Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 03, 2015 11:26 pm  

There is no one in SL that I'd have to 'replace' SOL.

I'd take Gallen or someone for a year or two and then look at giving Bateman more of a senior role. Gallen does the 3rd prop job as good as anyone in the world.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 04, 2015 6:39 am  

Agreed. Gallen is terrific player; opposing fans hate him (and he appears to have been a bit of a dick off-field at times), but he is in the true sense a real warrior.

And for God's sake, let's hang on to Bateman!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 04, 2015 7:08 am  

We've got Lockers replacement in the shape of John Bateman!

Our best signing would be that lad on a 5 year deal.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 04, 2015 8:08 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

We've got Lockers replacement in the shape of John Bateman!

Our best signing would be that lad on a 5 year deal.

I agree on this one

I do worry that we may be overplaying Bateman slightly at the moment. The lad gets through a frightening amount of work and i know that he was hobbled together with sticky back plastic after he left Bradford.

A signing like Gallen would not help the situation as you would expect (and demand) that PG would play big minutes and lots of games. Especially if he is on rock star money. That would not allow JB to be rested, more like placed on the back burner.

I do have a feeling that SOL will call it a day at the end of this season. Which would be a real bloody shame.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 04, 2015 11:57 am  

Fairly sure Sam Tomkins will be our marquee player. Can't see Gallen coming over. I'd bring in a prop and use Flower at loose. He started out there for Crusaders and was outstanding there in 2013 including a man of the match play off performance against Huddersfield (who finished top and were widely expected to beat us). Next year I'd like to see:

1 S.Tomkins
2 Charnley
3 Sarginson
4 Gelling
5 Manfredi
6 Williams
7 Smith
8 SIGNING
9 McIlorum
10 Clubb
11 J.Tomkins
12 Bateman
13 Flower

14 Hampshire (off the bench with Smith either coming off or spelling McIlorum at 9)
15 Mossop
16 Crosby
17 L.Farrell

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 04, 2015 12:55 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Fairly sure Sam Tomkins will be our marquee player. Can't see Gallen coming over. I'd bring in a prop and use Flower at loose. He started out there for Crusaders and was outstanding there in 2013 including a man of the match play off performance against Huddersfield (who finished top and were widely expected to beat us). Next year I'd like to see:

1 S.Tomkins
2 Charnley
3 Sarginson
4 Gelling
5 Manfredi
6 Williams
7 Smith
8 SIGNING
9 McIlorum
10 Clubb
11 J.Tomkins
12 Bateman
13 Flower

14 Hampshire (off the bench with Smith either coming off or spelling McIlorum at 9)
15 Mossop
16 Crosby
17 L.Farrell

After 2 years of consistently naming Hampshire on the bench, you must have realised it's not going to happen! Decent team other than that, but I think Lockers will go round again for one more season at least. The only area I'd be looking to improve is a genuine bench hooker who offers a completely different style to McIlorum.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 04, 2015 1:15 pm  

Where does Ratchford fit in that squad?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 04, 2015 4:46 pm  

Grimmy wrote: Fairly sure Sam Tomkins will be our marquee player. Can't see Gallen coming over. I'd bring in a prop and use Flower at loose. He started out there for Crusaders and was outstanding there in 2013 including a man of the match play off performance against Huddersfield (who finished top and were widely expected to beat us). Next year I'd like to see: 1 S.Tomkins 2 Charnley 3 Sarginson 4 Gelling 5 Manfredi 6 Williams 7 Smith 8 SIGNING 9 McIlorum 10 Clubb 11 J.Tomkins 12 Bateman 13 Flower 14 Hampshire (off the bench with Smith either coming off or spelling McIlorum at 9) 15 Mossop 16 Crosby 17 L.Farrell No Tautai, despite him making more metres and tackle busts than any other Wigan prop, plus missing fewer tackles? He's also made more tackle busts and given away fewer penalties. http://www.superleague.co.uk/stats/player_stats

Grimmy wrote: Fairly sure Sam Tomkins will be our marquee player. Can't see Gallen coming over. I'd bring in a prop and use Flower at loose. He started out there for Crusaders and was outstanding there in 2013 including a man of the match play off performance against Huddersfield (who finished top and were widely expected to beat us). Next year I'd like to see: 1 S.Tomkins 2 Charnley 3 Sarginson 4 Gelling 5 Manfredi 6 Williams 7 Smith 8 SIGNING 9 McIlorum 10 Clubb 11 J.Tomkins 12 Bateman 13 Flower 14 Hampshire (off the bench with Smith either coming off or spelling McIlorum at 9) 15 Mossop 16 Crosby 17 L.Farrell No Tautai, despite him making more metres and tackle busts than any other Wigan prop, plus missing fewer tackles? He's also made more tackle busts and given away fewer penalties. http://www.superleague.co.uk/stats/player_stats

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 04, 2015 4:52 pm  

Tautai's improved and those stats look good but I still think there's more to come. There's no stat for daft offloads or for struggling to get back in the defensive line but if there were he'd have been smashing them up until a few weeks back.

Happy to say he's finding his feet and he should get better but he's been rocky for me so far.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 04, 2015 8:34 pm  

If we are looking for a dominant forward I would love for us to go after Liam Watts. Massive fan of his and defiant lye worth a transfer fee.