Incredible to think back to the last time we played Widnes at home. The performance and result were both horrendous and we looked a million miles away from winning anything. Since then we haven't lost a competitive game and have won the Super League title and World Club Championship.



Big ask for the players to perform well in this one - I think most would be happy with a win in any fashion.



Isa comes back and I would give Shorrocks and Bretherton some game time.



Strange that this game is on TV - it looks the least attractive of the five being played. Would have been nice to watch Warrington v Cas or Leigh v St Helens after getting back from this one.

Sky probably did it deliberately knowing we could possibly be WCC and wanted to put us on straight after. I would have rather seen one of those two games on tomorrow night as opposed to the presumably predictable game they have stuck on instead

It's madness to think back to the Widnes game and the feeling after that game which was one of thinking our season was pretty much done. What a difference a few games makes!



As for the game itself, I wouldn't make too many changes. I think this season has the potential to be very special and we need to try and be relentless. I agree with Wane that Isa deserves a crack and I'd have him straight in for Lockers who could take the week off. Other then that I'd probably just go same again.

Usaually we have key players that have been at the top of their game for the previous season then going to play internationals and having a limited pre season. Players like Farrell and Bateman had extended periods out last year which will have done their bodies no harm, and we have Clubb and Tomkins that had virtually the full season out last year.



I would expect Isa and Bretherton and possibly Naverette to get a game and a couple to be rested

Wigan Warriors 19-man Squad. same 19 as Sunday.

John Bateman, Joe Burgess, Tony Clubb, Morgan Escaré, Liam Farrell, Ben Flower, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Willie Isa, Thomas Leuluai, Liam Marshall, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sean O’Loughlin, Sam Powell, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins & George Williams.

Depends on injuries but I'd like to see Isa, Navarette and Shorrocks get a run.

Any win is a good win this weekend.

I think backing up this week will be a tough ask and am not expecting anything special. Widnes' current issues at half back may give us the edge but fatigue after last week' effort could be the difference.

I can't remember the last time we played anything like a full strength team against Widnes and I'm glad we're going for it.

A win is a win this week but confidence should be through the roof and if we hit our straps it could be an opportunity to build a decent points difference.

It's only our 3rd competitive game and partnerships are still forming.

Hoping for a good win with that squad but as a few have said, any kind of win will do!

I think we'll open up early and get a good lead tbh. They're really struggling at halfback and we should be buzzing.



The great thing about Sunday was that I thought we were pretty dire with the ball in the first half. We have so much more in us yet and if it sticks on Friday we should be on for some points.

Shouldn't be too difficult a game even after the Cronulla game, Widnes lack real quality in the backs and with our defence being so good I wouldn't expect to concede more than 12 points in all honesty, can see a 26-10 win or something like that, I imagine the team will look something like this



Escare

Tierney

Gelling

Gildart

Burgess

Williams

Leuluai

Nuuausala

Powell

Flower

Bateman

Farrell

O'Loughlin



Tomkins

Isa

Clubb

Tautai

They won twice at our place last season and will go into this with plenty confidence.

We will have to be careful with this one.

Can see Waney going with his Cronulla 17 then changing for the Leigh game.

Wane has already said Isa will play. I'd leave Bateman out as he was out on his feet at the end of the Cronulla game. I'd also be tempted to bring Shorrocks in for Tommy depending on how bad his head injury is and bring in either Navarette or Bretherton for SOL. It's a long season and we need to be careful with the older players.

I'd feel a lot worse about they had last season's half back pairing. Since they don't, I don't think we could've hoped for a better fixture. Suspect that we'll be way off our best but still enough to get the two points.

I know the squad is out but I'd go something like this



Escare

Tierney

Gelling

Gildart

Burgess

Williams

Sharrocks

Nauasala

Ganson

Sutton

Isa

Farrell

Wells



Tautai

Breatherton

Powell

Naverette



Widnes struggling at HB should be a good win at home. Got to be wary of Leigh next who will be right up for trying to beat us.



Using the squad players will freshen us up and they will want to perform to stake a claim for next week.

^^^

Agree with this. A good opportunity to give Wells and Ganson a runout and bring fresh legs in.



We will see a reaction from Sunday's game in the next few weeks and I'm worried that it could be against Leigh. I would think it will take a long time to recover from the extra effort that was put in. Time to to utilise the full squad for me.

I wouldn't be worrying about us. I think we will be going into this game with the goal of damage limitation. We have no halfbacks, and our forwards are only just coming back from injury so won't be up to speed.

I can see a 40+ win for your lot.

Ever since you got back into Super League almost every game has been tight with Widnes coming out on top quite a few times.



I don't think Waney will be taking anything for granted that's for sure.

We should be very cautious, pride comes before a fall...

Game's off.