Adrian Lam names the Wigan Warriors 21-man squad for the 2020 Grand Final.
Sam Powell and Joe Greenwood replace Ben Flower and Amir Bourouh.
Wigan Warriors vs St Helens, Friday 27th November, KCOM Stadium, K.O. 8pm.
Head coach Adrian Lam has named the 21-man squad to face St Helens in the 2020 Betfred Super League Grand Final this Friday (K.O. 8pm).
After overcoming Hull FC in the first Semi Final, Wigan head to Hull’s KCOM Stadium to take on rivals St Helens, after they beat Catalans in the second Semi Final last Friday.

The Warriors head coach has made two changes, as Sam Powell and Joe Greenwood return to the 21 in the place of Amir Bourouh and the injured Ben Flower (hamstring injury).

Greenwood returns after serving a two-match penalty notice for a Grade C High Tackle, committed in the win over Saints in Round 19.


Greenwood returns after serving a two-match penalty notice.
Injury News
Dom Manfredi misses out as he recovers from a knee injury. The winger last featured for Wigan in early October in the win over Warrington.

Youngster Ethan Havard continues to recover from an ankle injury first sustained against Leeds Rhinos in Wigan’s Coral Challenge Cup Semi Final defeat.

Back-rower Jack Wells remains sidelined following a MCL tear and knee dislocation suffered against St Helens in Round 14.

Winger Liam Marshall continues his long-term recovery from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament knee injury sustained during the Round 10 tie with Castleford.

Grand Final 21-man squad

1. Zak Hardaker
3. Chris Hankinson
4. Oliver Gildart
5. Joe Burgess
6. Bevan French
7. Tommy Leuluai
8. Tony Clubb
9. Sam Powell
10. George Burgess
11. Willie Isa
12. Liam Farrell
13. Sean O’Loughlin
15. Joe Greenwood
16 Morgan Smithies
17. Oliver Partington
19 Joe Bullock
20. Liam Byrne
23. Jake Bibby
28. Harry Smith
31. Jackson Hastings
38. Brad Singleton

I think we can be pretty sure the 17 will be the one below. I just wonder if he may tinker with the starting pack a little to ensure he’s got 2 out and out props on the bench by starting Lockers but I wouldn’t-

French
Bibby Hardaker Gildart Burgess
Hastings Leuluai
Bullock Powell Singleton
Isa Farrell Partington

Subs
Lockers Clubb Greenwood Smithies

I think that Smithies showed up enough in the middle against Hull to show he can cover a prop role

Agreed.

Team picks itself.

Shame for Smith to miss out but his time will come.

Gutted for Flower to not make the squad. Form wise I’d have had him in the 17 over Greenwood but sadly not to be.

Hoping to send him out with a win even if he is destined not to be involved.

1. French
2. Burgess
3. Gildart
4. Zak
5. Bibby
6. Hastings
7. Tommy
8. Singleton
9. Powell
10. Bullock
11. Isa
12. Faz
13. Ollie

14. Lockers
15. Smithies
16. Greenwood/Clubb
17. G Burgess

We need a tough aggressive starting pack which the above gives us in abundance. When we played them last we absolutely blasted their pack, out enthusing and dominating them out the game. They didn’t have Walmsley last time granted so we need to be on our game to out enthuse and dominate him. It’s doable, I’d still have Saints as favourites though.

Bullock and Singleton have to start.

Too risky IMO. Nether Lockers or G.Burgess is a safe bet to complete a game unfortunately. Play them both together and you run the risk of being down to 15 men. Add in that one of those 15 men is Clubb, who only seems to give us one short spell now, or Greenwood with his history of concussions, and we could end up in real trouble against a Saints pack that tends to dominate anyway.

You risk either Lockers or G.Burgess IMO, not both. On that basis, give me the leader who played last week and has helped us win loads of trophies in the past, as opposed to the guy who has only given us one good game since signing.

FB 6 French
RW 23 Bibby
RC 1 Hardaker
LC 4 Gildart
LW 5 J.Burgess
SO 31 Hastings
SH 7 Leuluai
P 19 Bullock
H 9 Powell
P 38 Singleton
SR 11 Isa
SR 12 Farrell
LF 16 Smithies

S 8 Clubb
S 13 O'Loughlin
S 15 Greenwood
S 17 Partington

Thought Partington was great against Hull but we need him in the prop rotation now that we've lost Flower IMO. Smithies ahead of Lockers at loose because of his aggressive defence which will hopefully help set the tone early similar to what MM did in the 2010 GF. Keeping Lockers out of those big early collisions might just help ensure he completes the game as well. Then we have him for later when game management becomes more important. Greenwood to be used as a back rower, he's a lot more effective running at smaller players than trying to do the tough stuff in the middle IMO. Not meant as a criticism, just how it is with him.

Bang on.

I’ve said before I don’t get the obsession about props, Smithies and Partington play exactly the same role.

George Burgess getting mentioned is laughable, I’d have Bryne, Clark, Sharrocks, Kilner etc over him. Unfortunately liability until his hip gets sorted, hopefully okay for next year.

I think the idea which has been mentioned. Singo, Oli P and Bullock operate in the first 20 where it’ll be tight and ultra physical. Greenwood and Lockers to come on and we can move the ball wider and hopefully break the game open.

Moving Farrell into the middle might work well for when the older saints substitute props come on, Amor and LMS. His footwork and speed could get us some quick play the balls.

Can’t wait.

There would be an argument to go as far as to play with 16 over playing George Burgess, he looks that far off the pace I think he would do more harm than good unfortunately. What can be done about that I do not know but if there isn’t anything then even if he’s in our squad next year, he shouldn’t be playing. That last come back was the end of the road in his current shape for me.

It’s all a conversation for another time though I guess.

I agree that there's not a lot of difference between prop and loose forward now, but I still think you need a good mix between size and mobility in the pack. If Clubb, Smithies and Lockers come on for Bullock, Singleton and Partington you're suddenly giving up quite a bit of size, which could be a danger if it turns out to be a war of attrition up the middle. Clubb, Partington and Lockers coming on for Bullock, Singleton and Smithies retains more of the size IMO.

Partington has been very good at 13 since lockdown - As I said with the Bullock starting argument we go with our best team and do our best to be in the game come the Half hour mark. I think we will get stronger as the game goes on.
Partington at 13 last 5/6 games has worked so for me go with that (and I think his ball handling is better than Smithies) and keep the fluidity that's been created in the last 5/6 weeks.

Although I do to a point see your concern I'm not overly worried, I think the first 25/30 and getting parity is the key Friday
Isa can move to the Middle and make us yards, Partington can play Long minutes so can do that to cover any issues of Go forward from the bench

If we get 25/30 from Clubb like last Friday (8-10 hit ups and High Teens in Tackles) The rest I'm fine with