I followed this debate...











Scully and Hooper both played under Millward and Anderson.

I just hope Wheeler can gat himself together next year.

Regarding Wilkin, whilst he has skill as a ball player, I'm afraid modern rugby league strategy doesn't require a playmaking loose forward. The full back's evolution as a 2nd pivot means that a ball player at 13 is picking a cheif when you need an indian.

Very true and also in the nrl clubs use there hookers to direct them around the field which is like a extra half. Cam smith and even Monaghan at Warrington are prime examples of this.

Apprantley lance had us visa approved today

Is he due anytime then? I assume he's still recovering from injury also.

Just Wigan waiting on Gelling now. Defecating in a hotel room shouldn't be to much of a stumbling block when gaining visa.

He'll be here in the next two weeks.

CBA looking through 6 pages of posts, but for those who dont already know, squad numbers now released:

1 Paul Wellens
2 Ade Gardner
3 Michael Shenton
4 Sia Soliola
5 Francis Meli
6 Lance Hohaia
7 Jonny Lomax
8 Josh Perry
9 James Roby
10 Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook
11 Tony Puletua
12 Jon Wilkin
13 Chris Flannery
14 Anthony Laffranchi
15 Mark Flanagan
16 Paul Clough
17 Gary Wheeler
18 Shaun Magennis
19 Andrew Dixon
20 Lee Gaskell
21 Tommy Makinson
22 Jamie Foster
23 Scott Hale
24 Nathan Ashe
25 Carl Forster
26 Josh Jones
27 Danny Jones
28 Joe Greenwood
29 Anthony Walker
30 Jordan Hand

does this mean there will be no further signings?

Not until wheeler signs for the goons for £300k

I'd take there hand off for 300k!

(providing we used the money to sign someone)

Not a chance wigan would pay that kind of money for a player who is not proven himself in super league for 300k you would be looking at a top player

You never know, union just paid 300k for a guy that's never played union.

£75K for his contract plus £225K for his Fairfield Medical Fees.

Who had played for his club about 200 times and also played for country plenty of times plus union got that kind of money to risk on a player

Who gives a toss about Wigan!

Personally I'd like to see more of a run from Wheeler at centre this year. Injuries will give him some game time but I'd still like to see some planned rotation of the squad. We certainly have the people to cover spots now.

Rotation 1

Lomax, Makinson, Shenton, Meli, Foster, Lance, Gaskell
Perry, Roby, LMS, Wilkin, Sia, La Frank
Wellens, Clough, TP, Flanaghan

This rotation gives us some one to give roby a period of respite during the game we don't want him burning out. We have 3 pivots in Lomax, Gaskell and Lance
It gives us a back on the bench who can cover every back line place and be a back rower if needed.
It gives Royce his 3 props on the pitch.

Rotation 2

Wellens, Makinson, Shenton, Wheeler, Foster, Lance, Lomax
TP, Roby, Clough, Flanaghan, Sia, Wilkin
La Frank, Perry, (then combination of) a Young prop/dixon/Gaskell

This rotation gives Gaskell time off and Lance the chance to work with Lomax. With no recognised kicker, putting Wilkin into Loose allows him to take on some of the kicking al Sinfield for Leeds (as neither Burrows or Maguire are great kickers).
It still gives Royce 5 props but gives one prop, in this case LMS a week of recuperation and a young lad some game time to build him into a prop for the future. (the prop rested would cary from week to week similar to the year we won everything).

For me Gardner, Flannery are back up for injuries, Makinson needs a run out most games, meli this year needed rest after some heavy scheduling so why not play a week miss a week and let Wheeler show if he can make centre his own for 2013. Wellens can stil be club captain even from the bench, bradford did that with robbie paul in his later years.

We have a decent squad, but we have to use it properly. No point playing the same 17 week in and week out, I'm not suggesting an entire squad change from week to week but just 1 or 2 players given varied roles and rotation.