Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

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josie andrews
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Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

Post by josie andrews »

Joe Bullock may muscle back into the Wigan frame this week as Adrian Lam gets ready to make changes to his team for the visit of Toronto.

The ex-Barrow prop hasn't figured since suffering a knee ligament injury last July.

He was overlooked for Wigan's opening two matches but Lam always intended to freshen-up his middle unit for the visit of Toronto, and says Bullock is in the mix.

"I think it might be time to give Joe Bullock a go, that's the way we're thinking at the moment," said the coach, who still has senior forwards Mitch Clark and Joe Greenwood waiting in the wings.

Lam will today name his 21-man squad for the club's first-ever game against the Brian McDermott-coached Wolfpack, with question-marks hanging over some players.

Prop George Burgess is still nursing a hip injury which ruled him out of Friday's 16-12 loss at Castleford.

Hooker Sam Powell also missed that game following a head knock in the opener, and is waiting for clearance from a specialist to return.

If he gets the green-light to play, his ability to play 80 minutes gives Lam the option of stacking his bench with four forwards; otherwise, Harry Smith may continue at halfback with Jake Shorrocks on the bench to cover hooker, providing he recovers from a calf strain.

“ I'm still undecided with my team because I've a few to take into consideration," said Lam.

"I thought Harry was okay in the halves, he kicked pretty well for us against Castleford. He certainly has the respect of the players around him and I'd have no concerns if we picked him again."

Lam had hoped to have Welshman Ben Flower back in contention but his return to the side has been hampered by a back-strain.

Winger Dom Manfredi is another frontline player close to a return. He played in one pre-season friendly last month, his first game-time since his 2019 was cut short by another serious knee injury.

"We've had to weigh up where Ben is he was going to come into the picture so we'll give him a day or two and see where he's at," added Lam.

"Dom needs to clear some testing tomorrow and then we'll bring him into consideration."

Asked whether he will soon have some selection headaches, Lam replied: "If we start playing well and winning we will."


Hull forward Chris Satae will miss the game at Wigan on February 23 after being been banned for three games for a late tackle.

Satae was charged with a grade C offence by the Rugby Football League's match review panel following an incident in the Hull derby on Friday.

The panel issued a caution to Wigan prop Ethan Havard.
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DaveO
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Re: Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

Post by DaveO »

"I think it might be time to give Joe Bullock a go, that's the way we're thinking at the moment," said the coach, who still has senior forwards Mitch Clark and Joe Greenwood waiting in the wings.
Time to give him a go? The way he talks you'd think he's not seen anything amiss in the forwards. While I don't expect him to slag off the young players some acknowledgement a couple need spelling with a rest might at least give us the impression he knows what he's doing. Not that it was always his intention as if playing four young forwards was absolutely fine last week without issue and this is all part of a plan.

And is there any reason why at least one of Greenwood and Clark should also not figure?
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Re: Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

Post by Wigan_forever1985 »

DaveO wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:51 am
"I think it might be time to give Joe Bullock a go, that's the way we're thinking at the moment," said the coach, who still has senior forwards Mitch Clark and Joe Greenwood waiting in the wings.
Time to give him a go? The way he talks you'd think he's not seen anything amiss in the forwards. While I don't expect him to slag off the young players some acknowledgement a couple need spelling with a rest might at least give us the impression he knows what he's doing. Not that it was always his intention as if playing four young forwards was absolutely fine last week without issue and this is all part of a plan.

And is there any reason why at least one of Greenwood and Clark should also not figure?
Clark have never held a starting spot at any club he has played at including championship level, he very rarely made the cas squad even when they were down on players - i genuinely cant understand why anyone thought it would be any different with Wigan regardless of the management speak from Rads. we would of been better off grabbing Battye from London as a cheap workhorse

Greenwood is a bit like an improved Karl Pryce - one of the best 2nd rows in the comp on his day but looks like a footballer everytime he gets tackled - and inevitably leaves the field after a few games back
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure
shaunedwardsfanclub
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Re: Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

Post by shaunedwardsfanclub »

Wigan_forever1985 wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:07 am
DaveO wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:51 am
"I think it might be time to give Joe Bullock a go, that's the way we're thinking at the moment," said the coach, who still has senior forwards Mitch Clark and Joe Greenwood waiting in the wings.
Time to give him a go? The way he talks you'd think he's not seen anything amiss in the forwards. While I don't expect him to slag off the young players some acknowledgement a couple need spelling with a rest might at least give us the impression he knows what he's doing. Not that it was always his intention as if playing four young forwards was absolutely fine last week without issue and this is all part of a plan.

