Let's hope so. It would be a shame of Koucash's investments weren't repaid by the fans.

The game needs more clubs who can produce respectable attendances.

None of whom were good enough to win Hansen's place off him and the recruits are either young such as Bateman and Hopkins or not as good (Clubb).

This puts massive pressure on Wane to bring out a performance up to Hansen's standard from one or more of these players if we are not to be weaker next season. That is a massive ask of any coach given the lack of experience many of them have.

I think this will prove one sale too many.

BTW, didn't Wane say after either Sam or Mossop left not one else was going anywhere?

And maybe he thought that that was the case.

Good luck to Hansen.

must have a huge amount of cap space left especially if powell and lauaki leave. not sure who to buy realistically but i can't see us not signing at least 1 more now.

I was under the impression that the salary cap is the same for eveyone in the league? In which case, why the concern that we are buying players to put into our depleted squad? It seems it's ok for the likes of Wigan, Saints, Leeds and Warrington to splash the cash and fill their squads with quality, but not little old Salford? And the last time I looked, Salford have never been docked points for any breach of the salary cap, let alone the biggest in the Super League's history. Pot. Kettle. Black.

Besides, if our signings are all a load of has-beens and never will-be's you will have nothing to fear and we will just go on our merry way...

Doesn't Powell's salary not count on the cap anyway because he's an RU convert? If Lauaki is still contracted, which he is, then his wages will still count. They'll only not count if he's signed by another club or retires.

HH used to do an awful amount of 'blocking up' the middle of the field.

Just like the Ian Potters and Mick Cassidys of old, they take a lot of replacing that hard graft. Most fans don't see them, they/we just miss them when not around.

sign another but younger union player, Matt banahan would be my choice massive winger and fast. Lauaki future lies away from wigan what ever that means so can't count on the cap. richards, hansen, mossop, lauaki , part of sams salary a big part of it anyway and didn't prescott still count on the cap last season or have i lost a season?

Disappointing bit of business, but good luck to Harrison, happy he's got a nice increase in Salary, he definitely deserves it.

But we're significantly weaker in the second row now. Not many can match H's work rate, intensity or tackling. We certainly don't have anybody right now who can fill his shoes in the same magnitude.

Gutted.

Strange move

Not really.

The current culture at Wigan is, everybody is for sale.

Sell him now or lose him end of next season for nothing. its a no brainer really

i really dont see what all the fuss is about. if anyone is to 'blame' its hansen for wanting to leave but should he be blamed for doing whats best for himself? no he shouldnt

What is stupid about letting a player leave after he asked to go. It would be more stupid to hold him against his will. He wanted to leave for his own reasons and we let him go for a fee. He would have moved to Salford at the end of 2014 for nothing. Good player and I am gutted he is going but no player is irreplaceable. 4 years is a big contract for him, I don't think he has 4 years left in him and he would be a fool not to take it up.

Seems that H had said he would be leaving at the end of next season anyway, so seems odd that some people ONCE AGAIN feel its the fault of the club. If he wants to go early, then get a fee, it would be foolish to act otherwise.

That said, I'm gutted to see him go, one of my favourite players and a hell of a nice guy too. As has been stated, he does the hard graft that people don't always notice, hard working and always dependable. Good luck H, and thanks.

We've let a 28 year old solid grafter with shattered wrists go one year early for a substantial fee, and we have Bateman, Hopkins, Clubb, Burke and Hughes all pushing for two back row spots, plus maybe Pettybourne too but I see him more as a prop. I would have liked to at least have H on board for the WCC but this is far from a stupid decision. The sky is always just about to fall in on these boards

You have forgotten Lloyd, Conor Farrell and Rob Lever.

Assuming you mean Farrell has 1 of the 2nd row spots then I guess they (Plus others) will be fighting for 1 spot not 2?
Plus maybe 1 Back row spot on the bench I still think it leaves us quite healthy in that spot?

I can already see the 2 camps split on their views on this.
My take, Good luck to him and I would never want to keep a player that wanted to be elsewhere, if that gives us cash to buy players and cap space to fit in players that do want to be here then in most cases I'm happy to go with that.

"H" deserves what's best for him if only for the amount of committment he's given to the club over the last 9 years or so.
He's stated he wanted to go, the club have arranged a deal that suits them "Long Term" and we seem to be investing in Good Youth prospects to replace the older stars.

Big loss IMO but after letting the disappointment settle I can see why it's been allowed to happen. Ian Lenagan makes decision based on business as well as rugby and that's what he's done here. The league is weak enough overall to continue to cope with the losses we keep suffering IMO but if that ever changed and we continued to shell players for a profit it may catch up with us.

His loss will be felt most in the WCC IMO. A tough ask keeps getting tougher.

Massive opportunity for Hopkins!

Having said that still plenty of competition for a back row spot next season.

Of course it is

One starting spot and one bench spot up for grabs (99% of the time it's two props, a back rower and either a ball player or another back rower on the bench I'm sure you'll agree). Farrell and Lockers at 12 and 13 of course

H is obviously happy with amount of trophies won in his career and is now off for a last big payday (most likely surpassing even his testimonial year).

We've had his best years, thanks for the effort!

Good luck to him.

How can you say with such certainty that we have had his best years? If he had stayed he was a definite starter for us every week next season which is not something you can say about any of the touted replacements. Why cant people just accept that despite the best efforts of the club to keep him, he was hell bent on leaving? It's the same with Grimmys "shattered wrist" comment. I suppose that if Lockers left it would be just the same with his shattered knee? He was a major part of the upcoming season who chose to leave and that's pretty much all there is to say.

Not really.

He's won everything in SL with Wigan.
He grew-up in Salford.
His Amateur RL was at Folly Lane.
His Dad was a Salford Legend.
His Dad always wanted him to play for Salford.
He always wanted to play for his hometown Club.
He secures himself the next 4 years.
Probably on a better payday.

What's strange about that?

[url=http://m.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-warriors/harrison-reveals-wrist-agony-1-5507838Hardly ungrounded[/url