There are always loads of rumours, some quite bizarre, some believable, but most of them certainly die a death. But if we look at Chris Hill, we do know that his contract ends this year and from April he will be a free agent. He is also our oldest player and will be 34 in November. He has got to the age where he will be diverting a good part of his attention to life after rugby league and perhaps one final contract pay day. Is it so unlikely that he might be tempted back home to Leigh ? And from our point of view we ought to be looking at a suitable replacement. To give ourselves options that ought to be both internal promotion and external recruitment as Hilly will be a hard act to follow.
So there has to be some plans that the club are already progressing because of the April deadline, which means you have to consider the rumour as a possibility. The Luke Thompson one is perhaps less likely for obvious reasons, but the club does have a track record for big name signings, so whilst less likely, I don't think I would dismiss it out of hand.

‘34 in November!’..lol
So what part of the playing 2021 season is he not 33?
You’d make a great politician.
He was only 32 two months ago btw!

I am taking the information from Wiki and England Rugby who give his DOB as November 1987. Hence 33 currently and 34 in November.

duckie you are actually right in terms of political comms. Winslade has played a blinder there because he has got you to focus on the issue he wanted to - that Hill is approaching the end of his career. Whether he's 33 or 34 doesn't change the point. He's got you talking about his age.

Hill going to Leigh would be like Morley going to Salford. It may happen, if not this year, next year.

I feel strangely sad about Chris Hill's career, even though he hasn't been a bad player. I remember in the 2013 World Cup thinking he was pretty much on par with Sam Burgess. I thought he was going to be a Burgess/Morley/Graham type player, one of the best in the world for a decade. Instead he was more like Fielden - a terrific player for the first few years of his career. He didn't flame out like Fielden it was more a drop from world-class to 'decent SL prop'.

You can take it straight from the Duck’s backside.
Hill isn’t leaving Wire.

hock, thats all i'm saying.

Chris Hill = Stuart Fielden pre-2006. You've got to be kidding.

Coming from there, it must be true.

More likely Hill to Leigh and George Burgess to you after his hip gets sorted.

Wigan fans here at work are bouncing at the alleged signing of Luke Thompson, I didn't know he was on the hunt for a club back here?

I did mention it a few days ago, Warrington possible trying to get Hill off the books this year to Leigh, it’s no coincidence his testimonial is against Leigh. Wigan have managed to get Burgess off the books to free up a large chunk of cap space so I’d guess it’s now a straight shoot out between the 2 clubs. If Wigan only announce him on a 1 year deal then I’d assume you have your man for 2022.

I get the feeling that the Op Burgess is having would help him to lead a normal active life, and not to necessarily get back to playing a sport like RL. Should he be able to take up the sport once more, then whoever offers Burgess a contract would be taking a massive leap of faith.

Thompson signing a contract with Wigan for just a year, so that he can then move to Warrington, sounds extremely unlikely.

I wouldn't include Burgess in the same breath as Hill.
Our boys ,Hill ,Cooper & Westwood were better than any of the Burgess brothers in England shirts.

You cannot argue with that statement.

I agree mate but you would think his contract would be structured on his fitness and as long as you or any club don`t use the same Medic who Wigan used then he could still be a good signing.
Much depends how he recovers but could also see Leeds in for him as he has said he would like to play at the Rhinos.

Who cares about doing it in England shirts though?

Sam will go down as one of the best forwards to play in the NRL ever and was arguably the best prop in the world in 2014.

Agreed, Sam Burgess was the best English player for some time. Our lads did well but at his peak he walks in to our first team and is immediately made club captain. He would have been another Morley type signing for us.

We seem to have gone off continent let alone off piste...

The Burgess in question is George not Sam as far as i understand it.

The Burgess in question is actually Chris Hill, if anyone wants to stick to a topic.....

I agree to an extent but the Burgess in question in the context of this thread and as a comparative to Hill was any of them in an England shirt

The original Burgess i picked up on was George who somebody suggested could be a replacement if Chilly goes to Leigh.

What topic? Hill isn't going Leigh so there is no topic.

If that was the way forums worked this place would be emptier than Empty McEmpties empty pockets