Bit harsh on Tim, Wigan need stability now and we're slowly getting there.

Personally I thought Sam looked good enough to start and play a full 80 without any issue, and for me this could be the key.
Tim allowed the chance to be a true 7 playing with Sam at 6 could improve Tim. He could focus and passing and organising while Sam takes care of being a good number 6 getting SL experience playing with the first team.
Remember, when Tim was top notch over in Oz he was a true 7 playing along side a 6.

Getting Sam and Tim playing together regularly is what we need, we all know they're both very good players, just need the right setting.

So this for me leaves Tommy at 9, who for me, has been the best number 9 we have this season. He was very good at 9 in the WC, if he is spelled playing week in week out at 9 he'll only get better.
My issue Riddell, whether he is carrying a knock or just unfit he is not firing on all cylinders. Maybe time to get over an injury or to get match fit in the reserves, the issue is he isn't doing it. So, who is spell with Tommy is the issue for me-Riddell or McClorum, if Sam or Ainscough would have started as slow as Riddell they would have been dropped by now, is there a different rule for big name imports?

My team for next week:

1 Richards (Best FB we have)
2 Roberts (Speedy winger)
3 Bailey (Solid in defense, I thought he did well against Quins, better than Goulding or Phelps)
4 Carmont (Best C we have)
5 Ainscough (Quick step Robinson esq winger)
6 Tomkins (Ready to start, to play with TS)
7 Smith (Out and out 7, let him play that why to get the best from him)
8 Fielden (Why not)
9 Tommy (Best 9 we have)
10 O Carroll (Better than Coley, young lad who is getting better with each game)
11 Hansen (Tackle machine)
12 Lockers (Tackle machine)
13 Tomkins (Best Loose we have)
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14 Feka (Impact! interchange with O Carroll)
15 Hock (Impact! Runs like a prop, interchange with Fielden for me. Hock, Lockers and Hansen on the field at one time is solid enough)
16 Riddell/McClorum (Take your pick)
17 Pryce (Could play across the backs or in the pack for size if needed. Offers something else for injuries to the backs and for impact. give the lad a go!)

Smith is a quality player in attack and I have no doubt that he will start to show his class in this area, but his defense is aweful, we cannot afford to have someone who cannot tackle in our team, I fear the worst when we play Leeds or Saints and they target him. Imagine if we had played Manly last night, they would of put 70 on us with Smith on that side.

Whether 6 or 7 he still has to make tackles. That's the problem with Smith.

Without doubt Tim needs to work overtime on his tackling. Lets hope he is in practice. He's already been found out by other teams.

He needs to tackle low, its as simple as that for me. The number of times he goes for an upper body tackle, gets shrugged off and then tries the exact same thing again next time around is baffling to me.

Sounds Ok to me Would have Riddell in as Mc is to slow at the play of the ball

I agree with Bailey at centre he is better there than anyone else atm just for his defense, he is useless and wasted in the second row, he will also score afew tries at centre close to the line due to his strength, Goulding had an oppertunity at Hull and didnt score close to the line but Bailey would have.

I think I agree about Sam Tomkins aswell, can he really be any worse than anything else we have? he is no kid anymore either.

I would have Prescott on the bench instead of Pryce though. Im sure Pryce could play prop though

Exactly. As daft as it sounds he should learn off Sam Tomkins as he has got the art of tackling players, that are much bigger than him, down to a tee.

It is weird he can't defend. How the heck did he survive in the NRL? Manly's tackling was brutal/slightly illegal at times last night against Leeds.

I've not seen it for myself but I've heard Prescott isn't exactly setting the world on fire in the reserves. I thought he was a cracking prospect b4 he was injured last season, thats my reasoning for putting Pryce on the bench.

Looking at the likes of Tomkins, Ainscough J Tomkins, O Carroll and hopefully Prescott I'm more than pleased with the young Wigan lads pushing through. Hopefully the likes of Farrell Flanny Mossop will push through giving us a strong young wigan 'backbone' to our team. That with some intelligent signings we could have a good structure, for me, the signs are beginning to show.

Maybe for next season

1 Richards
2 Roberts
3 (New centre)
4 Carmont
5 Ainscough
6 Tomkins
7 (New 7 Dobson?
8 Fielden
9 Tommy
10 O Carroll
11 Hansen
12 Lockers
13 J Tomkins
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14 Feka
15 Hock (like to see Hock made into a naughty person prop?)
16 Riddell/McClorum
17 Pryce
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Mossop
Farrell etc pushing on for places
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No room for

Phelps
Bailey
Coley
Mathers (Sooner take the cash their cap space will leave)
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Smith will probably go regardless.