Wigan Warriors duo banned for Challenge Cup Final after landing charges

[southportcdm]

I'm hopeful that Eckersley will do a good job but Dupree is a big loss. He made such a difference to us last year. Our pack is stronger overall this season but Byrne has been unreliable and has underperformed when he's played and Mago has started to slip back into his old form recently. One of these will have to play on Saturday but I wouldn't want both of them. I'd definitely play Hill (I hope Matty actually puts him on the pitch at some point) and I think Mago deserves a chance to recapture what we know he can do. I'm starting to worry that Byrne may never develop into the player we all hoped he would. Mago, Hill, Walters and Leeming on the bench. We could use O'Neil for a short spell at 13 whilst Leeming is on to move Ellis to prop if necessary. I know he's really a backrower but Walters could probably offer more than Byrne in a short spell at prop and he offers cover for Faz and Junior. I thought we would beat them with a full squad but the two suspensions will make it really tough. We should put pressure on wire by making them favourites and see if it really is their year.

[God2]

Warrington think they have got this in the bag after the weekends performance.

These bans will motivate the group, I’ve got a feeling Marshall won’t play either and Douglas will get the nod. A completely different player imo but he will go well.

Eckersley will go up against King a fan favourite for us last year imo, King is excellent in yardage and puts Warrington on the front foot so we have got to be strong and reduce that.

We need to test Dufty who I think is their weak link from a positional perspective with smart kicks.

I genuinely think we will beat this lot, wipe that smugness off them, even tho we won it felt like a defeat and Warrington played up to that.

[Mike]

My biggest concern is the kicking. It could be a close match and we'll be at a disadvantage it Harry loses confidence after a couple of misses. IMO Keiran's was a red, and would have been in previous seasons. I reckon it does warrant the grade D charge in this current regime. Its the shoulder charge nature of the challenge that does it for me. Combined with the outcome - which was very forceful contact with the head, the mitigation of rapid loss of height loses some weight.

Dupre will also be a loss, but its more marginal IMO. His offence definitely warrants a ban unless it was accidental, or caused by interference. I haven't watched it back so I dont know if there is anything there, but if there's evidence for that, we should appeal. I'd say that watching it live I thought it was delibrate and was amazed the ref missed it.

I'd also say the shoulder charge tackle from Wire earlier in the game should have been reviewed. Seemed to be pretty serious to me.

The other high shots, IMO were grabbing arms rather than swinging arms, and are marginal whether they should be reviewed. Certainly in the first 4 weeks of the season they would all have been yellow cards and 1 match bans, but that is not where we are now. On field interpretations seem to be back to something like normal, but bans are still slightly longer and giving out more often.

[morley pie eater]

I've not seen enough of Eckersley to know if I'd play him, and Peet must also decide how the lad would cope with the occasion. In general it's good for youngsters to be given a chance in a big game.

There's also the left centre/right centre factor to consider. Does Eckersley have experience at 3? Or can Wardle switch? Though it would be a shame to break up the Wardle-Marshall partnership which is developing nicely.

Final thought - I don't think anyone has proposed Walters at centre. Might be a better option than Nsemba, but again, I don't know what their backgrounds are at academy or reserve level - I'm just adding to the list of options to consider.

[widdenoldboy]

Eckersley is the best bet on paper but its a big ask for a youngster.
Same applies to playing Nsemba there - in the Academy/Reserves he tended to roam wide and I thought he could make that transition but he has run straighter in the first team so, unsure. He is also playing well in the 2nd row so why weaken the forwards more?
Walters has more experience but not sure if he has ever played centre?

[southportcdm]

Just realised that I forgot Cooper in my reckoning and that helps mitgate the loss of Dupree to some extent. Given his experience and assuming he's fit enough Coops should be on the bench (if Havard starts) with Leeming. That then leaves two from Byrne, Hill, Mago and Walters. As much as I rate Nsemba, I really can't see him having the speed or mobility to play at centre, it has to be Eckersley with Walters as emergency backup as the last couple of posters have suggested.

[Wiganer Ted]

Eckersley to centre and Cooper to replace Dupree.
Time for Zac to step up and who better motivated to beat Warrington than Mike Cooper.

Field,
Miski, Eckersley, Wardle, Marshall,
French, Smith,
Havard, O'Neil, Thompson,
Farrell, Nsemba,
Ellis,

Bench - Mago, Cooper, Hill/Walters, Leeming.

[moto748]

I don't suppose Eckersley can kick goals?

[EagleEyePie]

I don't suppose Eckersley can kick goals?

I know it's tongue in cheek but as a matter of fact he can He's kicked goals for the reserves/academy and used to practice goalkicking with Joe and George Ford up in Oldham.

From what I've seen of Eckersley he's a real talent and he's at the age when he should be pushing for a first team place. I seem to recall him mostly being a left sided player but I think if Peet goes for any other option it's massively overthinking things.

Suggestions of Nsemba playing centre seem a bit wild. He's played like 2 or 3 games there in his entire time at the club as far as I can remember I don't think he's ever really impressed there. He's also still a bit weak positionally and with reading the game at second row, and centre tends to be the hardest position to defend in because of the decision making involved. Get it wrong and it often leads to a try. I think it makes little sense to throw in someone unfamiliar with the role rather than trust a player in their preferred position.

All other options come with drawbacks. Nsemba is defensively naive and relatively untested in the role. Walters is the same and lacks mobility for a centre at the highest level. Farrell has played there but is also pretty much exclusively a left sided player.

As the saying goes, keep it simple, stupid.

[doc]

Eckersley at centre for me. Have seen Junior play there for the academy/reserves and he was a shadow of the player he is at 2nd row; definitely 2nd row/prop rather than 2nd row/centre.