Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Oct 18, 2011 9:47 am  

Talking of youngsters and promoting from within, Leeds have confirmed loose forward Stevie Ward, 17, hooker Liam Hood, 19, and prop Brad Singleton, 18, will all be awarded squad numbers for 2012.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Oct 18, 2011 9:59 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Talking of youngsters and promoting from within, Leeds have confirmed loose forward Stevie Ward, 17, hooker Liam Hood, 19, and prop Brad Singleton, 18, will all be awarded squad numbers for 2012.

Stevie Ward is an outstanding young player, probably one of the best I have seen in the last two years.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:05 am  

Was told by someone very close to Wire that the three Welsh lads at Wire were "discovered" by Peter Farrell their chief scout whilst with some of the squad in Wales.
That's a long way off from what IL has in mind for Wigan's presence in Wales, as I understand it.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:40 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Talking of youngsters and promoting from within, Leeds have confirmed loose forward Stevie Ward, 17, hooker Liam Hood, 19, and prop Brad Singleton, 18, will all be awarded squad numbers for 2012.

Leeds continue to impress. Their squad is littered with young players and they continue to snap up players from all over the place. Zak Hardaker was a brilliant signing and haven't they also snared a young lad from Hull, Jack Briscoe?

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:51 am  

If we're going to fork out a fee for a back the most promising British backs in the game outside of Wigan are Tom Briscoe and Ben Jones Bishop. I just can't see Hull FC or Leeds Rhinos selling. Kallum Watkins/Gary Wheeler are two very exciting centre prospects, but both have been hampered by injuries.

Personally I'd still (were we ever pursuing him?) pursue Rangi Chase. I'd chuck the money at Castleford to let him go and bring him to Wigan to compliment Brett Finch. It's the halves that worry me.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:54 am  

cadoo wrote:

Leeds continue to impress. Their squad is littered with young players and they continue to snap up players from all over the place. Zak Hardaker was a brilliant signing and haven't they also snared a young lad from Hull, Jack Briscoe?

Wigan tried to sign Hardaker but he chose to stay in Yorkshire.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:53 am  

Father Ted wrote:

Was told by someone very close to Wire that the three Welsh lads at Wire were "discovered" by Peter Farrell their chief scout whilst with some of the squad in Wales.
That's a long way off from what IL has in mind for Wigan's presence in Wales, as I understand it.

Three? The twins were "discovered" by Peter Farrell at the 2005 Challenge Cup Final I think in a half time youth finals match.

The other Welsh lad Rhys Williams was Cullens last signing he came direct from a Welsh Union side.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:12 pm  

I think were underestimating what a good job Charnley could do at centre next year. He's already shown tremendous potential and game breaking ability this year, and with Amos outside him providing a more experienced head I think Josh would go well. He'd be a longterm fix to a big headache. Not forgetting we're going to have to replace Carmont for 2013. So we don't want to chasing two centre's for then.

If we're talking about throwing transfer money about. I like Briscoe at Hull FC and the young blonde Wire centre. Problem is neither of those clubs are exactly strapped for cash. So a more realistic but still unlikely to happen target for me would be Clark at Cas. Granted he's not a centre but he's a cracking player.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:13 pm  

cadoo wrote:

Leeds continue to impress. Their squad is littered with young players and they continue to snap up players from all over the place. Zak Hardaker was a brilliant signing and haven't they also snared a young lad from Hull, Jack Briscoe?

Luke Briscoe. Tom's 17-year-old brother.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:19 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote:

I think were underestimating what a good job Charnley could do at centre next year. He's already shown tremendous potential and game breaking ability this year, and with Amos outside him providing a more experienced head I think Josh would go well. He'd be a longterm fix to a big headache. Not forgetting we're going to have to replace Carmont for 2013. So we don't want to chasing two centre's for then.

If we're talking about throwing transfer money about. I like Briscoe at Hull FC and the young blonde Wire centre. Problem is neither of those clubs are exactly strapped for cash. So a more realistic but still unlikely to happen target for me would be Clark at Cas. Granted he's not a centre but he's a cracking player.

I like the idea of Charnley at centre but personally I think Roberts outside Charnley would be a weaker defensive partnership than what Josh and Joel was last season.