Gareth Thomas, Gill Dudson and Ben Flower so far?

I like the look of Ben Flower could be a decent prop.

Gil Dudson has def signed for you guys. He told me so
Himself after our game v Hull Fc 2 weeks ago.

We need a halfback to replace deacon

Sam to stay at 1
Tommy to stay at 9
We need someone to partner Finch.

Happy with that, I also heard Ben flower has turned down a move for the NRL to sign for us.

Straight replacements for Coley/O'Carroll (if he does go to Hull as rumoured)

Would make our props for next year;

Fielden
Mossop
Lima
Prescott
Flower
Dudson
Crosby

Still plenty more to do when it comes to recruitment though, when you look at our squad in this way its obvious in which areas we are weak in:

Fullbacks;

Sam, Richards, Roberts(?) Russell

Wings:

Richards, Goulding, Charnley, Roberts(?) King

Centres:

Carmont, Marsh, JT, Thomas(?) =#FF0000WEAK- Carmont is the only one who im happy with there.

Halfbacks:

Finch, Leulaui, Mellor, Deacon(?)=#FF0000WEAK- when you consider Leuluai will be playing hooker, Mellor yet to make his debut, fooked if Deacs retires.

Props (see above)

SR:

Hansen, Faz, Tuson, Hughes, JT, Hock, Lauaki(?)

LF:

Lockers, Faz, Tuson

Hooker:

Leuluai, McIlorum, Logan - Not AS weak as other positions but could do better...

I do expect at least one big signing and will be disappointed if there are none.

Agree and we should be looking at Chase IMO.

God yes.

Would be a very nice partner for Finch.

I would just be a little hesistant now after the whole affair with his court case in Australia. I don't pretend for a moment to know any of the details of what that was all about though.

If Wigan are going to get a quality halfback (like Chase) then we are going to have to pay a transfer fee to some clubs because no-one who is good enough is OOC (in Super League at least).

Excellent player. However, he has quite a bit of "niggle" about him that would miraculously become noticeable should we sign him. I say go for it!!

feels like IL is padding out his fantasy league team here - dudson and flower? both 60K players

Agar our next coach? lol www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... _Snap.html

Agar our next coach? lol www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... _Snap.html

If Deacon does retire then I think we will be asking Mellor to step forward. Ideally I would like Deacon to sign a player coach contract, but take a back seat with the playing side and only use him if Mellor goes through a major bad spell. At his age Mellor needs to get and take his chance or look to be moving on.

If Deacon does retire altogether as i expect he will for me we need to be looking at a young hooker to compete with McIllorum if Mellor takes his chance or to allow Tommy to cover both positions as cover for Mellor in the halves.

www.redvee.net/forums/showthread ... -the-Press

www.redvee.net/forums/showthread ... -the-Press

If that is right about Chase joining us then who is he to replace?
The obvious one is Deacon to retire, meaning Finch at 7 and Chase playing 6.
Chase will be coming in on very good money providing he can get a visa.
So who in the half backs on good money will be leaving? Tommy?
Great rumour and like all asks more questions than it answers.

Hoffman, Coley, O'Carroll, Deacon out.

Thomas in (RFL paying wages?) with Dudson, (O'Carroll + maybe Deacons wages?) still leaves Coley + Hoffman (who I imagine will be one of the highest earners) salaries to be filled with A.n.other and upgrades.

It won't work like that because of improved contract promises, winning bonuses, etc. Pretty sure we'll have to lose more than we can bring in next year.

Personally I'd be happy with signing Dudson, Flower and Thomas for next year. Coley and Hoffman will be replaced internally with Fielden and Hock. Deacon should play on next year but alongside Mellor and Powell.


Plus Spencer. I think the first four are good enough to compete with the best in the league. Thereafter that we've got plenty of depth, which undeniably is the key to competing over the course of a season.

So Agar to Wakefield and McRae back to Hull with Peter Gentle to take over as coach.

In relation to Chase he is a top class player BUT he would need a good bit of work to fit into our systems as a half. Systems I highly doubt Wane will radically alter.

Plus side is that he has genuine pace and threat, down side he is an individual rather than a team player and this would be my concern given the Wigan way of playing rugby.

Would be an interesting signing if it comes off. Could quite easily be a success and a great one or it could all go a bit Moran.

Agree with all this plus I can just see it coming... " that Chase has turned into a reet arrogant get since joining Wigoon".

I dont think we will EVER make that mistake again

Chase would be a fantastic signing, one of only a few real standout players in the league imo.

So the rumoured ins are

Thomas
Dudson
Flower
Chase
Lauaki

Dudson and Flower could be great additions, both young with great potential, they will provide great cover outside the 4 frontline props which will more than likely be fielden, lima, prescott,mossop with dudson, flower and crosby in reserve I think we can be comfortable in that position.

Lauaki, according to the hull fans would have been brilliant if used correctly, I'm guessing Hock/Farrell will be starting second rower next year so his impact from the bench could be key, we need to get him fitter and I would have farrell or tuson over him every day of the week until he proves himself worthy of the jersey.

Thomas is a strange one but could replace the experience needed in a team which we will lose with the retirements of coley and deacs (if he retires) it will be great to have an ex lions captain around the team and if free, will provide cover to a position where we are not very strong!

Rangi Chase would be possibly the signing of all signings and I feel him and finchy would really feed off each other, he clearly has the xfactor about him and with him and sam both in our team I wouldnt like to face wigan!

A squad of

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Josh Charnley
3. Joel Tomkins
4. George Carmont
5. Pat Richards
6. Rangi Chase
7. Brett Finch
8. Lee Mossop
9. Tommy Leuluai
10. Jeff Lima
11. Gareth Hock
12. Harrison Hansen
13. Sean O'Loughlin

14. Paul Prescott
15. Stuart Fielden
16. Mike McIllorum
17. Liam Farrell

with cover of

18. Gill Dudson
19. Ben Flower
20. Chris Tuson
21. Gareth Thomas
22. Stefan Marsh
23. Darrell Goulding
24. Amos Roberts
25. Epihame Lauaki (sp?)
26. Joe Mellor
27. Jack Hughes
28. Ryan King
29. Matty Russell
30. Dom Crosby
31. Logan Tomkins

would lead to me being pretty happy with our post season work and would lead us challenging for the major honours next season.

At the end of the day you don't replace the likes of Ryan Hoffman, you try and compensate them leaving with our abundance of cover in the second row I would feel pretty happy.

Chase is not a rumour just wishful thinking.

I'm inclined to agree, doesn't make the idea of it any less exciting though!

Saying that, theres loads of rumours flying about on Twitter now that we have signed Chase.