Maybe HE got it wrong, not the club.. Just a thought.

The signing always seemed odd to me too, unless it was just to raise the profile in Wales.

I'm pretty sure there was some kind of deal cut with the RFL, with one eye on the world cup which obviously went pecs north when he didn't make the squad. No surprise if he heads back.

Nods... Maybe so...

Hansen going would be another blow IMO because not only is he a good player, he's also an experienced head who thrives on the good times we're having after experiencing the bad. He leads by example and is a decent size for a backrower (certainly bigger then Faz or Bateman) and tough as they come.

I like to think of myself somewhere in the middle when it comes to the whole 'happy clapper vs doom mongers' debate on here but nobody can see this as a positive. If we've got a fee that's fair enough but for now I'd rather have the player.

I think after the lads that have already left we really need to stick with what we've got regardless if we lose out on a few quid in 12 months time.

Sorry, it doesn't work like that. If this deal goes ahead and you criticise it you join the ranks of those who will be strangely quiet at the end of the season. You also hate SW and IL, are glad that Sam's gone, etc.

I wonder if they'll arrange it so he only leaves after the WCC? Just a thought

I know nobody will agree but this is my opinion.

I would rather he goes now than after he pockets our money from his testimonial. Especially since he openly said he was only staying because of that.

Yes we have had good service from him and I wish him well at Salford , but he will be replaced. Why should we contribute to a testimonial knowing that will get two fingers straight after.

Take the money and invest it preferably in a top centre, which is the area we are really lacking.

Phil wilkinson has just tweeted there are a few surprised in the squad numbers which are released tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing them, should give us a little insight into what is happening with Hansen/Powell.

gives an insight into Wanes thinking, but 1-17 are not necessarily the starting 17. Cant wait

That is, IMO, exactly the stance we should be taking.

We can debate if we should try and retain him with a new contract beyond his current deal next year but as he has indicated he wants to stay and there is no suggestion he would give anything but 100% that is what we should do.

He is very underrated (still) and at 28 is hardly past it. In fact as a forward he is in his prime. To sell such a player would be bonkers IMO.

Even if he did, he deserves it or do you not value his contribution to our sucess over the years he has been here?



To say thanks for 10 years service!

If H leaves before or after next season it will be Wigan's not his choice IMO and it will be the wrong choice.

There doesn't appear to be any need to sell him. We hardly need the money. So it's possible that his body is starting to creak a bit after all of the effort that he has put in. His defence is the best in the team, Lockers excepted. But he does have deficiencies with ball in hand, and maybe SW thinks the youngsters offer greater potential.

He missed the first ten games or so last season and when he came back we were top of the table. So we were hardly found wanting. The likes of Bateman, Hughes, Hopkins are queuing up for the shirt. It may turn out to be a good deal all round.

I have no problem whatsoever with him pocketing money from a testimonial. He has earned it.

Being of the old school on here I simply don't see the point of testimonials anymore. They used to be for part time players who when injured very often didn't get paid by the club nor by their place of work.
A testimonial put some money back into their pocket and rewarded loyalty.
None of that applies to F/T players in SL as they are contracted.
Hansen has been excellent for us, if he has better prospects financially at Salford then if he goes, good luck to him.

Aren't testimonials used by players to raise money for their chosen charities rather than the money going to themselves?

Some do some don't!

A lot of RL players aren't paid that well for sportsmen IMO, especially when you consider how many injuries they pick up, the longevity of their careers (15 years at SL level, often less) and the constant lure of NRL/Union. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Hansen shattered his wrists by putting off an operation so he could save us from relegation? Either way he's tackled his backside week in week out for us for a decade, he deserves every penny he gets

If what I've been told is true then the deal has already been done, Hansen will be a Salford player in 2014.

I was just looking up the second row choices for the super league dream team. Over the last six seasons the following have been chosen - Westwood (4 times), and once each for Kirmond, Ferres, Hock, Menzies, Joel Tomkins, Galea, Newton and Ellis.

I wonder how people would rate HH against these. And given that Wigan have been the most succesful team in this period, epecially over the last 4 seasons why hasn't HH ever been picked?

A major positive of Hansen for me is how consistent he is. He rarely seems to have a bad game, never mind a bad season, and the nature of his game is bound to mean he will often go unnoticed as he's primarily a grafter.

I wonder how much cap space he is taking up compared with the players mentioned, and how he compares with back rowers on similar salaries. Even ignoring those factors I'd still feel far more confident going to a season with him than a player who will tear a team apart one game, then throw wild offloads, give away needless penalties and hardly make any tackles the next. Not naming any names



P.S Did you know only one of the top 10 tacklers from this season made the dream team?

Well only Jamie Peacock and Faz from top 4 teams, made the top 10 tacklers in the competition, so I don't understand your point.

I'd rather have HH than Hock too, but I think I'll be more than happy with Faz and whoever SW picks. I think that Bateman could be a real star and I think he needs game time to make up lost ground in 2013. He was the best young back rower in the country by far in 2012.

There's a sense of deja vu about this (see the thread about Blake). I understand people not wanting to lose HH. But there are so many good (potentially great) young players coming through that IMO we won't miss him. And I suggest that is what SW thinks too.

Probably because all those chosen offer more in attack - HH offers excellent defence and work rate but just about all the forward in that list have better stats for tries scored and assists and I suspect that is why they have been chosen above him. Many of the forwards mentioned have very good off-loading games - something HH is lacking.

If it was a choice purely on defence then I would choose HH above several on the list but as an all round player it is hard to argue against him not being on that list.

My point is that defensive players tend to get ignored in these lists. IMO Hansen's defensive work rate as well as his experience is something that we shouldn't sell lightly, if we do sell him at all, especially as we need to hit the ground running this season as we have the World Club Challenge in just over 2 months. No disrespect to Bateman/Clubb but who would you want tasked with starting in the back row against Sonny Bill and JWH?

That's simple. I'd rather have HH against SBW. However, I'm not sure he'll be fit. Also (and I've made this point elsewhere) we were without him for the first ten games last season and weren't exactly found wanting, actually we were top of the league. I'm not underplaying his contribution, which has been immense, but it's just that I think we will, over the course of the season, be just fine and quite possibly, better off, because the youngsters might match his defence but be better in attack. You don't get to play for Wigan without being able to defend properly anyway. Sorry for not catastrophising.

The first ten games of last season counted for naff all. The two finals counted for everything because alas that is the way it is and in both finals H was immense. If you think youngsters "might match his defence but be better in attack" in semi-finals, finals and play offs I think you are living in cloud cuckoo land.

will one of the youngster come in and improve on hansen this season? no they wont can they with a couple years of development yes. To be honest if he wants to go to salford and they are paying for him its a good deal.