So many different opinions on the younger of the lads... How do you think there doing?

S.Tomkins - He's a bit quieter than last season, possibly because teams are now more aware of him. Now he needs to work out how to be effective even when they're gunning for him.
McIllorum - He's going well and it's good to see him holding down a first team spot. I love his enthusiasm, I hope he's learning lots of tricks from Riddell, who won't be here forever.
Ainscough - Been sent from pillar to post and now in trouble for fighting. I think he'll make a brilliant player but don't think it'll be here sadly.
Mossop - He's not in the team as often as I'd like but his presence is awesome, always seems to win the collision. I think he's better suited to prop though and will probably move there eventually.
Goulding - In the form of his life, he started the season playing for a new contract and by half way he's made the 2 shirt his own. I don't even think he's out of position on the wing, he looks way better there.
Farrell - Massive start to the season from him and it'll be very tough to decide who to drop when Hansen returns.
Davies - Going well at Blackpool apparently, he'll get his chance as Fielden and Coley get closer to retirement and Maguire continues to rotate the props.
Marsh - I was impressed with him v Hudds, he looked a bit nervous at the start but soon settled in, he could do with putting on a bit of weight though.
Mellor - Been injured, hope he recovers soon.
Tuson - Had a decent game v Cas but I don't see him making the team again any time soon, six back rowers in front of him and only one of them looks like going anywhere in the next few years.
Vievers - Going well at Blackpool apparently, I don't see him getting his shot any time soon though, too many players in their prime in front of him
Charnley - See above
Walker - Got through plenty tackles v Harlequins, didn't let us down at all. Don't see where his next game will come from though, but then again I didn't see his debut coming either.
Thornley - Not seen anything of him, his college commitments have probably put him behind a bit.
Holland - Not seen anything of him, he's getting old for a young player though, already over age for the academy and the player in front of him (Davies) hasn't made his debut yet, I guess he'd have to overtake Ben Davies if he wants to make it here.

Thats all very interesting Grimmy but I'm more interested in who has the lowest percentage of body fat at the club. Anyone know?

I'm stumped .....

I know the lowest is 3.5%, second lowest is 5%.

And Veivers is at Whitehaven

Davies is at Widnes not Blackpool. Holland is at Blackpool

Pfft, it's all foreign to me once you get past Billinge.

As I understand it, some people are still using the outdated statistics that show Walker as holding that position, whereas in fact new data shows Palea'asina now with the lowest.

Feka may now have the lowest body fat count now, but he's just lost out to Piggy in the gravy level count.

I've got to say that some of the people on here have very short memories. Just because everything has been going well this season, people seem to forget the impact some of our younger players have had previously.

Last season between them Sam and Shaun Ainscough kickstarted our run to the playoff semi final in the game against Harlequins. Yet because of his impact on the salary cap should he play a certain number of games Ainscough was dropped, whilst being the leading scorer in SL. This season unfortunately hasn't gone too well for him; he went to Cas where he had a fantastic debut but ended up playing in a team with some serious issues, who were going through a terrible run of form. He came back and played in possibly our worst performance of the season, playing outside a centre who looks like his running days are behind him and forgot how to tackle on the night.

We are currently blessed with the most potent and exciting attacking back line up in SL, for heavens sake last season's best fb can't get a start but there are clearly going to be a few changes over the next three seasons - Gleeson and Carmont aren't getting any younger, Roberts and Pat will I believe eventually head back down-under and Phelps I would expect to leave at the end of this season.

Ainscough would run through a brick wall for Wigan Warriors, I truly think that he is still one of the most exciting prospects in the game and I am certain that under the guidance of Rads and Mags he will improve the defensive side of his game. Some of us on here seem to have slipped into the midset that because we are Wigan we have a God given right to perfection. (It was KP under the kosh a few weeks back and Goulding before him!) It seems to me that a few of us like nothing better than to moan and unfortunately for Shaun he's the target at the moment.

I will end by saying that I hope Shaun Ainscough is a Wigan player for a long time to come, the lad is an out and out try scorer but is also a 'rough diamond', who requires some guidance from his coaches. And whilst I'm on cliches for all of the haters out there - I will end with this

=#FF0000[size=150"Form is temporary, class is permanent"[/size

The reason Ainscough was dropped had nothing to do with any extra payments due to him after he had played so many games.

