Penny the second coming is a very well balanced player, still quick, not in the way he was but I doubt I'd still beat him to the ice cream truck.



There is no other player I want to succeed in rugby more than him.

Got a lot of time for Kev Penny,he has done it the hard way and probably never been anywhere near the top earners



He has graphed and waited for his opportunity and seems a nice guy to boot,do we know what is celebration is all about?



For what it's worth I can't see Ormsby or Philbin in the 17 and hope Matty makes it

I've slated him to death to anyone who would listen ever since we brought him back. Never thought he was a player of Superleague standard..



...Eating my words this year.

If he is out of his depth at this level then he shouldn't be picked end of. Our rivals rarely put a youngster in who looks out of his depth. Last season he didn't look out of his depth. Making 3 changes in the back line when one move is all it takes is madness.

IF Russell isn't fit it's not complete madness imo. Has/can Penny play at FB and has Ormsby played on the wing? Sure there are potential changes, but, it's not like you're completely shuffling the team asking Westwood to go back to Centre to allow Evans to go to FB.



I think that Johnson started shakily, but, played alright after their first try. He's still a player and you've got to trust TS to manage him, its a balance between Wigan Away being a big game and denting the lads confidence by leaving him out.

I think Wigan away is too big a game for Johnson, in fact it is 3rd behind both finals, not the game you want to be throwing rookies in.

If Russell isn't fit for Saints next week Johnson should play, it's a home game with the home support behind him, at Wigan though Penny and Orsmby are experienced and is absolutely the correct choice.

It's not even major disruption..Penny has played fb many times and Gene slips straight into his natural position.

Sorry guys I disagree, changing the team is such a way upsets the balance when you don't need too. Leave Penny where he is and he can continue to form his partnership with his centre. There is a bench player who has played at full back and that is Ratchford. If Johnson is not up to it then keep him well clear of the first team until such times he is.



I have no doubt that Penny and Ormsby can come in, but I personally am vehemently against changing players to suit when there are other options. How about Ratchford at SH and Gidley at FB?

Then you're saying play Clark for 80 mins and more of the same sub standard half back play that was on show at Hull.



We have to move players around no matter what.



Stef at hooker

Gids/Sandow halves



Ormsby who has played nothing but wing and is a cracking finisher...don't see the problem sticking him outside Atkins.



Penny adjusts his role slightly, he'll still play the same game on the exit sets, he can still chime in the line and he is brave and confident under the high ball.



Absolute no brainer for me

You've every right to disagree of course Snagg's, but, then you say that you are against changes, want to continue form and partnerships and then suggest moving Gidley to FB and putting Ratchford into the halves?

There are changes, adn there are [ichanges[/i.



Penny to fullback isn't the latter, and doesn't necesarily weaken the team elsewhere, moving gids or removing our replacement hooker.



Penny's played at fullback many times now over the last 18 months, and done pretty well there, so much so he looked like he was going to be keeping russell out pre season, and i don't think putting him there disrupts the team in anyway, he's a much more known entity and as yed mentioned he's an older head who will deal with the pressure of the pie dome a lot better.





PS, i liked johnson a lot last year as well, he'll have his time.

Russell playing, Westerman to sit this one out. Benny Westwood starts, Philbin on bench.

Presumably with Ormsby LW?

Oh I wish people would try and stop putting Ratchford in the halves. It doesn't work with him in there. Square peg round hole. He is a flair player however he does not have the know how to dominate play and move his troops around from the half back position ala Kurt Gidley.

Gene the 2nd to sit out. So i'm told.

The suggestion was one from the point that I am against moving folk about when there are clearly players who are available. I don't like shuffling when one change will do.



There appears to be no firm place for Ratchford this season and so a slot opens at FB. If I suggest the slot at SH, I understand that the SH slot is again a 3 way shuffle and again I don't like it.



For it's the Ratchford or Johnson option to replace Russell?

Longbarn Wire is always, always right with his team selections, so the team is



Russell

Penny Atkins Evans Lineham

Sandow Gidley

Hill Clark Sims

Hughes Currie

Westwood



Ratchford, Cox, King, Philbin.



That team should win, but it's sport so who knows. Looking forward to it from the comfort of my armchair.

After all that lets hope victory is ours

He certainly seems to be spot on with his team's, although perhaps this week could be when he gets the bench wrong.

I'd play the team like Ronseal. Play them exactly what it's says on the tin.

Gidley FB

Ratchford SO

Sandow SH

Ratchford is no SO, I could do a better job there than him and i'm sh.....rubbish!

Doesn't matter what it says on the tin, the proof is in the pudding. Even the most blinkered one eyed Wire hating opposition fans are starting to agree that whether by luck or design the Sandow/Gidley partnership is currently the best halfback pairing in the league (and I bet there aren't all that many better in the NRL too). Why would we change that to cover a position when we have Penny who has proved more than capable at fullback.

I'm getting tired of this Ratch to SO business. If anywhere he needs to be centre, never a half for me, but i'm bored of reading the same arguments. As far as tonight goes, that team should be beating (comfortably) a Wigan team missing, Bateman, Gelling and Flower.

and Tomkins, and Williams.



Said in another thread. Worst Wigan side we've faced in years. Should win comfortably.



In fact, and this is credit to Ape Man, but if it wasn't "Wigan", you'd be looking at a 20+ scoreline.

and Tomkins, and Williams.



And Michael McIlorum...



Both sides have key players out, should be a very entertaining game.... Still favour you guys, but only just.