Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:44 pm  

Early days yet, but looking ahead to 2013, who would you like to see kept at the club and who would you say goodbye to? And those that leave the club, how would you replace them?

George Carmont - Awesome player, one of the best imports we've bought, but sadly he is on borrowed time & he should/will probably retire.

How to replace him? Very difficult. The best option internally must be Anthony Gelling. We must have had high hopes for him. I'm sure he'll get his opportunities at some point this year. Let's hope he can live up to his potential according to Dean Bell and Kevin Iro.

Stuart Fielden - will be 33 by the time he starts next season. It's a tricky one. We have Prescott, Lima, Mossop, Flower, Lauaki, Dudson, Spencer and Crosby at the club. So we're not short of props. He needs a big season this year to be rewarded with a new contract. Even then I would only make it a one year deal. My only concern is that Lima is off contract in 2013 and I'd hate to lose both Fielden and Lima in the same year. I'd imagine that if Fielden has a brilliant season this year his contract will be extended for another year and he'll probably see his career out of with us.

Brett Finch - no brainer - sign him up! Sign him up! Sign him up! 1, 2, 3 year deal! Sign him up!

Stefan Marsh - Sadly for Marsh I think we'll see him leave the club. I can't see him cutting it as a top centre. I think Jack Hughes has shown more promise in his few matches out of position (in both attack and defence) than Marsh ever has. He'll probably make a permanent move to Widnes.

Mike McIlorum - Sign him up. Shaun Wane will definitely sign this lad up that's for sure, but in recent weeks he's starting to prove that he deserves it. His defence has always been ferocious, but recently his attacking game has improved. Maintain this consistently over the course of the season and he'll probably get a 2/3 year deal.

Chris Tuson - He's proving his worth as a squad player and for that alone it's tempting to keep him. I'm sure Wane will keep him here. The trouble is with Tuson, I can never see him taking one of the starting jerseys. If Jack Hughes and Greg Burke develop into two great forwards then his place at Wigan could become tenuous.

Thomas Leuluai - has already announced his departure. Terrible news, but I hold no grudge to Leuluai. How do we replace him? I'm not sure. You've got to look within I suppose with either Joe Mellor or Sam Powell. For this to happen one of these lads MUST start getting games in the first team soon, but with the form of Tommy/McIlorum/Finch - I can't see it happening anytime soon!

Sean O'Loughlin - sign up! sign up! sign up! A contract long enough to see his career out at Wigan. One of the best loose forwards in the world.

Amos Roberts - I think injuries have seen the last of Roberts. Even when he returns to fitness, where will he play? Tomkins? Charnley? Richards? They're all on top form at the moment. At 32, it's time to promote Ryan King and Matty Russell and use the cap space elsewhere!

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:50 pm  

cadoo wrote:

Snip

I cant say I disagree with any of that

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:55 pm  

Finch, McIllorum, O'Loughlin to new contracts.

Tuson, it depends on the rest of the season. We're got Hock and Hansen tied to long term contracts, hopefully lockers too. Farrell is a class above and as such I can see him going for a longer contract elsewhere.

Big fan of Fielden, but unless he has a storming comeback year i'd be inclined to let him go, even if he'd stay on even more reduced wage. We have enough props already, all of which are pretty young, and with the likes of Spencer and Dudson as backup as well.

Shopping list for next year is the same as this was at the minute really, centre + HB.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:06 pm  

What about hooker?

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:17 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

What about hooker?

I put HB/Hooker originally, but I think that they'll put faith In McIllorum long term, and hope Logan or one of the other youngsters comes through.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:38 pm  

I really hope I'm proved wrong but I don't think young Tomkins has it in him.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:51 pm  

inside_man wrote:

I put HB/Hooker originally, but I think that they'll put faith In McIllorum long term, and hope Logan or one of the other youngsters comes through.

I reckon it depends who develops the furthest this year, if it's one of Powell or Mellor then I think we need a back-up for McIlorum, if it's Logan then we need a top class half. Plus a strike centre to replace George and I don't think we're too far off, should have enough cover in the forwards, super outside backs with plenty of youngsters pushing for a chance. Just need to make sure we get Finch, Lockers and McIlorum tied down, undecided on Tuson as yet, he offers decent cover and has been very good a times. Fielden could be worth another year or so depending on how he comes back, hopefully he'll be chomping at the bit and somewhere near his best!

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:58 am  

So we asked about Jack Reed at the end of last season. Shame it didn't come off.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:29 pm  

I think it is almost vital to bring in a match winner to replace Tommy, who is an integral part of our team. I do not think it has to be a 7 but I do think we need to replace him with real quality somewhere in out squad (specialist 9 for me) regardless I would say that whoever the match winner is he would have to be in the spine of the team and all those other positions we are fine for.

The exception I would make would be potentially for a Centre or specifically put Tommy's wage towards brining in Gaz Ellis.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:07 pm  

Carmont and Leuluai have said this is their last season at Wigan.
Can't see Roberts being retained after 2012 at all. It doesn't seem unreasonable to expect when he's fit he may go out on loan. That's three overseas players leaving which could leave room to bring an NRL player in.
Fielden may leave for a deal that would give him more years than Wigan would offer at the end of his current contract.
Tuson should be re-signed.
McIlorum was mentioned but I'm pretty sure he signed a 3 year deal in 2011.

What is equally important is that the club secure the signings of our very talented U16,18 & 20s players. There are always plenty clubs after them and we need to make sure we secure the best of them.