2019's instalment of Magic Weekend has arrived, with all 12 Super League teams travelling to Anfield, hoping to record a win at the home of Liverpool FC. Here is my match preview for our clash with rivals Wigan in the showpiece event...
This has been a busy week in terms of team news. First came the RFL's verdict on the incidents against Hull FC last weekend, which surprisingly resulted in Declan Patton avoiding a ban, meaning he is available for selection against Wigan. Wire were hit by some sad news this week when it was confirmed that full back and goal-kicker Stefan Ratchford will miss the next 3-4 months with a pectoral muscle injury. This is gutting news for Ratchford, who as a keen Liverpool fan was looking forward to playing at Anfield. With this, we are forced into a chance at full back. Ryan Atkins is also unavailable this weekend with an injury sustained in the Hull loss, while Ben Westwood has dropped out of the 19-man squad, as has Lama Tasi. Thankfully, Jake Mamo and Tom Lineham have both recovered from injury and are in the squad, with Matt Davis and Harvey Livett also returning.
Full Back - 22 Jake Mamo
For the first time since the win over Hull FC in March, Jake Mamo has been named in the squad. The Aussie has finally recovered from his injury and will surely return to the team this weekend, though in what position is anyone's guess. He had performed well on the wing and in the centres before picking up the injury, though could be required at full back against Wigan and beyond in the absence of Ratchford. Mamo is quick off the mark and played a lot at full back for Huddersfield, so has experience there. For me, he is the natural choice.
Winger - 2 Tom Lineham
Out wide, Tom Lineham is another returning figure this weekend. He has missed the last three matches, with Jack Johnson and Bryson Goodwin filling in for him. Our edge has been average at best in recent games and Lineham returning to the wing will hopefully be a big boost to the team's attack.
Centre - 3 Bryson Goodwin
Goodwin has done fairly well since returning from injury himself in the Salford loss, playing as a centre and a winger. Some people suggested that he take the full back spot as he has looked solid there for short periods of time, but I think he is at his best in the centre, and with Mamo having experience at full back, it makes sense.
Centre - 18 Toby King
King is fairly undisputed at centre now. He has been a mainstay in the team since the win over Castleford in Round Five and will undoubtedly keep his place here for this massive clash.
Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
Our flying winger may be going through a quieter spell in front of the try line, but his performance levels have not waned, particularly in a defensive sense, where he has been excellent. Charnley has a superb record against his former team and will be looking to continue that this weekend.
Stand Off - 6 Blake Austin
It's a really big day for Austin, this. Losing Ratchford means we have lost one of our three most creative players - meaning almost all of our creative play will need to come from Austin and Clark. As a follower of Liverpool, he will enjoy the experience of playing at Anfield in his first ever Magic Weekend.
Scrum Half - 15 Declan Patton
Patton has come in for a lot of criticism in recent weeks after a string of very poor performances, and there was real thought that he would've been dropped this week - either as a result of a ban or a reshuffle given his level of performance - though after Ratchford's injury, there isn't really anyone available to play in the halves other than Kevin Brown, who is out until July. With that, Patton will keep his place and it looks like he is on goal kicking duties too.
Prop - 8 Chris Hill
I was a bit disappointed with Hill in the defeat at the Halliwell Jones last week, though there isn't really much chance of him being dropped, as he is captain, this is a game against our rivals, and he has been largely fine this season.
Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
Wire's superhuman Daryl Clark will start at hooker and will have an extra impetus on him in a creative sense with the loss of Ratchford. His performance against Wigan in the Challenge Cup was astonishing and if he can replicate that, we have a great chance.
Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
Cooper is constantly Wire's underrated man, and his physicality and metre-making will be key to any success in this game. His offloading game is big too and hopefully this will help bridge some of the creativity void left by Ratchford.
Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
Avid Liverpool fan Ben Currie will be delighted to be playing at Anfield for Magic Weekend after missing last year's event at Newcastle. He didn't have a great game against Hull and perhaps could've done better for a few of the Hull tries, though he is still coming off the back of a massive injury and has been solid so far this season.
Second Row - 12 Jack Hughes
Hughes, like Charnley, will be playing against his former team. Two of Hughes' three tries this season have come against Wigan, so he will be looking to continue this scoring run against Wigan.
Loose Forward - 23 Matt Davis
With Ben Westwood not making the squad, a change at loose forward is required. Matt Davis has been very polished so far in his time in this position and for me, is an obvious choice to come back in. Steve Price appears not to trust Joe Philbin or Jason Clark from the start of games, though Harvey Livett could be an option.
Interchange - 13 Ben Murdoch-Masila
While some elements of Murdoch-Masila's game haven't been at their best lately, he is still a very useful option from the bench, particularly in a game that is likely to have a lot of needle in it.
Interchange - 17 Joe Philbin
Philbin is enjoying a very respectable season, with all of his best performances coming from the bench. He is becoming an important part of the team.
Interchange - 14 Jason Clark
I've not been overly impressed with Jason Clark yet, purely because I see very little impact from him, though there aren't many other options to take a place on the bench.
Interchange - 19 Sitaleki Akauola
Akauola has revived his Warrington career after being frozen out at the start of 2019 and his huge hit on Scott Taylor was one of very few highlights last weekend.
LINEUP LAST TIME OUT VS HULL FC
Ratchford; Goodwin, Atkins, King, Charnley; Austin, Patton; Hill, D Clark, Cooper; Currie, Hughes; Westwood
Interchanges: Philbin, J Clark, Akauola, Murdoch-Masila
MY SWEET 17 VS WIGAN WARRIORS:
Mamo; Lineham, Goodwin, King, Charnley; Austin, Patton; Hill, D Clark, Cooper; Currie, Hughes; Davis
Interchanges: Philbin, J Clark, Akauola, Murdoch-Masila
Wigan played very well against us in the cup two weeks ago and will be looking for revenge. If it is a tight game, as that one was, we will need highly accurate goal-kicking from Ratchford's replacement, likely to be Patton. As well as this, we need discipline and good line speed, ideally keeping Wigan down to a low score. I always look forward to facing Wigan because of the bitter rivalry but for me as a big Liverpool fan, seeing Wire-Wigan at Anfield will be an even more special occasion. We are the last game on the Saturday, due to kick off at 7pm, after there is a top 5 battle between Wakefield Trinity and Catalans Dragons and 4th placed Hull FC take on Simon Woolford's Huddersfield Giants in the middle game of the day. Sunday sees a relegation special between Leeds Rhinos and London Broncos, with Salford Red Devils taking on Hull KR, and league leaders St Helens pitting their wits against Castleford.
Let's hope for a big win over Wigan this weekend, with a good performance too. After our last home defeat, against Salford, we responded brilliantly, with a 54-6 win over Hull KR, and a reaction similar to that would be ideal here. Check back on the blog for the post-match content and if you haven't already, I'd love you to have a read of my Super League Team of 2019 So Far piece, which has raised a lot of eyebrows!
COME ON YOU WIRE.
It's always our year.
Daniel (@aloosewire)
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