Burgess was offered the Brisbane contract 2 months ago after Wigan had offered him a derisory contract. This is from a very good source from within the coaching staff. This same source also said It is 90% certain that Charnley will be going to Rugby Union in the close season and they want Tommy Makinson to replace him.



Do not dismiss this a rubbish because i was informed of the Burgess deal 2 months ago and it's happened even before anyone had a sniff

Could be, I'm not sure if he's ever been keen enough to go over there either. I seem to remember him having some fitness issues a few years ago which might have put off any suitors.

I will not rubbish a rumour but why would Charnley go to Australia to play for England if he then intends to leave the game and go to Union. Burgess has gone now and it would make sense if he was going he would go now as union season is just over a month old. By the time he gets back from Australia it will be November going into December. Not rubbishing your info but seems at odds with his statement a few months back and him not going now.

He's got the dates mixed-up. At the end of next season it is Burgess to Roosters, Charnley to Saracens and Makinson to Wigan with Cronk to Warrington.

One thing I will say about Wigan they do keep the fans in a state of limbo, you read this rumours and signings thread and one conclusion Wigan fans can take from the last few years , is that there going to be lots of comings and goings in the club.

The problem is all the goings are the club reared youngsters and comings most of the time seem to be club raised youngsters again.

The books may be balanced but if for a few seasons the standard of youngsters coming into the club should diminish the club will slide and become a middle table team. Why is it only Wigan who seem to have this problem, is it because the Wigan youngsters are restless and want to see the World or do Wigan not appreciate their youngsters enough and pay them enough to encourage them to stay.



Other Clubs do not seem to have this problem, apart from a few isolated cases, which means that other clubs youngsters have no ambition or they are better looked after than the players at Wigan. Or youngsters at other clubs are not sought after the same as youngsters from Wigan.

James Graham, Burgess brothers x 4, Richie Mathers, Jordan Baldwinson, Mason Tonks, Jordan Tansey, Mike Cooper.

It's not just Wigan is it?

Point taken Rogues, but with all due respect apart from Sam Burgess, James Graham and possibly Ritchie Mathers the others were almost unknown or very raw youngsters who could not hold down a regular spot in there S/l teams.



It just seems that Wigan are easier to talk into letting go young exiting players who look as if they can hold down a spot in any team in the league.

Heard Danny Brough is on his way to us.

Has burgess gone the NRL ?

Was told this this morning.

i think that would be a good move. a top quality kicker and cover for smith.

either brough or smith with hamps would be a nice combination.

not confident that powell is good enough at stand off.

brough may flourish in a team which is used to winning

dudson to Rovers on loan? anything in it

If true about Dudson then I hope we've another prop coming in.

Taylor isn't being played and last Monday's trade press said he's being loaned to Huddersfield.

Dudson now rumoured to HKR.

James retiring surely?

Flower banned for 3 months.



That's four props out and 3 probably out altogether.

Greenwood returing and Tauatai arriving from Wakefield.

Are Sutton and Lever sufficient cover?

I'd think we'd need another experienced prop.

I wonder if it's anything to do with the arrival of Ste McCormack?

We've needed an experienced prop for about 5 years but still managed fine.



I agree we do need another prop (let Dudson and James go, Taylor is probably already off) but we have plenty of experience in the forwards already.



It remains to be seen who will sign Moimoi, probably not us though.

I feel we have missed out on Sims, Wire have got themselves a good player there.



I would love us to give Sione Lousi's brother Sam a go. At 6ft 6 and over 18 stone at 23 years of age, he's a beast of a lad and confirmed he's leaving the Warriors (possibly going to RU though). Couple of videos on Youtube of him. Looks slower than my nan but with some Bitcon conditioning and a decent pre-season he could turn into something decent.

cant be mere coincidence. shame there arent any more decent scots players to talk to !

Seriously can't see us signing Brough. There's a rumour about him every off season and we have already said we aren't making any signings

Brough as cover for smith? Brough was man if steel last year and a top top player. Surly he'd be playing in the halves.



He might flourish in a team used to winning? Is this the same Danny Brough that won man of steel last year and finished top of super league last year and also come 3rd this year and only 1 point behind Wigan?





You make out he's not a good player and playing for a mediocre team.

I Said it all Season Smith is Not A Goal Kicker when Under Pressure.

To be fair though Pete, that's like pointing to their wins home and away against Wigan in the last 2 seasons as evidence they're the better side when we both know Wigan have contested 3 of the last 4 finals, winning 2 and, when it mattered, absolutely walked through them in both playoff series. The one trophy they've won is the devalued (under the system in which it was won, at least)) League leaders Shield. In truth, during the time Brough has been at that club they've never really looked like taking out one of the major trophies.



However, unless the move is player instigated, I can't see how Huddersfield would let their best player go so it's probably a moot point anyway.

to clarify st pete, I wasnt talking about brough being a back up half, but starting with smith. however as he is such a similar player to smith, he would give us cover if smith was out (a weakness of our squad at present).

in the scenario that either brough or smith were missing, then hampshire in at SO with either of those i would see as a nice reserve combination.

my comment about winning teams is as phuzzy has stated, that brough and the giants have gone missing in the big games over the past 3-4 seasons which is why their trophy cabinet looks like it does.

however, he is such a good player that he would flourish in a team which is used to winning the big games eg leeds or wigan

No argument from me.

Brough is 32 at the start of next season so he wouldn't get more than a 2 year deal anyway.

Hampshire will play a lot 2015 as Bowen is going and we need a full back ready to go 2016.

Agree with the talent we have but I'm in doubt about the physical ability of Hampshire/Williams/Powell to play a full 30 game season with the C Cup and SL semis. Half backs are coming in with 25-35 tackles a game and that is a heck of a load when they have also to do the attack stuff too.

Brough is a player who does seem to cop some knocks these days and maybe he's a good fit with his ability yet will miss a number of games and will need a quality replacement players when he's out.



This is just a rumour anyway. Last Monday's trade press had a rumour that Taylor may go to Hudds on loan. Now it's Brough to Wigan that's a rumour.

Like I said, Josh to Sarries, Makinson has signed.