Wigan squad for Leeds (SLR5)

[Southern Softy]

French at FB - not a good defender and doesn't look likely to break the line on a kick return. French in the halves - doesn't need to defend except when close to the man, where he is more than useful - brilliant at making space in tight situations.
Field at FB - excellent in defence and always likely to break the line after receiving a kick. Field in the halves - competent in defence and less likely to break the line when tightly marked.
Moral - play your best players in their most effective positions. If Field is absent - leave Bevan in the halves and find another FB.
I was a bit surprised that Douglas, Eckersley and Farrimond didn't seize their opportunities. What better chance could a young player have than being brought in and making a name for yourself?
Young props should be eyeing Mago's position. He was poor again.
Walters was outstanding again but why aren't we using our left flank more. It's by far our best option.
Looks like Vegas wasn't the success story we thought but is perhaps wrecking the season.

I don’t understand what you mean? He saved a try just before the try line by one of Leeds players who was twice the size of French!

One swallow doesn't make a summer. The real point is that he offers so much more in the halves.

[endoman]

If Field not ready ( and I would rest him anyway ) I'd simply put Hodgkinson in vs Salford and keep Eckersley at centre with Bevan back to stand off.

[josie andrews]

If Field not ready ( and I would rest him anyway ) I'd simply put Hodgkinson in vs Salford and keep Eckersley at centre with Bevan back to stand off.

Good call

[NICKYKISS]

Same again for me. I thought Douglas, Eckersley and Farrimond were all fine. As a team we didn't attack that well but we struggled for position much of the time. Douglas made that error but bounced back from it well, Eckersley was a threat carrying the ball but didn't get much space and Farrimond again didn't get much opportunity in good positions but I thought he was absolutely superb in defence. They deserve an opportunity against a weakened Salford IMO and Field can be wrapped in cotton wool for HKR and Saints.

[eaststandspy]

It's not the end of the world when we lose a couple, no need for suicidal thoughts just yet. I have a suggestion on selection due to our current plight. Round pegs for round holes.
For our next game against Salford I would like to see a few tweaks to last weeks team, Hodgkinson at full back, French back to 6, Walters to start instead of Byrne, subs, change the usual format a bit, Farrimond for Forber, Hill for Mago, with Dupree & Kerr making up the four.
The bench has a different make up to the usual three props. I know there are a few young players in there, perhaps too many, but for this game I think it's worth a try.
Forber didn't get on last week so my thinking is Farrimond gives a bit of flexibility, his defence was quite solid last week so I think he could do a spell for Leeming, he could get his hands the ball and use his great footwork to take the line on more rather than being just a catch and pass man. he is too good to be just that. Naturally he can cover the halves if need be.
Mago is a favourite of mine, but if his contribution for whatever reason is going to be that of the previous couple of weeks then freshen things up by giving Hill some minutes, preferably more than the 15-20 minutes Paddy has been doing. I would like to see Kerr in there at this time, because every time I see him I see a star in the making. A few specially selected games would aid his progress.

[Wintergreen]

I've given up trying to pick the team.

Half the subs don't get used, props that do get on think they are half backs and without Field and French on the pitch at the same time our gameplan seems to be "kick for the wingers".

[Mike]

Think theres some major over reaction here we scored two decent tries gave them two one of which was ridiculous Leeds did not deserve those points. Its clear Bev at FB is easier to defend but should have won that . Im not sure Connor passed backwards all game . Walters was great I thought as I thought was Leeming again seems I'm in the minority there .... Jai's scan was clear . Not pressing the panic button just yet it happens. Stop talking about Vegas its done sick of hearing it Warrington beat Stains last night.

Maybe the club should stop talking about Vegas. You would have thought we had won a GF the way it has banged on about it. Now they are talking about what happens next season. Its a ridiculous distraction.

As it is early season form has been shocking. Lost to Leigh and Leeds and out of the cup at the first hurdle. I do not think people are over reacting.

If we go on and win the GF would you think people were over-reacting at this point? Probably not TBH, I can't see it. This is exactly what happened last year when we weren't at our best in every single game. "Peet out - can't coach". "Not going to win anything may as well give up this year". "All the players are crap". When we've lost 5 or 6 in a row give me a shout. The expectation that a squad can be at their very best in every single match is sooo unrealistic IMO, and yet people still cling to it.

[Mike]

We don't know what's going on though!
Last week Bevan was reported as having an illness, this week it was Paddy.
Miski pulls up in the warm up.
Who knows what's going on?

Thought the lads out there did the best they could under very trying and impossible circumstances.
To lose by 2 points after a freak try after Hall heading the ball is tough luck. Thought after that Saint's incident 20 years or so ago a team couldn't score if a ball had been headed.
Maybe the rule has changed. Maybe the officials had never heard of the rule.

I thought that too. Maybe you have to do it deliberately or something, but they never asked that question (not that I think he did BTW!)

[Mike]

French to halves Eckersley to fullback

French has got to play 6, the golden rule in rugby league is that your best players have got to handle the ball more often than the rest of the team. Eckersley played well, we are going to have to play Hodgkinson at fullback. Farrimond was very poor tonight but, to be fair, he is another Smith not a Bevan.i

But he's never a stand off.

[NICKYKISS]

Hand on heart, I have got the feeling this past couple of weeks that French has little interest for playing fullback anymore and I understand that but he's a good character and I'm sure he'll do what's best for the team. I'd put him there on Sunday and give Field another week (2 due to the cup). If we can't get over this Salford team, at home, with them having picked up more knocks last week, then we really have had a poor start.