Big guns back for Leeds clash

[keptinthedarkfans]

In a way, I don't care who we field on Thursday, as it doesn't matter we win or lose, but I wanted to check something with the more attentive souls on here.
Can Wane be believed when he makes statements like this? I might be wrong but haven't there been lots of occasions over the last 3 months where he has made these sorts of noises and then we've found ourselves watching the Under 19s?

They will play on Thursday because the game is being heavily promoted with the Superman theme. It is no coincidence they are all bar Lockers fit again.

The more interesting question is did they all really need a rest v Hull? Just couple more experienced heads, maybe even just Smith guiding the troops around would IMO have seen us home.

Normally I'd have expected a decent side out v Hull to secure two eminently baggable points and if anyone needed a rest, rest them on Thursday the last game before the serious stuff starts.

I reckon this was ruled out at least in part by the fact Thursday is being heavily promoted.

You can't have Pat Richard's modelling the Superman shirt shirt on the club web site and then not play (in what could also be he last home game for Wigan).

well put I agree 100% dave.No more than a promotional puppet show for SL.

[cpwigan]

You need a warmup game Dave. And this is it. If we had three games after wembley I'd say rest the players for 2 and play the third. Its a great warmup against a quality team too, so it couldn't be better for us.

I'd say every change Wane has made in the second half of this season has been enforced by injury/illness. That's my opinion. For example we wouldn't have played a strong team at Catalans if we had been able to have them all together the week before. The travel means that is a more tiring trip, and we had a good chance of winning the LLS if we'd have beaten Huddersfield. So that to me was very much enforced.

So my list of games in which we have not rested players would be all of them, except v Hull.

If your gripe is with the consistency of the players that have been selected in the place of the first team - then i don't think you've been making that clear. You seem to have been focusing on an season long policy of resting players - which I can't see any real evidence of and you can't give specific examples of.

Ideally we would have been building GF form from Hull onwards. However, I am not convinced British clubs can play consistently at their best for several games so I know refuse to get overly concerned.

[Exiled Wiganer]

Dave - I agree 100% with your post, save only that we will play once at home in the play offs - either week 2, or as we hope, week 3.

[ian.birchall]

[quote="Exiled Wiganer"]In a way, I don't care who we field on Thursday, as it doesn't matter we win or lose, but I wanted to check something with the more attentive souls on here.
Can Wane be believed when he makes statements like this? I might be wrong but haven't there been lots of occasions over the last 3 months where he has made these sorts of noises and then we've found ourselves watching the Under 19s? [/quote

Well last weeks 3 attendances are flashing a warning which Lenihan would be wise to heed,

Leeds 16000,Wire 14000, Wigan 12000.
Thats a long way from the best attended club in the lad.

[Aluaka]

The last match was less than a week after Wigan fans had made the codtly trip to Wembley (ticket/travel/food & other costs).

Fielding the squad that was fielded (resulting in the most entertaining match I've seen this season) may have had an impact - but I'd already bought my ticket before the squad was announced.

It's been an expensive couple of weeks for Wigan fans!

On the plus side - our Superman limited edition shirts ran out within a day, Leeds shirts are still available!

Reading too much into the figures?

[exile in Tiger country]

Just hope Leeds don't go out to injure our "big game" players ahead of the play offs.
Personally I'd play the youngsters again.
I think finishing fourth is a better option than third the way the team's have finished in the league.

[markill]

You need a warmup game Dave. And this is it. If we had three games after wembley I'd say rest the players for 2 and play the third. Its a great warmup against a quality team too, so it couldn't be better for us.

I'd say every change Wane has made in the second half of this season has been enforced by injury/illness. That's my opinion. For example we wouldn't have played a strong team at Catalans if we had been able to have them all together the week before. The travel means that is a more tiring trip, and we had a good chance of winning the LLS if we'd have beaten Huddersfield. So that to me was very much enforced.

So my list of games in which we have not rested players would be all of them, except v Hull.

If your gripe is with the consistency of the players that have been selected in the place of the first team - then i don't think you've been making that clear. You seem to have been focusing on an season long policy of resting players - which I can't see any real evidence of and you can't give specific examples of.

Widnes away we maybe rested players / didn't play players who had knocks that in we would have played in other games I reckon. But in general I agree with what you're saying.

[RobWigan]

It is impossible for Wane to rest players, it is a high profile game with a new shirt brought out, Warner Bros and the RFL not be happy seeing our 2nd string wearing iy

[josie andrews]

Powell powers into the frame

CODE-breaker Andy Powell has powered into the frame for Wigan’s play-off charge.

Shaun Wane confirmed last night he planned to name the Welshman in his squad for Thursday’s visit of Leeds, the last game of the regular season.

Wane was pleased with the 32-year-old’s display in the 34-33 loss against Hull FC last Friday and reckons he has earned a place in his 19-man squad.

He said: “I thought Andy was brilliant – I can’t tell you how pleased I was with his performance.

“He ran the ball hard and he was a handful, and took the juice out of Hull.

“I’ll be looking at him. I think he’s earned another go and he’s a good chance of playing.”

Powell arrived mid-season from Sale Sharks.

He has figured three times for Wigan, though coaches have repeatedly said they expect to see the best of him in 2014 once he has settled into the 13-a-side code and benefited from a pre-season.

Wane added: “I didn’t imagine picking him so soon for a big game like this, but he’s warranted it.

“He’s in front of where we expected him to be with his development.”

Powell could come in for Epa Lauaki, who has dropped out of the frame.

Wane will name his 19-man squad this afternoon and, as revealed yesterday, will see him recall many of his Challenge Cup heroes.

The only doubt surrounds Sean O’Loughlin (calf), who visited a specialist in London yesterday.

http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... -1-6006343

[Aluaka]

Yep, seeing Andy Powell play again - prior to the playoffs - would be interesting.

I'd prefer him as interchange rather than in the starting team at this point though

If he pays as he did against Hull he could be handy to sap some energy from the
Leeds big lads, breaking them down for our top payers to then use to their advantage.