It's the final game of the Super League season! Round 29 sees Wire travel to West Yorkshire to take on Leeds Rhinos at Headingley.
With a playoff place already secured, all that's left to be determined is where Warrington finish the 2019 season, with 3rd and 4th possible. It may be the last game of the season but for the first time all year, Wire have a fully fit squad to choose from, with zero injuries across the board. The 19-man squad sees the return of Jack Hughes to the side and Lama Tasi drop out, while Ben Westwood comes back in, though there is no place for Harvey Livett. Now then, onto my team...
Full Back - 1 Stefan Ratchford
Ratchford was terrific last week against Wakefield and also got man of the match the last time we played Leeds all the way back in Round One. I hope to see him heavily involved in our attacking game as he has been lately.
Winger - 2 Tom Lineham
Lineham has been really good in the big games this season, and has become more and more of a scoring threat as the year has gone on. Hopefully can continue that as the playoffs begin.
Centre - 3 Bryson Goodwin
For me, Goodwin has been our most underrated player this season. Ten tries and some massive performances in the big games. I'm gutted he's leaving and I think we'll miss him.
Centre - 18 Toby King
King's role has changed slightly with Murdoch-Masila starting more regularly, as he has operated in the second row for periods of the game, but he is still primarily a centre.
Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
It was great to see Charnley go over for his try last Friday, his first in what feels like ages. He likes a try against Leeds, and it would be great to see him get another score and get back in the regular scoring groove ahead of the biggest games of the year.
Stand Off - 6 Blake Austin
Having Austin back in the team gave us a greater attacking structure last Friday despite Austin himself having a very quiet game. Him back before the playoffs is huge.
Scrum Half - 15 Declan Patton
It looks like Steve Price is going with Austin and Patton in the halves, which I'm fine with. Patton has been okay in his last few games, so hopefully he will keep it up in the playoffs.
Prop - 8 Chris Hill
The captain has already got his hands on one piece of silverware in recent weeks and now the target has to be lifting the Super League trophy. Should be an interesting forwards battle.
Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
I was flabbergasted to see Clark not include himself in his Dream Team, for me he is a dead cert, one of the best players in the league this season. I really hope he gets a shot at Old Trafford.
Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
I don't think that Leeds have a particularly excellent pack, so perhaps the battle of the forwards won't be as crucial as it has been in other games. Hopefully he gets a few offloads away.
Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
We're starting to see a lot better performance level from Currie and it's coming at the best time. He was one of the best players last week and got a great try too - no doubt that he will start this one for me.
Second Row - 12 Jack Hughes
This was the hardest position of all 17 to decide. Murdoch-Masila has been very good from the start in the second row recently, and there are issues with his positioning when he is used off the bench. I went with Hughes as after he was rested last week, I can't envisage him not playing or starting.
Loose Forward - 14 Jason Clark
If Price did want to keep Murdoch-Masila in the starting 13, loose forward would be the other place he could do that. I've gone for Jason Clark though, who has done really well there lately.
Interchange - 17 Joe Philbin
There's been a bit of talk that Philbin may miss this one, but I think that would be a poor move. He's been absolutely sensational in the last few games and was only rested five matches ago.
Interchange - 19 Sitaleki Akauola
Akauola is always a good option to have for short stints from the bench and I expect him to be used in that way at Headingley.
Interchange - 13 Ben Murdoch-Masila
As alluded to earlier, Murdoch-Masila has been starting games recently and has done well, playing in the second row and doing big minutes. I am concerned that if he is on the bench he is more likely to get used as a prop than a second rower, but I just don't see Currie or Hughes missing out.
Interchange - 22 Jake Mamo
Mamo having a spot on the bench has happened a few times recently and is possibly something Price will persist with. It does mean that we can restructure certain elements of the team, particularly if he gets used in the centres.
Leeds have picked up in the second half of the season after their appalling start and have had a few decent wins lately, but they haven't competed against the top four at all and were beaten by Salford last season. Wire won a thrilling game at Headingley last season and will be looking to repeat the feat to close out the 2019 season and head into the playoffs. The main danger men for the Rhinos are Super League's top tryscorer Ash Handley, who is aided greatly by Konrad Hurrell at centre, next to Harry Newman, who has really impressed me. I think Rhyse Martin and Trent Merrin have been good acquisitions.
In terms of finishing position, a win at Headingley confirms 3rd place while a loss and a Salford win would mean we'd finish 4th. While 4th receives an arguably easier opening fixture in the playoffs, it is risky as a loss in that fixture would result in elimination, whereas 3rd would play Wigan away in the first round of the playoffs but would be certain of a place in the next round regardless of the playoffs. For me, 3rd is the best and least risky route and in order to secure that, a win at Leeds is needed.
Daniel (@aloosewire)
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