I agree and I would love to see him here but its still a risk.

Matty B has a point also.

Likewise jonh, I think Cameron has some real talent and I prefer him to Briscoe especially when you consider the difference in wages and that I think there's more to come from him.

Really like Phelps dont see why he cant make the wigan F/B is own for a few more years. aussie or not..he shows just as much passion as the wigan lads

Correct. I got caught up in the hype about Briscoe midway through the season, but when you assess the quality of British fullbacks and the performances from Shaun Briscoe in the Four Nations you realise just how over rated he is and how poor British fullbacks are - Richie Mathers, Paul Sykes, Matt Blaymire etc VERY average.

Widdop would be a top signing and there is a chance of signing him with MaGuire's link up with Melbourne Storm. But we would some competition IMO because he was named in the Toyota dream team alongside Australia's finest talents and other NRL clubs would probably be in for him & the lad probably has the ambition to play first grade in the NRL. Next season we will see how good he is as when Slater is away on SOO duty he will get his chance. For England's sake I hope he stays in the NRL, but from a more selfish view I would love for Wigan to sign him. A play making fullback who is one of the finest talents in the Australian game and he is English! (Oh he kicks goals as well). He should have been called up to the England squad in the Four Nations. If the British selectors open their eyes he should get called up for this years international tournament.

As for INS and OUTS a lot depends on how players perform this season. I had Andy Coley and Cameron Phelps out last season, but both (deservedly) got new contracts.

Phil Bailey will most likely go. The competition for second row spots is very high and I don't think he will be resigned.

George Carmont - A lot just depends on how Karl Pryce and Darrell Goulding get on. If neither develop to how he hope then we may just keep Carmont or we may look to bring in another centre from Australia/New Zealand.

Andy Coley - I think he will go at the end of the season. An average player who we should be looking to replace to challenge the top sides in the league.

Cameron Phelps - Is not as good as some people make him out to be. His attacking ability at fullback is very good (you can tell he was a six), but he is too unsure with high kicks and vunerable with 1v1's. Defensively it would take a massive improvement for him to be signed on. A likeable lad and that is why he gets the support he does, but you have to be ruthless with regards to recruitment. If Gareth Widdop becomes available/can be made available I hope we get him and NOT Shaun Briscoe.

Karl Pryce - Will most likely leave at the end of the season. Unfortunate with injury, but not shown anything in his time here to suggest he will be a big success. Huge disappointment and will most likely be left to leave to clear some cap space.

Darrell Goulding - All depends on his development. He is agile, quick and good with his feet. Hopefully Martin Gleeson can help his development defensively & so can Michael MaGuire. I still have high hopes for Goulding.

Harrison Hansen - is a great squad player. Gets through the defensive work and takes the ball up well. Doesn't count on the quota and wont demand a huge wage for the work he does. Should be resigned.

Mike McIlorum - is a really promising player who could make it at international level, but he still has a fair way to go. He is also very agile, quick and very strong defensively, but I don't think he is creative enough. He needs to be a bit more elusive at dummy half. He adding a bit of kicking to his game last season which was impressive. His discipline could be better, but I wont hold it against him - Terry Newton was similar.

Lee Mossop - resigned. Loads of potential, tough lad and is settling into Super League. Enough said.

Paul Prescott - I can't believe people calling for his head! Most props mature at around 26/27ish and I think Prescott will make a fantastic prop! He never takes a backwards step, well disciplined, holds his own in defense and is a hard working lad. Big unit and will be a very good player for Wigan.

Feka Paleaasina - Lost 1 and a half stone already in the off season. He has the right attitude and will sort himself out. The previous regime neglected his fitness, but Feka should take some of the blame. That said he is still devastating in Super League even if he is unfit - so imagine him in the same shape he was when he was at New Zealand Warriors! Rumoured to be a big earner so it would have to be the right contract.

Stuart Fielden - his wages would have to come down considerably to be even considered as a possible resign. We need to see some fire in the belly from Fielden again to justify a new contract. If his heart isn't in it then we should get rid.

why would this widdup want to come? top nrl talent, destined for a good career in the best league in the world by the looks of it.

indeed

Very true. Money could be a factor, being back at home in England. Little in truth. Hopefully (from a selfish Wigan POV) he finds no way of getting the number one shirt from Billy Slater and Wigan can snap him up before another NRL club does.

I am not convinced that he would rather come her than another NRL club.

Has anyone seen Widdop play?

Billy Slater.

I have never seen him play, I doubt anyone else on here has, but after some of the comments that have been made about him and the awards he won last year, you have to take notice.

Sounds familiar,,, In 2005, he won the prestigious Dally M Rookie of the Year award after leading the NRL in try assists. He also received much acclaim from Parramatta legend Peter Sterling, who "handed over" the Eels #7 jersey in an episode of The NRL Footy Show in the middle of 2005. With 40 try assists in his debut season Smith entered the NRL scene with a bang, he was labeled as the next 'Joey' and 'Sterlo'.

