I also thought about a returning Ellis.

We really don't need this. Arguably our best player.

even if we lose our best second rower i still wouldn't keep hold of Bailey tbh.

I think the club has more then enough players in the position to cover the loss of one second rower and i'd be looking for a new one of we lose 2.

Pritchard is a bloke i've wanted to see here for years. He'd tear superleague up.

I doubt Ellis would come back so soon although I admit after the first few weeks of him doing well I’ve not seen or heard much about him. That is Ellis’s style tho really as a lot of the work he does goes under the radar compared to flash players like Lauitit & Hock etc.

Either way if we like it or not it’s one of those blips COULD HAVE happened and IL has to A-show great leadership in this time and B-Move as fast as lighting to get all aspects of this sorted. The last thing we need is this dragging out for weeks.

IL has to deal with with the player in question making sure we gets what’s best for the club on and off the field sorted, make sure the squad understands the severity of the it and then get us a real top draw replacement or even two as we need it and have the money for it now.

If it’s true then there are testing times ahead for everyone.

Agreed if there is one person who I could have to replace him it would be Frank, class player and would be awesome in super duper league.

However I'm sure one of the aussie commentators mentioned something about him only playing well when he felt happy and that was the reason for his recent dip in form (which he has seemed to regained but christ if thats him playing bad

)

I would still focus on top notch props and a 7.

If there is one area where we have numbers its the backrow.

Mossop, Flanny, Farrell now all must be biting at the bit.

It's a rumour that keeps being brought up every year or so I think - either someone has it in for the player and likes spreading rumours (judging by the amount of mis-information on him in the past I think this is most likely).

Or much less likely it is true (because I don't think it could have been repeatedly swept under the carpet) - and we are up poo creek!

Rejected Wigan twice already in his career and told his agent not to consider an offer from Wigan next year.

I think todays news combined with this season's events show how much this club still rebuilding. I am in no way comparing taking drugs to losing matches, poor coaching etc.... but i can see no way in which we can challenge for honours with the team we have, the coach we have etc... Also, i do not think gareth hock is worth us wastin our time commenting on, he's been a stupid boy, he'll pay the price and rightly so. Let's promote some younger players, bring in some fresh blood, new coach and a new start for wigan. So what do we have in terms of a team for next year?? Assuming no hock, smith, bailey, coley.

Phelps (possible new FB)
Richards
Carmont
Gleeson
Roberts
Tomkins
New Half back??????
Fielden
Riddell
New Prop
New second row
Tomkins
O'loughlin

Tommy
Farrell/Flanagan/mossop
Feka
O'carroll

Step up Lee Mossop.

Hansen & Mossop

Not good enough by a long way in my opinion. We must recruit a secondrow now.

Hansen certainly isn't, although the pressure from Mossop he was going to feel next season may subdue somewhat.

We must bring in a Bryan Fletcher type character, and give Mossop chances ahead of Hansen.

We need to get rid of the 'he's played once so he stays' mentality and start to breed competition amongst these back rowers.

Unless we recruit a quality backrow then we may well solve the issues upfront but the problem simply moves back to the backrow.

Yeah sorry, when I said character I was referring to player. That kind of backrower.

Agreed mate was just adding to my post......not criticising yours.

We need a 2 year experienced signing, otherwise we are in trouble.

Hansen is the epitomy of average.

Shouldn't be in the Wigan 17.

Would it be an idea to move Coley to the second row for next year?

Probably an idea worth considering.

Some people seem to have a problem with Coley in that position based simply on the fact that we lost two games heavily when he played there. I seriously doubt that was the reason why!

I'd defo keep Coley on a 1 year deal now with Baileys and Hock's money going on a real world class prop.

Through silly money at Civoniceva and Penrith if we have to.............an offer he can't refuse.

Time for Lockers to go to SR. Tomkins to Loose.

Lockers is the from 13 in the league though.

Wouldn't work tho we need a replacement of offer what Hock did.

I do think it's the way we should line up but we still need to replace Hock.

True but it's the best option without recalling Mossop, imo.

Why not just recall him?

He is our player after all and has shown more strike than the rest of the backrow put together apart from Hock in his few games at Hudds.

mossop will be in the wigan side before the end of the month