Does anyone have a sense as to what Shaun Wane and Ian Lenagan think about the choice? Have they offered any clues?

Wane has a history of saying “it’s x’s job to win the shirt back”, so I’d guess Tomkins will start the season at FB and Escare will have to show he’s better than him somehow.

Like others, I'd like to see Sam return to the halves, but if it's a straight choice between the two, then it's still Tomkins by a distance for me.

Escare was playing very well before his injury, but still nowhere near as effective as ST for me, even if he's a different player to what he was.

My unpopular opinion of the day.

How good Escare was for us has been largely overrated. He looked good because he is fast, but he doesn't have the creative capabilities of Tomkins from the fullback position when he joins the line.

Escare was better than i thought he would be but no where as creative as Tomkins can be from the back. Like a previous poster maybe look at Escare at 7 he has a good boot on him and could do a Burrows type role for Wigan. Lualuai was good for the Kiwis at 9 but Mcllurom had a very good game for Ireland. Plenty of options around hooker and half its just getting the right balance

Thats exactly why Escare's time at Wigan thus far has been overrated. In reality we got him because Catalans no longer wanted him, and people weren't expecting much. He was good (I'm not saying otherwise), but Tomkins offered much more. The reason some people don't see it like this is because we expected a lot more from Tomkins, and he gave us less than our initial expectations. Whereas Escare exceeded (his much lower) expectations and took us by surprise.

Escare isn't creative enough...... so stick him in the key creative position in the team?

This is exactly how I see it. There's a definite loss of pace there, but I can see Sam developing into a much better version of Luke Dorn in his time at Cas. Not the quickest over a sprint, but has the brain & guile to be very dangerous, and can play a bigger role in organising the team than he did in his early 20s.

That said, Escare definitely contributed more at full back last year than Tommy did at 7, so moving Sam into the halves is probably still my preferred option.

It isn't about Escare being better then Tomkins at fullback that makes me want him in that shirt, it's the fact that Escare is a better fullback then Tommy is a scrum half IMO and Sam will bring as much, if not more, at halfback then what he now does at fullback with him lacking his old pace. In turn Leuluai is a better hooker then he is scrum half so it seems our best option.

Ideally we'd sign a proper scrum half but I've resigned myself to the fact that ain't happening.

If you use a quote try reading it, I stated he was not as creative at fullback as Tomkins, very few players are. That doesn't mean he couldn't play in the halfs.

If you use a quote try reading it, I stated he was not as creative at fullback as Tomkins, very few players are. That doesn't mean he couldn't play in the halfs.

I think you are underestimating the importance of the position, particularly when partnered by Williams. Whoever plays scrum half for us next year needs to be our key organiser, directing our attack. No way would I give it to someone who has never played that position, and speaks limited English. S.Tomkins, Powell and Shorrocks are all better options there IMO. Escare at FB was one of few things that worked really well last season, there are plenty of other areas more deserving of change.

I’d like to see us go ...

1. Tomkins
6. williams
7. Powell
9.McLlorum
14. Leuluai

Escare did pretty well at the beginning of last year but to me he still looks like he’s a couple of errors away from a Liam Marshall esque breakdown. He a great backup to have imo but I would t be happy with him as first choice one going into a full season.

My feeling is that Escare's form was starting to dip even before he got injured. He was poor against Catalans at home for example. I think we have seen the best of him. However, I do agree with others on here that Sam should be played in the halves. If that does free up a place at Full back I would rather see Josh Charnley there than Morgan Escare to be honest.

Typo?

I think it was supposed to say James Tedesco, It's easily done





My tuppence worth is,

1. Escare
6. Sam T
7. Williams
9. Tommy

It won't happen because Mickey Mac is un-droppable even though he is the least effective hooker in the league. Escare IMO did more than enough at full back to have that no.1 jersey. He may not be able to create more than Sam but can WITH Sam. He showed us all that he isn't afraid of throwing his body at the props. He is pretty safe under the high ball, he can kick and he can get the ball out to the 20m line and further a lot quicker than Sam can gaining us valuable field position. I would love to see Tommy at 9 for 1 season and Danny Walker from Widnes as his protege. A proper scampering hooker who can zip through a gap in the blink of an eye. When was the last time we had one of those?

I really really rate Walker. Would love us to sign him. It was great when he got stuck into Hill too, he never backs down. He could be great in the future

Just reminds me of Roby. Imagine having a Roby for 10 years or so

You don't think Josh is a better player than Escare? He wants to come back to Wigan. I'd prefer him to come here than go to Warrington.

I think he has never played full back, and that we have two quality full backs and three or four quality wingers. I'm not saying he isn't a good player, but he isn't what we are short of. If we do have cap space (which I doubt), we should be prioritising a scrum half or a prop IMO, and open to offers on one of our wingers if it helps create cap space.

I dont know if there is anything in this Charnley to Warrington rumour. Seems to have been started by someone on the message boards some days ago. I know its had a little bit of press but im not sure if its real or come from message board chatter. It also seems to have intensified since Sale have signed that other winger, again paper talk or true, i dont know.

Would be strange if he did sign for us considering the stick he always got from the wire fans. Having said that, he is a quality winger, better than what we have.

Looking at the Wigan squad, he is not a player you require. If you do get him can we have one of your other wingers? ps id rather have him back in league than sat wasting away in union

Completely agree with you about needing a scrum half and a prop.

My post was partly tongue in cheek (BTW Josh has appeared at fullback for Wigan albeit only once or twice), but partly to emphasise my view that I believe people have overrated Morgan Escare, and gone totally overboard after being pleasantly surprised by him last season.

He was awful in his last two years at Catalan after a promising start. He made a promising start with us after no doubt a lot of coaching input, but I feel he was already starting to regress when he got injured. IMO he's not good enough to have the starters jersey at Wigan.

I remember a game away at Huddersfield where Charnley played fullback. He wasn't too bad but that ship has sailed for us and we don't need him back.

A couple of props are a must. A proper scrum half is also a must for me but that looks to have been ruled out. If we get enough go forward from the front row, maybe we can fix up and make do with what we have.

He's more d about farming and his big union paycheck than he is about a return to league

He would certainly be a good addition to what is looking like a very exciting re-shaping of the Warrington side. He would easily slot into your side. I reckon the rumour has legs. I can see it happening. We don't need him here but if he comes back with the same pace you have got yourself one hell of a finisher no doubt, He also brings strength.