Re: Catalans (h) : Tue Apr 30, 2024 3:22 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

It's been confirmed Cooper failed a HIA last week, so is forced our rather than being left out.

Did anyone see what happened to him - maybe explains a couple of errors?

Re: Catalans (h) : Tue Apr 30, 2024 3:43 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

The backs pretty much pick themselves for now but the make up of the forwards will be interesting. I expect Byrne and Walters will come in to the 17 from last week, so Cooper is one who is missing out and then we'd need one other. If they can get enough minutes in to Walters in the next couple of weeks and they feel he's capable of 80 minutes, I think it'll be Nsemba who misses out come the semi but for Friday, I wouldn't be surprised if it were Mago or Dupree. Either could count themselves unlucky but then neither have been rested as far as I remember. I'd say with Dupree having a week off with his ban, it would make Mago favourite and that would leave us looking something like-

Field
Miski Keighran Wardle Marshall
French Smith
Byrne O'Neill Thompson
Nsemba Farrell Ellis

Subs
Dupree Havard Walters Leeming

If everyone makes it through to the Cup semi, I think Walters will end up in the second row and Mago/Cooper will come on to the bench, with Nsemba missing out.

I agree with your 17. Hill has been a little unlucky but hopefully he will realise that his time will come.
Hopefully we get the right reaction from last week’s defeat.

Re: Catalans (h) : Tue Apr 30, 2024 3:59 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I agree with your 17. Hill has been a little unlucky but hopefully he will realise that his time will come.
Hopefully we get the right reaction from last week’s defeat.

If Walters does not play Hill should get his chance.

Re: Catalans (h) : Tue Apr 30, 2024 4:42 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

It's been confirmed Cooper failed a HIA last week, so is forced our rather than being left out.

I thought it was strange him being left out after so few games of his return. He's barely got up to speed yet. I thought it might be because we needed to get Byrne back in the side and he didn't want too many returnees at the same time but the HIA makes a lot more sense.

Re: Catalans (h) : Wed May 01, 2024 5:45 am  

Ashton Bears wrote:

If Walters does not play Hill should get his chance.

Just watched Matt Peet on Wigan TV and it sounds as if Walters won’t be in the 17.
Between Hill and Mago I suspect for a bench spot.

Re: Catalans (h) : Wed May 01, 2024 11:01 am  

I think Smith is lucky to keep his place. If Keighran is kicking he offers very little apart from bombs on the fifth, which are brilliant if we are in the right field place.

Re: Catalans (h) : Wed May 01, 2024 5:28 pm  

Inbed wrote:

I think Smith is lucky to keep his place. If Keighran is kicking he offers very little apart from bombs on the fifth, which are brilliant if we are in the right field place.

Rob/Stef/Lebron/etc's new "I'm a Wigan fan now" by any chance?

Re: Catalans (h) : Wed May 01, 2024 6:58 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

Rob/Stef/Lebron/etc's new "I'm a Wigan fan now" by any chance?

He should try and ease his way in with a few sensible posts but you are what you are I suppose.

Re: Catalans (h) : Wed May 01, 2024 8:45 pm  

Peet has confirmed Hampshire, Eckersley, Hill and Walters are the lads providing cover in the 21 man squad tomorrow, so it looks like the same team as last week, with just Byrne in for Cooper. He’s also said it’ll be full strength sides for a while now, with no rests/rotation, so a couple may go out on loan (Chan in particular was mentioned).

Re: Catalans (h) : Wed May 01, 2024 11:41 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Peet has confirmed Hampshire, Eckersley, Hill and Walters are the lads providing cover in the 21 man squad tomorrow, so it looks like the same team as last week, with just Byrne in for Cooper. He’s also said it’ll be full strength sides for a while now, with no rests/rotation, so a couple may go out on loan (Chan in particular was mentioned).

It's a difficult situation in that Hill should be in and around the full strength team and I think he would be almost anywhere else. Even without him there's 6 players for 4 (sometimes 5) first team prop positions. That's an embarrassment of riches.