I like what we are building next year and the direction we are going in. However, imo it’s a must that we keep Chris Hill to lead the pack with Cooper next year . There are some exciting players coming through but we need his experience.He has had an outstanding season and he will help develop the new crop coming through whilst we rely on his experience. There’s a lack of quality props in the game and Hill remains one of them.

I recognise his age and that in the past we’ve made decisions with the heart and not the head but the way he has played this year alone and his general
Consistency in years gone by , merits a new deal that keeps him at the club.

Be criminal if we don't give him the 2 year deal. Still as good as any prop in super league in my humble opinion.

Cannot argue against these posts.

Need him to stay

We need Chris Hill to stay.
This year - without the captaincy pressures (which I never thought was right for him) - or even vice captaincy - he's just got on and done what he does best. Works his socks off, makes meters in the tackle and performs consistently to a high standard.
Same for Coops.

Those two are critical to the team and are our best 2 props.

Have to agree with you all. Playing too well this season to get rid. We’re not the same side when he goes off and it’s a relief when he comes back on and steadies the ship again. Never gets pushed back and makes metres without every drive. Even if it means a two year deal it’s worth it in my opinion.

So as he signed for the Giants or not.

I think a 1 year deal with an option for another is more sensible for the club. We simply have to replace him sooner or later and if we don't have cap space next year and a suitable replacement becomes available then we would possibly miss out.

I'm sure I've read that Chris Satae is off contract at Hull and he is a player I think we should be in for if he's up for grabs. He has looked really useful when I've seen him play.

Satae has re-signed for Hull, Ligi Sao hasn't though and he's a pure workhorse of a Prop. I'd make a play for him.... but looks like Bullock and Harrison are our next in line props. Hill is a must keep, next year starting Prop and the year after coming off the bench.
Captaincy being taken off him and he's getting an actual rest has done wonders for him

I can't understand the few that criticise Hill .We arguably have the best front row in the league & they provide a consistency that can be relied on week in week out. Even in his twilight years he will still be a good impact prop.

He was getting criticised for the brain fart penalties he was giving away, but has others have said he as improved a lot since not having the captaincy.

To be fair I think that most of the criticism Hill received was aimed at his play during his captaincy period when he seemed to get pinged for penalties some of them seemed to be on the back of him getting on the wrong side of the official's.

He's been great without that responsibility and I'd like to see him retained doing what he does best simple effective prop play

I'm not slightly bothered (I'd say pleased) that Austin has gone, I'd be gutted if Hill leaves.

That, added to constantly chirping at the ref instead of playing the ball and not making the meters he used to.

But this year, we've gone back to seeing the best of Chris Hill. That was epitomized by his immense carry before Williams' drop goal.

Philbin being a 26 GB international is replacing Hill as one of your top 2 props.

Bullock is replacing him as a bench prop.

Harrison is replacing Sita

Butler and Mulhern in the mix.

Hill has signed for Huddersfield.

If true that is a significant weakening of the front row

Completely agree.

From the plaudits I’m hearing for James Harrison I believe he or Mulhern will be in contention to partner Mike Cooper as starting prop. If Bullock is signing I’d expect him to be fighting for a bench spot with Philbin and either Mulhern/ Harrison. Butler and young Doro will be back up. I think both still need to prove themselves at this level.
Joe Philbin for me seems to have levelled off this season and needs to get his old destructive grunt back. There again what do I know, Shaun Wane still picks him for England.
I’d expect our first choice pack next season to be:-

Cooper
Clarke
Mulhern/Harrison
Currie
Holmes
Hughes.
Off the bench would be
Mulhern/Harrison
Bullock (if signed)
Walker.

That for me is a good pack.

Sorry missed Joe Philbin off bench

I can see mulhern jumping philbs to be starting prop, it's not been covered on here this year but I think he's had a very good first season for us

Really like Mulhern and Harrison could be a cracker but still our pack will suffer with the loss of Hill. Yes I know he's winding down in terms of age but one more year would've been ideal. He's been consistently excellent for us and IMO was the best player on the park in the last World Cup final. Hill would've smashed it in the NRL, he's undoubtedly world class and 3 or 4 (good to decent) props will not compensate for one world class one.

Excellent post, couldn't agree more.

who says he is definitely leaving?

A Wigan fan on the previous page, so it's obviously true.

Joe Philbin, as much as I like him, doesn’t have the engine or the defensive work to be a replacement for Hill.

It would be negligence to let Hill leave in my opinion.