Tim Smith

Tim Smith is a brilliant player, he just can't defend. I have heard Widdop can defend. Thats the only reason Tim Smith has not made it big time, with the right players around him and some ability to defend, he would be a superb player.

Obadiah Geia and Shannon Walker received multiple plaudits in the Toyota Cup. It does not equate to instantaneous stardom, merely a good prospect.

Widdop should not be saddled with such expectations.

I am not the one saying he will be the next Billy Slater.

I think he will be a good player and would trust Maguires judgement if he was signed.

Agreed but as stated earlier, who better to know just how good he is/and potentially is than MM.

If we were to bring him to the club I would be confident we had signed a good one if the bloke that played a major part in developing him wanted him.

If he signed for another SL club I would have my doubts.

Simple really.

Yeh I was pretty confident when we signed Karl Pryce



Flash turned out good though.

The one thing that we shouldn’t forget is that this current squad minus Deacon was very close to being in both major finals last year.

It’s a team which has played some sublime rugby at points in the season. The ‘big one’ against Leeds, Murrayfield and the first 15 of the SL game against Salford at home spring to mind. On those rare occasions the players showed how much potential they have but the problem has always been consistency from week to week. It was a major gripe many had with the Noble era and one of Maguire’s major challenges is to eradicate it from our game.

With all those reasons I’d be very tempted to resign all but two of the players who are off contract this season. I don’t think we can put a price on consistency within the squad from year to year and how beneficial it is for team cohesion. The players know each other, the coach knows his players and there is a team bond which doesn’t have to be created all over again.

It’s the first time in years we are finally looking at making little tweaks to the squad rather than wholesale changes to it. We should be looking at trying to bring in maybe two players one of which has to be of the highest quality.

The two players I’d let go are Coley and Deacon (although Deacon isn’t really leaving). We should be looking at resigning Fielden on lower wages and moving him into the spot Coley will leave. This would allow us to have enough cap space to recruit that world class prop we’ve needed since Faz left.

The other signing I’d make is someone a little younger to replace Deacon. It’s got to be a HB who can offer something Tommy and Sam can’t i.e an excellent kicking game and an ability to direct us round the field. I’d personally like us to offer Brough a contract as he’s the no frills type of 7 we could really do with when Deacs hangs up his boots. I’m sure he’s off contract this season as well isn’t he?

That’s the way I’d go anyway as I really don’t think we are far off the top.

In my opinion as it stands Fielden, Pryce, Goulding Hansen, McIllorum, Carmont and Phelps need big seasons to earn new deals.

Its a bit harsh on Phelps as i do think he is a quality player and indeed could go on to have a decent career, but he is an overseas players and this due to the dropping of the quota needs to be taken by only the best players. Same for Carmont but age is against him and i hope whatever the clause is to activate the second year of his deal is heavily stacked in our favour. We must though assess our options and only recruit players that will improve the team if they are not already in the club. I personally hope Pryce hits the straps and takes the shirt of Carmont and Widdop is as good as he is being made out to be. I would not any other British fullback over Phelps including Briscoe, I rate him but do not think he will improve the team.

Bailey will be gone, age and quota space is against him.


Coley needs to be consistent and for me would be worth another year.

Its is obviously about seeing who is available and who will improve the team. Hock will be back as a Prop mid way through 2011 in my opinion which could alter the Coley situation but it would be a big risk to expect him to hit the ground running after 2 years out.

For what its worth i think every player who is off contract needs a big season to earn a new deal.

Secondly i think Deacon could add the extra dimension that we have been missing and he too should be concentrating on earning a new playing deal and leave the coaching till he is finished playing.

Mcilorum, Hansen and Phelps imo should all be definite candidates for a new deal.

All three have talent, potential and age on their sides. I’d also hazard a guess as well that they aren’t any where near the top earners at the club which means any pay increases won’t break the bank and certainly won’t compare to drops we should see in Fielden’s wage and even Feka’s.

Again I’d let Coley go as long as we bring in a truly top class prop to replace him. Fielden hasn't lived up to his rep at Wigan but he hasn't been as bad as some make out either. He's not gonna be anyones top prop if he decides to leave but i still think he'd make a good 2nd prop at any SL club so why not ours?

Deacs will be massive for us next season as he should give us the level of organisation we’ve not seen since Dobbo was here.

That being said age isn’t on his side and although he could maybe do another two years we could bring in Brough who is equally as good as him and have a more stable partnership for a good few seasons.

Again it’s not changes for changes sake but looking at what we have and how we can slightly improve on it.

Hopefully we can get 2 years from deacon by which time joe mellor will be ready for a starting shirt. Mellor may even get a few games in 2010 from the bench with a view to being more involved in 2011. Injuries will decide.

Agreed from what little i have seen of him 2010 may be too early but 2011 could see him take the place of Deacs, as our back up half and after that who knows, he does look a classy little act, very similar in running style to Sam Tomkins.

Also lets not forget that both Owen Farrell and his Dad are off contract at the end of the current season, we have a potential centre spot in the balance long term and also Mike Forshaw off contract I believe.