In testing times it's always good to go back to basics IMO.



For me we know Tommy & Sam work as a HB pairing and when Lockers played at 13 our attack was the best in SL. Sam is probably the best #6 in SL and, IMO, Lockers is the best 13 in SL. Let's use these quality players in thier natural position for this massive game.



A lot of our good early season form came off the back of Amos but I don't think we are that much of a one man team that we couldn't have added Phelps in at #1 and lost to much momentum.



I'm still confident we'll win.

I think after last week there has been a HUGE knee-jerk reaction from our fans.



Ok, Lockers going to 6 isn't ideal, but we do forget that last week we only lost by 1pt to the Grand Final winners for the last 3 years, who played very well, on the other hand we didn't play anywhere near our potential. If Madge doesn't think Amos is fit/confident enough then we have to trust in him. He has named 4 props, which many if not all of our fans have asked for.

A little worrying Lockers being at 6 but I'm just hoping we'll have to much for KR anyway. Then hopefully come semi-final time either Deacon will be back or we'll have more of a shuffle of the team to get Sam back to 6. The short turn around this week maybe part of the reason why Madge doesn't want to do to much tinkering with the lineup.

It is not a knee jerk reaction to say Lockers is no good at 6. It has never worked.



As to last week the wheels came off when Deacon went off and Lockers went to six. Surely you can see that is what happened? We lost our way with that change so to start a game with that formation is nuts IMO.



It's clear to everyone we have better options. As someone just said why not go back to basics and play Sam and TL in the halves and Lockers at 13 because earlier this season we were on fire with that combination?



We may still beat HKR but we won't win the week after if we persist with this combination should Deacon still be out.



Dave

Lockers broke into the Wigan 1st team playing at 6, the last time we got to a Grand Final he was playing at 6, so he has more than enough experience playing there.

We HAVE to play Sam at stand off and lockers at 13. Then the only question is do you put Pat at fullback(defensively sound but will lose out on a an extra pivot in attack, and Pats potency out wide). Roberts/Phelps at Fullback



If Pat is at fullback we have Marsh/Charnley/Roberts for the wing spot.



We should also play 4 props.



Isn't it amazing how having Deacon out, who most people(me included) thought would only be cover this year, cause such a headache.

We need a good kicking game and tommy and lockers are not the answer. Sam is the better option at 6 for kicking alone.

Not a very good example to prove your case...

Does anyone think that it's a good idea to play Lockers at #6?



For me it's the equivalent to playing Joel at centre - he could probably do a job in an emergency but he plays much better in natural position and we shouldn't start a game with him there. We've had 4 days to try Phelps and Roberts back in the team - they must have been pretty shocking if neither is preferable to Lockers playing stand-off! Either that or neither of them will be here next year so MM doesn't want to reintroduce them to the squad.



My optimism for tomorrow night is starting to evaporate!

No.

We might aswell just go wide after every set of 6 tomorrow because we'll prob get better territory from doing that than Tommy or Lockers kicking.

To start with O'Loughlin at 6 is ludicrous. It's totally unfair on Lockers, and offers us little chance of playing how we should. He's an out and out loose forward, and probably the best in SL, so why move him to stand off?



He shouldn't have been moved to 6 on Sunday and certainly shouldn't start there on Friday! Sam at 6, Roberts at 1, Pat at 5 and O'Loughlin at 13 is surely the only way to go given the squad we have announced?



If Roberts isn't fit and in form, he shouldn't have been picked and if that's the case then it's a huge error from Maguire.

Watch him have a blinder now