Team v Wakey

[Pharabus]

confirmed on WiganWarriors.com

Wigan: Roberts, Carmont, Richards, Smith, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Paleaaesina, Hock, Bailey, O'Loughlin, J. Tomkins, Coley, McIlorum, Prescott, Pryce, Phelps, Gleeson, S. Tomkins.

Wakefield: Blaymire, Blanch, Martin, Atkins, Brough, Demetriou, Drew, Sculthorpe, Snitch, Wilkes, Grix, Obst , Henderson, Gleeson, Leo-Latu, Ferguson, Moore, Bibb, Pitts.

no Ainscough

[wigan/pier]

Same team that played Celtic according to Sporting Life.

[ancientnloyal]

I think we need the build of Ainscough, his power is arguably better suited to come up against, say, Atkins on their wing (dont know which side he plays)

[GeoffN]

I can't understand why Pryce is in there; he clearly still needs match practice in the reserves, he looked unfit even at that level last week, let alone at SL level.

[cherrywarrior]

Its a disgrace that Ainscough aint in the squad! Noble is gonna force out all our young players!

[pedro]

Didnt get to the game just watched boots na ll but thought smith looked good and was involved in nearly every try. Never thought I would say that this season.

[mike binder]

smith had a good game ,cant belibve shaun not in again ,its time 4 heads to roll doing my head in now.

answer me a question would st helens or leeds drop the top try scorer in super league if they had him
:conf:

[cherrywarrior]

IL and MH read this site dont they? Surely they can pass the message on to Nobby at just how unpopular this descion not to play Ainscough is! He is by far one of our best players this season, has the most enthusiam in the team by far, and how is he ever going to get any better if he doesnt get any SL games!!!

[DaveO]

One of the best and to the point comments I hae seen on this was made by a poster by the name of jackdog on rlfans and I quote:

"Ainscough may be a 'young' player, but he is the top tryscorer in the league, so to pretend he is somehow not yet ready to play every game is just crazy. Far, far too much is made of this 'protecting young players' thing. It's a largely nonsensical concept used as a smokescreen to excuse picking high-profile under-achievers instead, to justify poor recruitment."

I wish someone would put those points to Noble. It would be worth it for the comedy value of the answer alone.

Dave

[cpwigan]

Didnt get to the game just watched boots na ll but thought smith looked good and was involved in nearly every try. Never thought I would say that this season.

My inkling is that Numpty is essentially a negative coach as regards selection, tactics etc etc. So when he picks a team he looks at the weaknesses of his players / worse case scenario. Now with Smith that means hopeless defence v some passing ability. I believe that means Noble will not select Smith or he will have to have Sam on the bench if it goes belly up.

Is Ainscough a bigger risk than Roberts? Was it not Roberts who was exploited v them at the JJB? Would Ainscough not offer better scooting than Roberts which is very important given the mentality of Numpty.

You really have to question how Numpty got so far in TL given his only plan seems to be if we get enough ball something might happen. He seems to want an arm wrestle come what may.