Roberts has another 2 years on his contract I think and I truly believe Pat will end his career here at Wigan. Best thing for Shaun is that Phelps leaves at the end of season, allowing Roberts to move to FB and Ainscough to take his place. However is Phelps stays remains at FB next year, Ainscough will not be moving either Roberts or Pat from the wings.

Just depends if Ainscough is patient enough to wait for his turn to come and in the meantime keep going out on loan, or unless he wants guaranteed 1st team rugby starting from next year.

Ainscough also has Josh Charnley competing for that wing place. I suspect that Charnley is more of a Maguire type winger, bigger and faster.

Rogues what do you think is likely to happen regarding Veivers? Is it possible for him to come in at FB and have Roberts and Richards on the wings, or is the better option Roberts at FB and Richards and Charnley/Ainscough on the wing?

I hope you're not trying to say I'm a Shaun Ainscough hater, I have a reputation for being his biggest fan! Doesn't change the fact that they don't look too keen on giving him a go. Goulding and Pryce are both ahead of him at the moment. You're right in that Phelps will probably go at the end of the year, that leaves one shirt free for either a full back or a winger (with Roberts playing FB), I think it'll be a winger, Darrell Goulding.

You're ignoring Darrell Goulding completely there, he's surely the best bet for the 2 shirt next year.

Completely forgot about him!

If Phelps goes then I expect to see Goulding have the No2 shirt with Roberts at FB. Its a shame that Phelps takes up a quota spot because if he didn't he would be ideal squad player to have. I dont think he will be leaving because he's not needed, just entirely down to the quota.

Personally I would go with Roberts at fullback (it could be Sam if we sign Brown) and leave Goulding and Pat on the wings.
Charnley and Ainscough would battle it out for the "reserve "wing spot. That leaves Pryce.

He could really throw a spanner in the works (and I hope he does) of he carries on his improvement, as he could put pressure on the centre and wing positions, as could Goulding. I suppose it will all depend on what happens to Carmont and Phelps.

And I've not even included Marsh (or indeed Thornley).

I have a feeling Ainscough will "move on".

Not directed at you personally Grimmy, but for the last few weeks I've been reading post after post slagging off the lad. He's not the complete winger but considering how desperate IL and a lot of the members of this site are to see a WIGAN team in every sense of the word, and given the talent the lad has he still has the potential at 20 years old to become a regular in our side.

I can see parallels with Kevin Penny at Warrington, a very talented lad who displayed early potential and then had the weight of expectation piled upon his shoulders, only to faulter and be villified by many of the Wire fans. It's getting to the point of , were young players aren't given the time to adapt and develop!

I appreciate everything that is being said regarding the current teams contracts and I agree with Cov Warrior that ideally Pat would stay for life; but there is every chance that with the class he displays week in, week out that he will return to Oz (were I believe his extended family still live?) at some point?

One more thing - Rogue's I mean no disrespect - How do you know that payments weren't involved in him being dropped? I was told by a source (who I have no reason to doubt) that it was down to a clause in his contract that would have made it difficult for us to stay under the cap after signing Gleeson.

Best case scenario, if the near future is looking bleak get him loaned out to our supposed NRL link team (if they ever appear) then get him played in their reserves (I realise that with the Storm's problems they're unlikely to want to pursue a link with us). Otherwise get him sent to one of the other top 8 teams on loan like Stains did with Moore for a year or two!

It came straight from ILs mouth either at the shareholders meeting or a fans forum.

And whilst IL has been an excellent chairman thus far, I wouldn't believe everything that you're told.
Heaven knows, there are plenty of Liverpool FC fans who believed their owners when they stated that their new stadium would begin building six weeks after they bought the club, 3 years ago.

From what I have been told there were issues regarding salary cap. My source has been pretty accurate in the past.

Agree fully Rogues, Maguire hasnt stopped complementing Charnley and is highly spoken for everywere i go. I hope he gets a game this season, show them what he's got. Speed, agility, strength.. extreamly low body fat for those who enjoy that fact and much more.
Iv watched him throughout the past 2 seasons and he just gets better, great asset for the Wigan team.
Tell me if you disagree?

He's not ready for SL yet, IMO.

Played with Josh Charnley at pats 18s, brilliant lad and great player. Hope he gets his go. Don't think Neil Holland will make it, been around under 20s for ages n never got a first team debut. Nothing I've seen to make me think hes got the ability.