Me neither. I think he needs a good few months off, I personally wouldnt play him until the playoffs at the earliest and only then if hes ready

hes too important to the team

Leuluai isnt getting a game because he is injured, has been since the World Cup really. I think he had an operation a few weeks ago too. When fit he is a definite starter for NZ Warriors.

I hope he still has [ithat[/i speed, i.e that Wembley try and that Wakefield ( the infamous Amos Roberts knee injuring match)

just finished watching the interview on Wigan Tv was a good interview and not just a 30 second video, but two thing it looks as if he has lost a bit of size and put some weight on (chubby face) and he looked as if he was struggling with his back on a few occasions.

Oxford United will be gutted.

Would we really have played him against Widnes in a midweek game after also playing him against Cas on Friday if that was the case? I doubt it

Just got back from the match and I am over the moon with this.

Really well done by the club at half time. Red carpet, table, contract to sign.

IL walks on, then it's announced and on walks Joel.

Huge cheers. Then it's announced he joins now. Even bigger cheers. We obviously didn't know he has few more weeks rehab for the back but who cares, a great bit of stage management by the club.

Made up with this and a fantastic way to announce it too! Can't wait to see him back in a Wigan shirt

Great news, just as long as it's at second row and not centre, which is surely the case seeing as he was handed the 11 shirt on pitch. He'll have to get fit quick and earn it, as I thought that shirt had Batemans name all over it. Welcome back JT!!

and dont forget Joels not a bad centre either....might be the kick up the bum Goulding needs

and a great coup by the club announcing it this was as opposed to a pres conference, or an Observer exclusive. The first time anyone knew about it.....unless you read twitter an hour earlier? or was that a rumour because hes been spotted in Pemberton earlier?

Must have been a rumour, though having said that the people who sit in front of us in the east stand said straight away after the announcer asked us to remain in our seats at half time for a big announcement we'd be signing J T.

I'm guessing Liam Farrell at 12, SOL at 13 with Joel at 11. Where does this leave Bateman?
PS I'm chuffed that Joel has come back to RL.

interchange, Wane said he was disappointed that he has had to relay on him after saying he wouldn't play to much this season and it will be more about stripping him down and building him back up. Guessing that plan went out the window with Hansen.

Right, but what about the long term? Where will Bateman fit in, your 11, 12, 13 all have at least 3 years in them. Has Bateman come to Wigan to be a bench player?

Given he was signed when we still had Hansen (giving Farrell, Hansen, Lockers) as the back row then I assume he must of been fine with the idea.

Especially as Wane told him he wouldn't play much this season! Turns out he has, partly down to him getting lucky, but mostly down to him playing so well!

If Clubb in the second row had worked out Bateman would be getting the rest he needs. As it turns out, it's not worked out for Clubb there and he's clearly a prop so we need another second row.

Bateman will start plenty of games. There will be injuries and this gives Wane the option of resting O'Loughlin without there being a huge drop off in quality.

I wouldn't rule Bateman out from having a crack at making a centre spot his own either. He's shown some classy touches in that position in pre season and at Saints on Good Friday.

What is the issue with being a bench player? It's not football or Union. There is no stigma attached to being in the bench, you will get as many minutes as the lads that start you will just come on against a more fatigued defence.

It's a 17 man game not 13.

Bateman and Tautai on the bench is a vast improvement on out current rotation.

I just hope that people are patient with Joel. He's not played for a while. In fact he's only played Union for the last two and a half years. It will take him a while to get fit enough to play League again. Don't be surprised to see him off the bench for the rest of this season from about August onwards. That's about 4 or 5 games before the playoffs. He might even figure at centre for a bit.

It'll be next season before he's back into the Wigan way. At his best I reckon he could play just about anywhere, and it's great to see him back. Definately our next Captain after Lockers and he's still young enough to play for a good few years.

By the way, does anyone else think that this significantly improves our chances of seeing Sam back in a Wigan shirt?

If anything, I hope it significantly decreases the chances of ever seeing Sam play RU. He will want to give the NRL a proper crack IMO, I think he'll at least do the 3 years of his current contract before he considers moving on.

Made up that Joel has resigned.

I would argue that Faz is more at risk than Bateman of losing his place.

Mind you JT will really need to earn his place before thinking about replacing either.

I always harbour hopes that returnees can play the role of advising other players against going.

The silken words of agents and Union execs can be offset by the experiences of players who felt it was a bag of doo-dah and probably weren't impressed that the "yes, you'll play for England" guarantee actually saw them in some B-team somewhere, which no-one was interested in, or a seven-a-side tournament.

I totally agree, though, that Joel, at present, won't be the Joel we knew and loved; the fierce competitor, the best athlete at the club, etc. If nothing else, Rugby Union has several times proved that it can train all that out of you. He's got some busy days ahead.

I agree. I think Jason Robinson has a lot to answer for! RL players thinking Union is a good move!!

In Sam's only RU game for the Barbarians a few years back it was just awful. I think he touched it about twice. He will have learned from that I hope.

I've seen most of his games this year and I think he joined the wrong team. He's playing well enough but living off scraps. Shaun Johnson is a great player but not someone who wishes to share the limelight! The other half Townsend is a runner, so Sam struggles for a pass when Tommy is not in the team. I could see him moving to an top Aussie club (playing behind the Bulldogs pack would be a great choice) before he returns, hopefully to us, to see out his career back in the halves.

I agree with what you say about Johnson wanting all the glory, several time in matches I have seen,Johnson as made the break with Sam moving up inside him only for Johnson to ignore him and go himself.

If you go on the NZW forum though Sam has his critics at fullback, he seems to fumble quite a few high balls.
That is why I am so reluctant to see Hampshire at fullback before he has had the chance to make a name for himself in his preferred position .