2 - How is his one v one tackling? Something very hard to master and something you do not really do at Centre.
3 - Will him coming in at 3rd man stop the ball going to centres or wingers? Or wll it result in terrible passes on the floor or in touch?