And is there any reason why at least one of Greenwood and Clark should also not figure?
Clark have never held a starting spot at any club he has played at including championship level, he very rarely made the cas squad even when they were down on players - i genuinely cant understand why anyone thought it would be any different with Wigan regardless of the management speak from Rads. we would of been better off grabbing Battye from London as a cheap workhorse

Greenwood is a bit like an improved Karl Pryce - one of the best 2nd rows in the comp on his day but looks like a footballer everytime he gets tackled - and inevitably leaves the field after a few games back
If we had got rid of Clubb we could have spent his salary, together with Clark's salary, and signed a top class prop forward. The mind boggles!
Winning is down to 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration - Shaun Edwards
shaunedwardsfanclub
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Re: Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

Post by shaunedwardsfanclub »

DaveO wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:51 am
"I think it might be time to give Joe Bullock a go, that's the way we're thinking at the moment," said the coach, who still has senior forwards Mitch Clark and Joe Greenwood waiting in the wings.
Time to give him a go? The way he talks you'd think he's not seen anything amiss in the forwards. While I don't expect him to slag off the young players some acknowledgement a couple need spelling with a rest might at least give us the impression he knows what he's doing. Not that it was always his intention as if playing four young forwards was absolutely fine last week without issue and this is all part of a plan.

And is there any reason why at least one of Greenwood and Clark should also not figure?
Who in their right mind would play four very young forwards at Castleford and then stick a half back behind them who is playing his second senior game? Have they learned nothing from last season? If we are serious about challenging for honours then we need to win those games.
Winning is down to 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration - Shaun Edwards
DaveO
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Re: Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

Post by DaveO »

Wigan_forever1985 wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:07 am
DaveO wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:51 am
"I think it might be time to give Joe Bullock a go, that's the way we're thinking at the moment," said the coach, who still has senior forwards Mitch Clark and Joe Greenwood waiting in the wings.
Time to give him a go? The way he talks you'd think he's not seen anything amiss in the forwards. While I don't expect him to slag off the young players some acknowledgement a couple need spelling with a rest might at least give us the impression he knows what he's doing. Not that it was always his intention as if playing four young forwards was absolutely fine last week without issue and this is all part of a plan.

And is there any reason why at least one of Greenwood and Clark should also not figure?
Clark have never held a starting spot at any club he has played at including championship level, he very rarely made the cas squad even when they were down on players - i genuinely cant understand why anyone thought it would be any different with Wigan regardless of the management speak from Rads. we would of been better off grabbing Battye from London as a cheap workhorse

Greenwood is a bit like an improved Karl Pryce - one of the best 2nd rows in the comp on his day but looks like a footballer everytime he gets tackled - and inevitably leaves the field after a few games back
Greenwood along with Bateman formed the best 2nd row in the league when we won the GF so where this idea he's Karl Pryce MkII has come from I don't know. Yes I know he's had concussion and missed games as a result but if he can't get a game in front of the kids and more to the point looks behind them, what have the coaches been doing with him in the off season?

As to Clark I didn't say he should start but that he should figure. My point was the article read like he won't even be in the 17 with the only change to the props being Bullock. Picking both Bullock and Clark (even if Clark is used as impact off the bench) would at least go some way to making it look like Lam realised Clubb + juniors is not the way to go.
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Wigan_forever1985
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Re: Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

Post by Wigan_forever1985 »

DaveO wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:06 pm
Wigan_forever1985 wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:07 am
DaveO wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:51 am

Time to give him a go? The way he talks you'd think he's not seen anything amiss in the forwards. While I don't expect him to slag off the young players some acknowledgement a couple need spelling with a rest might at least give us the impression he knows what he's doing. Not that it was always his intention as if playing four young forwards was absolutely fine last week without issue and this is all part of a plan.

And is there any reason why at least one of Greenwood and Clark should also not figure?
Clark have never held a starting spot at any club he has played at including championship level, he very rarely made the cas squad even when they were down on players - i genuinely cant understand why anyone thought it would be any different with Wigan regardless of the management speak from Rads. we would of been better off grabbing Battye from London as a cheap workhorse

Greenwood is a bit like an improved Karl Pryce - one of the best 2nd rows in the comp on his day but looks like a footballer everytime he gets tackled - and inevitably leaves the field after a few games back
Greenwood along with Bateman formed the best 2nd row in the league when we won the GF so where this idea he's Karl Pryce MkII has come from I don't know. Yes I know he's had concussion and missed games as a result but if he can't get a game in front of the kids and more to the point looks behind them, what have the coaches been doing with him in the off season?

