Burgess and Hampshire just have class written all over them. The only worry is they'll get played too often, too soon due to us not being able to stem the flow of players going out of the club.

Rather that then not have the options in the first place.

It was a 2 on 2, and regardless of Gleeson running at the gap it was Gelling's job to tackle him, which he did. Thus Burgess should have had faith in his inside man and marked Hall.

We do it every week, that's why Charnley is top try scorer. If wingers get sucked in it's because the inside defenders haven't slid across properly and it leaves the winger with a decision to make.

That's why most of those who had seen him raved about him (as mentioned in the previous thread).
I'm biased I admit (prob 1st time over a player at this level) but seeing him at 18 & how he has matured reminds me so much of Charnley at the same age. IIRC Charnley had just turned 19 when he made his Wigan debut so Joes 3/4 months ahead of that and Charnley had 3 months or so on loan at HKR as well to help him settle in.

I believe next year "may" be a touch early ideally BUT with another 2 months in and around the squad, another off season developing who knows?

PS
[size=85Clarkeys not his uncle[/size

Like you JS I think next year may be a little bit early for Burgess. He will probably need to put on about a stone on weight, but more importantly not lose any of his pace. and would have have him working with a dedicated sprint coach. I have no doubt about his ability, and providing he keeps a level head he could be a big asset to Wigan in the future. What position he will eventually play I'm not sure, it could depend on how he develops physically and can see him and Manfredi battling out for a wing spot next season.

He looked the real deal last Friday, I've not seen him play for U19s though.
Obviously very confident and has great ability, He's a better 5 than either Gelling or Thornley the latter who I think is our long term No4.
Who is better at the club for the 5 shirt next year than JB?

I think we'll see Burgess, Thornley, Gelling and Manfredi fighting for that #5 shirt next season.

Fans talked about how we were going to miss Finch, Tommy L and Lima, but the one we have missed most of all is George Carmont.

Fantastic debut by Burgess he looked like a seasoned pro out there, one for the very near future without a doubt

Interesting for next year as to who will get the No5 and No1 shirts.
That's on the basis Sam will go!

Even if we sign no one we still have a pretty good squad IMO:

1 Tierney
2 Charnley
3 Goulding
4 Gelling
5 Burgess
6 Green
7 Smith
8 Flower
9 McIlorum
10 Taylor
11 Hansen
12 Farrell
13 O'Loughlin

14 Hampshire
15 Lauaki
16 Crosby
17 Pettybourne

18 Fans
19 Dudson
20 Thornley
21 L.Tomkins
22 Burke
23 A.Powell
24 Hughes
25 Hopkins
26 Williams
27 S.Powell
28 Spencer
29 Lloyd
30 Manfredi
31 Greenwood
32 Lever

I'm sure plenty expect signings to replace Sam and Pat, it will free up a lot of cap room after all, but I hope we don't just sign anyone available for the sake of it. I would expect the squad above to be in the mix for both trophies next year

Edit - Forgot Hopkins

Not enough experience and not enough game breakers.

Lose Tomkins and Richards and sign no replacements and we'll have committed suicide IMO. We won't only be damaging our short term prospects but we'll also damage potential long term gems like Burgess and Hampshire.

That's before we get on to the fall in attendances that's bound to follow.

Are Tierney, Burgess and Hampshire not game breakers? I agree we should be on the look out, but I'd hate to see us sign an average player and in doing so lose a top class youngster. I've seen enough of all 3 to convince me they will do well in super league, will they be happy to keep trying to prove themselves in the under 19s or on dual reg when they could all likely walk straight into the first team at Huddersfield, St Helens or Hull? It needs very careful management is all I'm saying, we could be penny-wise pound-foolish otherwise

Didn't see Sam Hopkins on the list.
If he hits Super League like Hill and Walmsley then he could be a real find.
At present I suspect Hampshire maybe in front of Tierney for the No1 shirt.
With our 3/4 back three of Hampshire, Charnley and Burgess we may not have too much experience but pace to burn. Those three can all turn and catch players who may beat them once. Offiah was V good at that.
As has been said, no point in buying average players from another club if we have better in our own youth system.

Hampshire is looking like the most natural replacement for Sam at FB. He plays a very similar game to him. With us already having quite young HBs, I reckon this is where his place will be over the next couple of years. He's certainly ahead of Tierney, even though Tierney is probably the more natural fullback, Hampshire has that X Factor that Sam has, although possibly not to the same extent.

I'd expect Burgess to get at least 2 or 3 more games before the playoffs. Possibly away at Catalans and maybe the week after the CC Final against Hull. I'd quite like to see him be sent out on loan for the rest of the year though, see how he does for the last 4 games of the year playing SL week in, week out. We'd have to lose him for at least a month though, and I know Wane is wary about that.

In regards to any further signings, i'd expect us to sign at least one more forward. I'd have expected us to sign a winger too [And was championing a bid for Lineham at Hull But having seen what we have in Burgess, i'm not sure we need a Winger now.

They are potential game breakers for sure and they should be in and around the team getting games where possible but its too soon for them to be starters just yet. It's a balancing act between giving them game time but not over burdening them.

I do agree about not signing for signings sake though. The thing with that is though if we don't/can't find a replacement for Tomkins why is he being allowed to go? He's under a contract that says he can't speak to another club for another year yet. If we can't get a top class replacement he simply shouldn't be going!

I look at the 31 players you have picked and I am just wondering if the order you have placed the 31 players in is what you think will be the pecking order for the future.
My feelings are that Manfredi will be nowhere near No 29 once he gets a chance, there is something about him that says he will make it.

Forgot all about Hopkins, there's gonna be one hell of a battle for spots at prop forward! With regard to Hampshire, you're probably right, I just think he would go better at 6 (which is where I'd bring him on at, with either Green taking a rest or McIlorum with Smith going to 9). He's done some great things at full back but he's not quite as good defensively as Tierney from what I've seen, the last thing I'd want is his confidence to get ruined by a few dropped balls or missed tackles, you know how fickle a lot of our 'fans' can be

What about Hampshires match saving tackle at Widnes and the one that saved a try v Saints on Greenwood?

There may be an option to have #1 Burgess, #5 Manfredi and #6 Hampshire. That would be a backline with plenty "toe"

I just stuck him there because he hasn't debuted yet, I'd have him and Burgess battling for the 5 shirt next year unless we can bring in a superstar like Briscoe

I jumped up and down with delight, he's had a couple of blunders too though, which is to be expected given he's still learning to play full back. You watch more academy than me, which of the two would you say is better defensively?

Regardless of who out of the young prospects mentioned ends up playing in the FB and LW positions next season (at the start of the season at least) if we do not sign specific replacements for Pat and Sam could we perhaps see the numbers 1 and 5 not allocated next season? If they were not allocated it could lessen the weight of expectation (from some fans) on the youngsters' shoulders at least psychologically (difficult enough to be given the task of replacing either of those two without having what would be considered to be 'their' number on your back at age 19). None of the potential home grown replacements will have played first team very much either. Slotting into the team with a 22, 26 or 32 on your back doesn't mark you out to the crowd as being the one expected by the coaches to take over from Pat or Sam so less pressure from them to do so immediately. Leaving the numbers unallocated also dangles the carrot that any of the contenders can earn either number for 2015 by performing well (and also means that none of them will face the possibility of losing a starting 13 number the following season and a further dent to their confidence should they be overtaken in the pecking order during the course of next season).