My personal perception at the last game was Wheeler was none existent. Then I saw the stats and yes, he was none existent.
Why then do people want him in the next game against Cats?
I'm not sure what other options there are to be honest. Wheeler wasn't great going forwards but from memory he was solid defensively. Whilst it may not happen there's always a chance wheeler will create something and for that reason and the lack of an alternative option I'd stick with him
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Steve Prescott MBE (1973-2013)
Not for me, Dawson is full of endeavor but in a semi final I think it may boil down to a moment of magic from somebody, whilst we've not seen a lot of it from wheeler he's got the natural ability and arguably more flair. If jones isn't bring used at 2nd row then it's not at all for me.
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Steve Prescott MBE (1973-2013)
In the little bit of defensive work he did he was solid. But I think his tackle count was one of the lowest in the team.
I just don't get why people want to persevere with him. Either Dawson or Jones would be better even if it's not their best position, at least they'll get stuck in an get involved in the game.
I'm no psychologist so take this with all the amateurish diagnosis that it comes with, but I'd say Wheeler is more terrified of getting injured again than anything else. That's why he's anonymous.
I'm not someone that rates Jones in the centres particularly highly; however for this one it's Jones in the centre for me. Simply for defence. Catalans' biggest threats are their back rowers and their interplay with their centres and Escaré. Pomeroy and Duport are both big, big centres and they play outside Taia and Whitehead, who are Catalans' biggest attacking threats. Jones' size and defence make him the obvious choice over Wheeler or Dawson for this one.
Jones is not the best attacking centre he hasn't got that blistering pace which for me is the differerence between being good and brilliant,but he is very solid defensively and I agree for this game against catalans he should be in to counteract their big back rowers and centres.
Could use Sia in the centres if we are combating there big back rowers
We've had arguably our best performance since the 1st half of the season, why change personnel? Keep the same side that played against Cas, except Walmsley comes off the bench for Richards
I'd stick with the same team, except with Walmsley in for Richards. I'd keep Wheeler at centre as another kicking option which we need. We seem to often shift the ball wide on the last, whether that's intended or not is open to debate and Jones has kicked a few times in recent weeks. But Wheeler can put a reasonable kick in sometimes and provided another option. I'm not sure that Jones offers that much more than Wheeler at centre.
A few times we've been shaping to run on the last which draws the player back into the line who dropped back. That creates the space to kick into. It's been working well from what I've seen. Its giving players who don't usually kick more space to work with and it makes it easier for them to pull off an effective kick.