easyWire wrote:

99.99% of the time it’s all a bit of harmless banter. I know there’s been pockets of trouble in the past, but I’d sooner watch a Warrington game in the middle of the away end, than watch it from home with no crowds allowed in the grounds and fake cheering on the TV.

In fact, if I could afford it, I’d buy all you Wigan fans a beer at the match. It would be that cheap ‘Baltic Lager’ crap you get in bulk at Quality Save, but it would be a nice gesture nonetheless.

See you on the 29th.

I agree on the tv and fake crowd noise, but not sure I agree with the 99.99% figure.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Egg Chasing wrote:

I agree on the tv and fake crowd noise, but not sure I agree with the 99.99% figure.

One would imagine that the majority of the big event bell ends that come out and cause trouble (on both sides) probably wont be making the trip for this game.

Pretty strong squad announced

There's no French for obvious reasons and Zak must not be as far along with his rehabilitation as we would like

CM Punk wrote:

Pretty strong squad announced

Really can't remember the last time we had such sequential squad numbers announced for a team (bar Hastings fave number of course), seems like an age ago that the numbers 1-17 appeard in a squad line up

CM Punk wrote:

Pretty strong squad announced

I’m interested in what we do in centres this week. With no Hardaker.

I’ve been of the opinion Bibby will play a lot of centre this year with Miski being on the right wing (Bibby isn’t fast enough or good enough under the high ball for me).

Thornley getting number 4 indicates he could be first choice, fascinated to see how he goes as from the outside looking in it’s a weird signing.

KPP was it a one week experiment in a friendly, or does Peet see him as a fill in option out wide? For me he needs to be in the team every week, freak talent, offers X factor and IMO won’t be long til he’s in the NRL so May aswell make the most out of him.

Halsall impressed me a lot against Newcastle. Seems to have a gained size over the preseason and was surprisingly fast with his interception. Could be a good cover option but putting Faz/Isa in there. He didn’t let us down on the wing last year.


Also loose forward is interesting. I’m expecting to see Bateman at loose with Isa right back row, Farrell left back row.

Is that Batemans best position ? Probably not just can’t imagine Isa not starting. Smithies, Shorrocks and Oli P are further down the pecking order.

Exciting that the depth looks much improved this year and we actually have options.

NSW wrote:

Also loose forward is interesting. I’m expecting to see Bateman at loose with Isa right back row, Farrell left back row.

Is that Batemans best position ? Probably not just can’t imagine Isa not starting. Smithies, Shorrocks and Oli P are further down the pecking order.

I think that's how we will start the season but Bateman's best position is second row. It wouldn't surprise me as the season progresses that Isa moves to the bench. Bateman, Isa & Farrell are all too similar for me to be playing in that system. If Isa moves to the bench, Bateman back to second row, i think Shorrocks will make the 13 position his own. I am not convinced by Partington. Smithies needs to have big season this year.

I’d expect a back row of Isa, Farrell and Bateman also and I’d back them all to get the job done. They’re superb players but I do agree it might not be the best balance long term given a lack of real size.

I’d still like to see Bateman at loose forward, both personally in form and in a side playing well before forming real judgments. He hardly got to play there last season and I got a sense he quite fancied a go at the position when he came back. If that did work out I’d love to see a back three of Pearce-Paul, Farrell and Bateman over time and I think you’d get a bit of everything. We clearly wouldn’t have that Lockers style 13 then but who does?

Whatever happens the competition is going to be intense and all of the back row forwards are going to have to play well or they won’t play.

NickyKiss wrote:

I’d expect a back row of Isa, Farrell and Bateman also and I’d back them all to get the job done. They’re superb players but I do agree it might not be the best balance long term given a lack of real size.

I’d still like to see Bateman at loose forward, both personally in form and in a side playing well before forming real judgments. He hardly got to play there last season and I got a sense he quite fancied a go at the position when he came back. If that did work out I’d love to see a back three of Pearce-Paul, Farrell and Bateman over time and I think you’d get a bit of everything. We clearly wouldn’t have that Lockers style 13 then but who does?

Whatever happens the competition is going to be intense and all of the back row forwards are going to have to play well or they won’t play.

Bateman for me needs to move to 13. He falls into that category of players that can and should move positions. I have zero doubt that he would make it a success too.

Like you said, it's hard to judge anything based off last season. I do think however that we saw plenty of flashes of him working around the middle and trying to make things happen.