Other teams need to raise their games rather than for Warrington to lower ours.

Very difficult question to answer. On the face of it; Saints, purely down to the drive that Graham gave them. A similar argument could be had with ourselves and the work that King did that went unnoticed, especially at exit sets. Where we are different from Saints, is we are fortunate that we are reasonably strong in the threequarters and in Evans, we have a potential wunder kind. Wigan, theoretically, should be the best placed to cover their losses as the backrow is their greatest player density, even though both Hoffman and Tomkins where their first choice.

Hoffman & Hansen were first choice when available, so Hock should be able to cover Hoffmans loss, Farrell will probably again claim the bench spot. The centre position my main concern at Wigan, although we could conceivably move Charnley there and put Roberts back on the wing if we have finally sorted out his knee problem. A fit Fielden is more than an adequate replacement for Coley.

Hock will cover Hoffman's absence in respect of a body, but work ethic; not remotely close. I do take your point about Hansen in the back row.

Charnley to centre is an obvious one, but I wouldn't hold your breath regarding Roberts. He appears to be in the playing wilderness, for whatever reason. I could see Goulding getting a start, comfortably, in front of Roberts.

Centre is a huge headache for us but as getdownmonkeyman said, we've got second rowers coming out of our ears. I'd rather Charnley stay on the wing but I think he could well move into the centres with Goulding on the wing.

Charnley at centre defensively would be a big risk, he's got a big target on his head at the minute and he had the relative safety of being on the wing, his positional play is diabolical.

When we played Wigan this year the obvious play was to target Joel & Charnley.

Most sides would attack down that side anyway as Carmont and Richards are the best wing/centre partnership in Super League for me.
I think Goulding would be a bigger risk than Charnley. I hope the lad proves me wrong, but I don't think Goulding will ever make it at Wigan. Joel Tomkins was in the centres as a last resort. Tomkins' defensive positioning was dire although he went some way to compensating for it when we had the ball in hand. I'm really disappointed we haven't sorted the centre problem out for 2012.

wasn't first choice backrow pairing Ryan H and Joel T prior to marting G's "problems" ?

I'm pretty sure Tomkins played 99% of his games at centre last season. As you say, if Gleeson would have been around, Tomkins would have had a starting berth in the backrow.

For the first five games when both Tomkins and Hansen were available for the second row spot Tomkins was on the bench four times and Hansen once.

It'll be interesting too see how Gelling goes in the centre this coming season.

would love as a wire fan to see charnley at centre as he can't defend to save his life he is so much of a ball watcher it is unbelieveable

He'll stay on the wing and look to beat his 2011 tally of 27 tries in 32 starts.
And only 20 years old

How many did Goulding get the year before?

25

29 with Martin Gleeson as his centre

Ah I see, it was all down to Glees. Better hope that Charnley's success wasn't all down to Joel then.

I'd have to disagree with you there. I don't think it was all down to Gleeson.
Thankfully Charnley is a much better prospect than Goulding was.

Why as this turned into Wigan thread??? and also i think we could do with another Hooker personaly.

Our coach Chris Thorman was over at your place all day yesterday with Tony Smith & spoke to a couple of your Yorkshire based young lads about coming to us on dual reg.

Any lads you would think could do the business at Championship level?

Cheers

I think the OP is overstating the case slightly saying warrington have 2 play off sides in their squad. Wire are obviously the ones to catch with them finishing at the top of the league last year. But things change even if the personel don't.

Just looking at in's and out's everyone looks to be staying pretty much where they were, but it does not account for injuries or players form. Some years players are on fire, but the next year things can change.

For Saints the loss of Eastmond is only positive. He added nothing positive to the start of our year last year and nothing after that. Graham is a loss, but again Perry hardly played last year so if we get a good run from him and laffranchi then that should go some way to make up the difference.

Basically starting 13's or 17's are hard to judge until you see who your actual starting players will be down to coach preferance, player form and injury.

It is true that good players can off periods. For example, I didn't think Ben Harrison had his best season for Warrington last year. However, it is almost delusional to think that a mediocre to poor player like Perry is suddenly going to have a James Graham quality season. The chances are he will, just as last season, coast through super league. Looking like he could do some damage but never really executing. Even more so, there is that fear of bringing in an Aussie that they won't instantly click. I don't really buy into it but expecting a new player being brought in to be as good as James Graham is bonkers.

James Graham is a massive loss to Saints and I have no doubt that they will feel it and it will be reflected in the league table. To be frank, there were times last seasons when the difference between them winning and a pretty heavy loss was James Graham.

thats the state of origin and australian international player josh perry, you're calling mediocre right?


right?

To be fair to jdrocket he actually described the state of origin and australian international as a "mediocre to poor player", not just mediocre.

I'm sorry if you disagree but Josh Perry wasn't pulling up trees last season (when not injured) and was on a downard spiral the season before (before he was injured)

I am saying that Josh Perry has, for two season, flattered to deceive and that he isn't going to magically become James Graham good overnight.

[size=50Ben Cross played soo and was a provisional international[/size