Wane will definitely pick Bateman IMO and then it'll be about who partners him. I've not seen enough of him to comment really but I read people saying he's not having the best of seasons but Wane values loyalty massively and he'll want his leadership and experience in the team. 

It feels easier for me to pick what Wane will go with, than what I would go with myself. I think if they're all fit for that 1st test Wane will go-


Welsby
Young Farnworth Wardle Johnstone
Williams Smith
Lees Clark Thompson
KPP Bateman Radley 


Subs
McMeekan Havard Knowles Lewis


And me leaving Nsemba out isn't an oversight btw. He'll be in the squad but like last year, I don't think he'll start the series. 

Smith is lucky that we don't really have a like-for-like replacement for him. Not having that Lewis is a replacement for Smith, he is a 6 every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I will admit that his kicking game seems to improved this season though but he is not an organiser and general like Smith is and Williams have proved in the past that he is less effective when he is forced to play that role too.


I do think Smith will have a bit of money in the bank with Wane too after 2 stellar Series for England, being player of the series vs. Tonga and being close to getting it vs. Samoa too in my opinion. He has also proved countless times that he turns up for the big games. The only other option in my opinion is Sneyd but i would rather go with Smith as he is the 7 most likely to line up for us in the world cup.

Agree with the above.  Smith, O'Neill, Havard and Nsemba really need to up their game in this next section of games in the run into the play offs.    Wane is loyal to those who played well in the past, but he's also said he want to see the intensity raised across the boards - and I think one thing we can agree on is that Wigan have not played with much intensity recently.   They do have big game experience which is why players like Thompson will get the benefit of doubt and players like Connor are likely to remain outside.      


Smith is the perfect foil for Williams or Lewis, but he has to start showing last years form pretty soon or I think far to hard to justify his selection.


As I'm based in the south I have 3 tickets for Wembley, son and daughter coming.   To date they have never seen Wigan lose when they watch a game - but we saw England go out to Samoa in the WC, behind the sticks when they hit the winning drop goal.............


As an aside, my daughter has lots of funny conversations about rugby at school causing confusion with the boys when she talks about RL and they have no idea what she's talking about.   Funny yet quite depressing at the same time...... 

Door may be open slightly for Marshall, if Johnstone's injury problems don't get resolved by the end of the season. I think Wane would have gone with Young and one of  Johnstone or Ashton (so would I to be fair) but Marshall must surely be the next cab off the rank if Johnstone drops out.


I agree re Smith. It's him and Williams or Lewis in the halves - Williams and Lewis doesn't have the right balance, though it wouldn't necessarily be a disaster if, say, Smith were to be injured. If I were picking right now, I would go with Smith and Lewis but I agree with others, Wane will start with Williams and put Lewis on the bench.


Regarding Connor, I like him as a player and he has been very good this season. But age is against him - would we go into a world cup with him next year? - and I think this is factoring into Wane's thinking as well. It's a pity for Connor, as he has shown up well for England when given the chance but I think the ship sailed some time ago. I am only surprised so many people are surprised that Wane didn't pick him in the last squad. Of course, Connor does give some versatility as well, but halfback is his best position and I don't see how anyone can realistically make the case he goes ahead of Lewis, Smith or Williams. I wouldn't want him to play full back or centre against Australia at this stage of his career.

and Welsby is 100% to get the FB spot  - assuming he recovers in time which is sounding like he will.

Personally I think the door is borderline off its hinges on Marshall and his chances. Not many Wigan players can be happy with the quality and consistency of their performances this season but I think he's one. Wane usually picks three wingers in his squad and he wants lads who can get your set rolling, with tough carries from your end and Marshall has just got better and better at that as the years have gone by, to the point where now he's just about the best in the league (certainly statistically he's making the most metres, is right up there on an average gain per carry basis). 

People worry about his lack of height and the potential worry of him facing Lomax or Coates but that would be there with any of our options against those two, even the taller ones.  Joe Burgess gets mentioned but he's poor under a high ball and his work rate is nowhere near as high and his average gain is well down on Marshall, Johnstone and Ashton (before his injury).