As to Clark I didn't say he should start but that he should figure. My point was the article read like he won't even be in the 17 with the only change to the props being Bullock. Picking both Bullock and Clark (even if Clark is used as impact off the bench) would at least go some way to making it look like Lam realised Clubb + juniors is not the way to go.
What i meant by the Karl Pryce comment is Hes a great player that seems to be made of paper, admittedly hes a lot less injury prone than karl pryce but does seem to be an issue with him

I totally agree with you re: clark but im guessing from the fact he never started nor was selected for most of the cas match squads - he just isnt good enough
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure
bertina
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Re: Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

Post by bertina »

DaveO wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:51 am
"I think it might be time to give Joe Bullock a go, that's the way we're thinking at the moment," said the coach, who still has senior forwards Mitch Clark and Joe Greenwood waiting in the wings.
Time to give him a go? The way he talks you'd think he's not seen anything amiss in the forwards. While I don't expect him to slag off the young players some acknowledgement a couple need spelling with a rest might at least give us the impression he knows what he's doing. Not that it was always his intention as if playing four young forwards was absolutely fine last week without issue and this is all part of a plan.

And is there any reason why at least one of Greenwood and Clark should also not figure?
I agree with you 100% Dave. If last friday's debacle doesn't tell Lam that he can't persist with playing all these kids at once then nothing will. No disrespect to any of them, but we had no go forward whatsoever.
To travel over there and sit through that crap, then listen to the coach say it was always his intention to "freshen up" the pack for the Toronto game just beggars belief. It was obvious to anybody with a grain of rugby nouse that those kids in the pack were getting mullered. I felt really sorry for Hastings and Smith trying to make something from nothing when we were on the back foot all night.
bertina
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Re: Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

Post by bertina »

shaunedwardsfanclub wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 11:43 am
Wigan_forever1985 wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:07 am
DaveO wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:51 am

Time to give him a go? The way he talks you'd think he's not seen anything amiss in the forwards. While I don't expect him to slag off the young players some acknowledgement a couple need spelling with a rest might at least give us the impression he knows what he's doing. Not that it was always his intention as if playing four young forwards was absolutely fine last week without issue and this is all part of a plan.

And is there any reason why at least one of Greenwood and Clark should also not figure?
Clark have never held a starting spot at any club he has played at including championship level, he very rarely made the cas squad even when they were down on players - i genuinely cant understand why anyone thought it would be any different with Wigan regardless of the management speak from Rads. we would of been better off grabbing Battye from London as a cheap workhorse

Greenwood is a bit like an improved Karl Pryce - one of the best 2nd rows in the comp on his day but looks like a footballer everytime he gets tackled - and inevitably leaves the field after a few games back
If we had got rid of Clubb we could have spent his salary, together with Clark's salary, and signed a top class prop forward. The mind boggles!
[/quote
]
Hallelujah.!!!
Tony Clubb. 10 minutes snail paced trundle for about 1.5 metres, and he's in every week.
Don't anyone try and convince me that either of Bullock, Clarke, or Greenwood can't improve on that.
DaveO
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Re: Joe Bullock back as Adrian Lam reveals Wigan Warriors team plans

Post by DaveO »

Wigan_forever1985 wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:16 pm
DaveO wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:06 pm
Wigan_forever1985 wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:07 am

Clark have never held a starting spot at any club he has played at including championship level, he very rarely made the cas squad even when they were down on players - i genuinely cant understand why anyone thought it would be any different with Wigan regardless of the management speak from Rads. we would of been better off grabbing Battye from London as a cheap workhorse

Greenwood is a bit like an improved Karl Pryce - one of the best 2nd rows in the comp on his day but looks like a footballer everytime he gets tackled - and inevitably leaves the field after a few games back
Greenwood along with Bateman formed the best 2nd row in the league when we won the GF so where this idea he's Karl Pryce MkII has come from I don't know. Yes I know he's had concussion and missed games as a result but if he can't get a game in front of the kids and more to the point looks behind them, what have the coaches been doing with him in the off season?

As to Clark I didn't say he should start but that he should figure. My point was the article read like he won't even be in the 17 with the only change to the props being Bullock. Picking both Bullock and Clark (even if Clark is used as impact off the bench) would at least go some way to making it look like Lam realised Clubb + juniors is not the way to go.
What i meant by the Karl Pryce comment is Hes a great player that seems to be made of paper, admittedly hes a lot less injury prone than karl pryce but does seem to be an issue with him

I totally agree with you re: clark but im guessing from the fact he never started nor was selected for most of the cas match squads - he just isnt good enough
Well if Clark's not good enough whoever recruited him needs to follow him out the door. Mistakes like that at are inexcusable.

Given all three of Bullock, Greenwood and Clarke are in the squad we will see who he picks. My guess is the most likely to miss out is Greenwood because Lam won't drop Isa.
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