Wigan squad for Hull FC (R23)

[morley pie eater]

I can see Wintergreen's point to some extent. Hopefully we'll have French, Smith, Faz and Ellis back before the play-offs, and minds will be more focused maybe. The other positive is the young lads who've been given a chance to sign and not let us down: Eckersley, Farrimond, Douglas, Nsemba.

But today even Marshy and Wardle looked jaded at times. The left edge defence was appalling in the first half. And if they're feeling the effects of a long season with many crucial games, and finding it hard to lift themselves to the same level week after week after week, just imagine how Thompson, Dupree, Havard and other forwards feel.

I'm not blaming the players one bit - what they've been asked to do is pretty much inhuman, and if not that then impossible. They need a week (or more) off. Reset. It should have been done a month ago like when we played Hull away (and I said so at the time). If we carry on playing our "best team" week after week, we go out in the semis - simple.

[Firestarter]

We need to give forber more game time.Im sure hes in our plans for the finals so give him minutes.If leeming gets injured now we could be knackered.Not sure if forber even came on

[josie andrews]

We need to give forber more game time.Im sure hes in our plans for the finals so give him minutes.If leeming gets injured now we could be knackered.Not sure if forber even came on

Last 14 minutes, he’s still building his strength up.

[DaveO]

I can see Wintergreen's point to some extent. Hopefully we'll have French, Smith, Faz and Ellis back before the play-offs, and minds will be more focused maybe. The other positive is the young lads who've been given a chance to sign and not let us down: Eckersley, Farrimond, Douglas, Nsemba.

But today even Marshy and Wardle looked jaded at times. The left edge defence was appalling in the first half. And if they're feeling the effects of a long season with many crucial games, and finding it hard to lift themselves to the same level week after week after week, just imagine how Thompson, Dupree, Havard and other forwards feel.

I'm not blaming the players one bit - what they've been asked to do is pretty much inhuman, and if not that then impossible. They need a week (or more) off. Reset. It should have been done a month ago like when we played Hull away (and I said so at the time). If we carry on playing our "best team" week after week, we go out in the semis - simple.

I don’t buy the excuse we are tired. Why? The WCC was months ago. So was the CC. It’s been game a week since then bar the extra fixture v Leigh. They are professional athletes not semi pro players playing after a shift at work.

This season is as long as any other.

That was a poor performance despite the win and so have been the last few but if there is a legitimate excuse it is injuries and suspensions but we really should not be saying we are tired. If we are, then we won’t be any fresher for the playoffs.

[moto748]

I can see Wintergreen's point to some extent. Hopefully we'll have French, Smith, Faz and Ellis back before the play-offs, and minds will be more focused maybe. The other positive is the young lads who've been given a chance to sign and not let us down: Eckersley, Farrimond, Douglas, Nsemba.

But today even Marshy and Wardle looked jaded at times. The left edge defence was appalling in the first half. And if they're feeling the effects of a long season with many crucial games, and finding it hard to lift themselves to the same level week after week after week, just imagine how Thompson, Dupree, Havard and other forwards feel.

I'm not blaming the players one bit - what they've been asked to do is pretty much inhuman, and if not that then impossible. They need a week (or more) off. Reset. It should have been done a month ago like when we played Hull away (and I said so at the time). If we carry on playing our "best team" week after week, we go out in the semis - simple.

Agree. Particularly about Wardle. He's a cracking player, but it seems like we've run him into the ground a bit. Douglas didn't let anyone down, and Miski certainly needed a break. With you on Thompson. What a guy! Puts in a shift every week, and always has that urgency.

[Charriots Offiah]

I think the general consensus is that we are tired and the prospect of us lifting any more silverware is nothing but a dream. Personally, I think we have every chance of cleaning up providing we can get our strongest 17 on the paddock. The difference that French, Smith, Ellis and Faz can make is immense. Three of our remaining games are at home and we have a fantastic record at The Brick/DW. A win in Perpignan will set us up perfectly for a title decider (in my view) against HKR. Whatever happens, I am certain that we will not roll over, the opposition will need to earn the right to be called Champions and fair play to them if they do beat us.

[moto748]

We may be tired (who isn't?), but I'm certainly far from despondent, Charriots. Win our remaining games and we have the hub-cap. Even if we don't, we are very well positioned.

[The Pearl1]

I think the general consensus is that we are tired and the prospect of us lifting any more silverware is nothing but a dream. Personally, I think we have every chance of cleaning up providing we can get our strongest 17 on the paddock. The difference that French, Smith, Ellis and Faz can make is immense. Three of our remaining games are at home and we have a fantastic record at The Brick/DW. A win in Perpignan will set us up perfectly for a title decider (in my view) against HKR. Whatever happens, I am certain that we will not roll over, the opposition will need to earn the right to be called Champions and fair play to them if they do beat us.

We are heavy favourites with the book makers to win both the LLS and the GF.

“Nothing more than a dream” is very strange talk.

Field, Smith and French haven’t played together since Wembley where we absolutely hammered Wire after embarrassing HKR in the semi (we also embarrassed them in the semi before the GF last year).

We’ll get them back, intensity will resume and we’ll be the team to fear.

[Graham1]

The team is tired because of our style of play. Its one up rugby head down and try to bash there way through. We play a physical sport and with this style of play bodies get battered and bruised. In our case more so. Take Farrell for example he played 3 games in 10 days no wonder he is now injured. No way a guy at he’s age should we have put him through that.That was poor man management.

The way we attack is making us tired. We hardly use any dummy runners and our ball movement is poor. We can’t even score from a scrum against poor backlines like Hull.

Catalan is always a forwards game and ours will be knackered come the end of it. But to win LLS it’s a must win, lose and it’s Hkr no matter if we beat hkr as points difference is in their favour.

[Southern Softy]

Obviously it wasn't very inspiring but maybe we play better against better sides. Hull were sort of plucky but pretty awful for a SL team.
We had some good performances - Nsemba, Douglas, after a sticky defensive start, Thompson - but too many players looked a bit knackered.
Nice to see the family Moore are consistently awful. Mago was stupid but it wasn't a yellow and why nothing was done about Dupree being flattened off the ball was baffling. Lying on will kill the game if it isn't checked. Two early penalties against Hull and then Moore gave up, with one final bit of humour when he penalised Wigan for holding down at the end of the match.
I suspect we'll need to be a bit better at Cats on Saturday.