Re: Squad for the final : Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:11 pm  

Likely to be going off what team you lot are posting:

Wellens v Sam T
Gardner v Goulding
Gidley v Gleeson
Meli v Carmont
Foster v Richards
Wilkin v Deaco
Smith v Leuluai
Graham v Fielden
Cunningham v Riddell
Hargreaves v Coley
Soliola v Joel T
Flannery v Hansen
Roby v O'Loughlin

Puletua v Feka
Clough v Farrell
Emmitt v Prescott
Dixon/Lomax v McIlorum

Re: Squad for the final : Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:12 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Actually, you'd probably put wilkin inside Gidley and smith outside flannery, so that would be a pretty robust line up. It still wouldn't make me worry if Lomax came in though - he's a pretty tough character and doesn't mind the tackling.

I've played with Johnny and he certainly won't shy away from a tackle. Rather like Roby in that respect.

Re: Squad for the final : Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:15 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Actually, you'd probably put wilkin inside Gidley and smith outside flannery, so that would be a pretty robust line up. It still wouldn't make me worry if Lomax came in though - he's a pretty tough character and doesn't mind the tackling.

I agree, tough decision. If we don't put Lomax in i fear that we may lack that spark in attack, which is why i'd be very tempted to have him on the bench in place of Dixon. Tough decisions.

Re: Squad for the final : Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:19 pm  

No way will either Puletua or Soliola start from the bench! The Wigan pack needs shaking up!

Wellens
Gardner
Meli
Gidley
Foster
Wilkin
Smith
Graham
KC
Hargreaves
Soliola
Puletua
Flannery

Roby
Clough
Emmitt
Dixon

That should be our line up but I have no problem if Lomax plays.

Re: Squad for the final : Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:37 pm  

It wont happen but I'd be tempted to have Lomax on one wing and Foster on the other.

Wigan will assume Meli is going to be on the wing and bombing him will be one of their main tactics.

If we can negate that then all we got to do is tie Tompkins laces together and its sorted

Re: Squad for the final : Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:49 pm  

Chief Scout wrote:

No way will either Puletua or Soliola start from the bench! The Wigan pack needs shaking up!

Wellens
Gardner
Meli
Gidley
Foster
Wilkin
Smith
Graham
KC
Hargreaves
Soliola
Puletua
Flannery

Roby
Clough
Emmitt
Dixon

That should be our line up but I have no problem if Lomax plays.

^^^^
Is exactly what I was gonna post.

I can't for the life of me understand why some would:
a) Want Meli on the wing again after losing us the last 3 Grand Finals.
b) Not want what has looked a fairly decent partnership in which both Gardner's and Meli's play improved, bar the early opening exchanges against Warrington which so happen to come after having had a week off.
c) Want a young half back in the side who hasn't played for a few weeks and picks up injuries as much as Eastmond and Wheeler does.

If we really wanted an spark in attack for the full 80 minutes the logical choice would be to play Roby at 13 with Puletua to drop to the bench, but then whilst we'd overpower the Wigan bench, it could be too risky and leave us to then be overpowered by Wigan's starting pack, so I'd say too you can pretty much expect Soliola and Puletua to start.

Re: Squad for the final : Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:34 pm  

Chief Scout wrote:

No way will either Puletua or Soliola start from the bench! The Wigan pack needs shaking up!

Wellens
Gardner
Meli
Gidley
Foster
Wilkin
Smith
Graham
KC
Hargreaves
Soliola
Puletua
Flannery

Roby
Clough
Emmitt
Dixon

That should be our line up but I have no problem if Lomax plays.

I agree with you on the pack. Whether we win is going to depend a lot on knocking the snot out of the Wigan pack in the first 15-20 mins. I'd also prefer to see Meli in the centres.

Lomax should play if he's fit, I reckon. That would leave a tough decision on who to leave out.

Offside Monkey wrote:

I just hope he does make it a hat trick of OT nightmares.

Stonecold_jpm wrote:

I can't for the life of me understand why some would:
a) Want Meli on the wing again after losing us the last 3 Grand Finals.

Look, he played a part in us losing the last two, but I hope you aren't really suggesting 2007 was Meli's fault.

Re: Squad for the final : Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:42 pm  

Wellens

Gardner...Gidley...Meli....Foster

Wilkin.....Smith

Hargreaves...Cunningham.....Graham

Soliola.....Puletua

Flannery

Roby....Clough.....Lomax.....Dixon

Re: Squad for the final : Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:50 pm  

AKM wrote:

Wellens

Gardner...Gidley...Meli....Foster

Wilkin.....Smith

Hargreaves...Cunningham.....Graham

Soliola.....Puletua

Flannery

Roby....Clough.....Lomax.....Dixon

That is a small bench!!

For me lomax to start. Wilkin to move to the back row allowing puletua to prop from the bench. Lomax adds options in attack and puletua adds size to the bench when rotating the forwards.

Re: Squad for the final : Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:52 pm  

1. Wellens
2. Gardner
3. Flannery
4. Gidley
5. Foster
6. Lomax
7. Smith
8. Hargreaves
9. Cunningham
10. Graham
11. Soliola
12. Puletua
13. Wilkin

14. Roby
15. Emmitt
16. Clough
17. Dixon