Always rated Joe Mellor more than Russell or Powell. I still think either of them have the potential though.

It has been a while since I have seen them though. I'm sure Rogues will tell us the latest.

I think Russell has the most potential to be a brilliant player for us. Plus, Powell and Russell are a couple of years younger than Mellor so they have a bit more time to improve also.

I've had limited viewing of him but I've heard very good things about him. Him and Mellor were pretty quiet in the u20's GF which was a game were Russell and King lived up to their billing aided by a strong performance from guys like Crosby and Hughes in the pack.

Russell would be the one that I'd keep the closest eye on. He has unbelievable footwork and pace off the mark and I'm convinced would cause literally any defence problems with ball in hand. I would obviously need to see more of him defensively though.

From the few times I've seen him I was most impressed with his kicking game. At 19 the lad will be very raw. Pleased to see him get an opportunity in the first team. Wane is impressed with him in pre-season and feels he's earned his chance. Good luck to the lad.

With a good kicking game, a half decent passing game and an ability to try his best to defend we won't lose much on Deacs in all honesty. I say that a bit tongue in cheek but with huge respect to Deacon the role he was asked to play in his 2 seasons with us was a very simple one.

It's an ideal role to ask one of the youngsters to ease themselves in with IMO. Keep it nice and simple at first then start to expand as they gain confidence. A model used by Saints with Lee Gaskell last year.

NK. Powell does remind me very much of Paul Deacon, and he is a better defender. My main concern is his pace, or lack of it, but that didn't stop Deacs being a very good scrum half. If Powell is going to be the scrum half I think we need to find a quick stand off to complement him.

Sam 6, Powell 7 and Russell dropping in to the fullback slot in a year to 18 months time would be nice!

Maybe a bit much to ask for those 2 to emerge as starting first teamers in that time but you never know. When you look at the NRL cap going up and Union prowling around it seems as good a shot as us managing to replace guys like Leuluai or Finch with the right quality from elsewhere.

Is Mellor a quick 6? I've heard he's a good up and coming talent but not to much on his qualities as a player. What do you see as Mellor's greatest strengths?

I'd be tempted this year to Use Tommy as 9 and bring in Mellor/Powell full time at 6/7 with Finch the other half back. This season for me is going to be somewhat of a transition year with some young lads ready to be integrated into the side. I'd be just as satisfied with seeing 2/3 getting in first team this year as winning a trophy and none getting a regular run of games

Mellor's injury a couple of years back was a killer for him. Not sure if he has ever fully physically recovered from it or perhaps mentally.

He never looked the same player last season than he did prior to the injury. A move away from Wigan and a fresh start may be the best thing for his long term career.

I think that's got to be the plan from the outset to be honest.

Big upheaval next year with Tommy, Carmont, Fielden, possibly Finch all leaving. That's the spine of the team there (even with Fielden missing last year). Add them to the likes of Deacon and Coley that we lost this year that's a lot of experience to lose in 2 years.

2/3 youngsters breaking through and a final would be good this year, a trophy would be a bonus.

Asked Fielden on twitter about his chances to be playing the first game of the season..He said possibly.

I think Powell's future may well lie at 9. It's where his career began and although he's predominantly played at 7 of late, those new learnt skills should translate well for a move back to hooker. His lack of pace shouldn't be as much of problem, plus how fantastic would it be to have a hooker with a top class kicking game.

I've heard a lot of good things about Matty Russell, but isn't his main position Full Back? If so, how is he going to fit into the team? Even if he is one of the best FB's we have brought through in recent years he won't take the place of Sam.

Suppose though if Sam is going in 3 years Russell will be the next in line.

Wigan need one of the young half backs to get an extended run this year. Which one? I have no idea, Mellor would have been most peoples choice to step up but maybe Powell is the one to get the first chance.

Powell over Mellor for me.

Assuming (dangerous as it may be) that we'll start games with Finch, Tommy and Mick Mc. I'd hope to see Logan/Powell on the bench in each game this season.

Yeah if we don't get them in to the side with a regular run of games this year I'd be worried for 2013, taking a huge step backwards. Having kids who haven't played hardly any first grade coming in in the key positions to replace Tommy and Finch and expecting them to be ready, could leave us unstuck. May as well have a transition year this year and see them blossom before 2013 where they can take the league by storm ala Lomax and Gaskell did (albeit Lomax played all over their lineup before getting his spot)

I've heard a rumour that Matty Russell has been told to expect alot of first team action this coming season at Full Back. Powell has the capability to become a top class half back and I truly believe once Powell & Mellor both get into the 6 & 7 spot they'll be there for some time.

So Russell at 1, Powell and Mellor in the halves.

Tomkins to Saints?



I'd like to see Tomkins play more at 6 to be honest (from an England POV) - he's ropey under kicks and positionally not the best and I think he'd be more useful in the "will he/won't he pass" position in the halves rather than at FB when we all know when he's going to run the ball.

He's that good a player in both positions I dont think people will ever agree but I think he is so much better from the fullback position, but he NEEDS a decent halfback pairing to set plays up plus others running the right lines so he can chime in to the line in space. He was wasted for most of the 4N because Sinfield and Chase weren't doing this.

From a Wigan perspective I expect we're going to mostly see Finch and Tommy at 6 and 7 with Mellor and/or Powell getting plenty of chances to step in as a permanent replacement when Tommy leaves with the possibility Finch might as well at the end of the season. From an England perspective I think Sam at 1, Widdop at 6 and Lomax at 7 could be the spine of the team for years to come.

What happened to the cockney guy we picked up - Jamie Acton?

We'll certainly know far more about how good our young lads at the club are under Shaun Wane this season than we ever would have under Madge's tenure at the club. No-one really knows whether Matty Russell will be a good fullback, Sam Powell a good halfback until they're given a shot.

Let's hope we find a couple of gems.

Bit harsh on Madge, he clearly didnt think any of the youngsters were ready last year and liked using his full strength squad at every opportunity. That's not to say if he stayed here longer he would never have used them.

It was pretty short sighted not to debut any of Logan, Mellor or Powell last year though, knowing that we would be losing Deacon and not replacing him. I'm not convinced Madge would have done that if he was staying.

Fair comment, I didn't mean it to come across as a dig at Madge. Although he could have and in hindsight perhaps should have utilised his squad more (Mellor/Crosby/Hughes) on occasions last year.