Today, three completely unconnected people have told me Chase has signed for Wigan.

I'm still treating it as a rumour thats got out of hand but there you go.

Rangi Chase has genuine pace at halfback, which is something we lack. His agility, footwork and evasion makes him another threat with ball in hand. Paul Deacon just doesn't have any of those qualities anymore.

Rangi Chase has 102 tackle busts - Paul Deacon has 7.
Rangi Chase has made 14 clean breaks - Paul Deacon has made 2.
Rangi Chase has made 2808 meters - Paul Deacon has made 495.

There is no doubt the lad is a fabulous talent, but I have a few concerns. There's only six players in the league who have missed more tackles than Rangi Chase. His defence and ball retention would have to improve considerably. He's been disciplined by his club and has a suspended sentence hanging over him I believe so his professionalism and attitude would have to change. All of these problems I am confident the Wigan setup can help him achieve.

The biggest worry would be another Moran. He's a big fish in a small pond. Castleford are utter crap. His off the cuff, make it up as you go along rugby is the complete opposite to our methodical plays. If he is to sign, Wigan can't ask him to let all that go. He wont be the same player. We would have to find some middle ground in that regards.

No doubt though the lad is quality though and I would be very pleased if we signed him. A halfback with some pace, acceleration and evasiveness who can take the line on would be an improvement on Paul Deacon. It wouldn't block Joe Mellor's progress, he should be groomed to be Finch's replacement the year after.

The idea of Rangi Chase and Sam Tomkins running around with Thomas Leuluai and Brett Finch organising things must be an ominous thought for the rest of the league.

If the Chase rumour is true then the spine of our team would be awesome.

1 Sam Tomkins
6 Rangi Chase
7 Brett Finch,
13 Sean O'Loughlin
9 Thomas Leuluai.

Real talent, skill and pace there. Hope the rumour is true!

Chase would be an awesome signing but it's a pipedream. Every big side and some of the small ones like Warrington have been linked with this lad but rumour is he's extended his stay with Cas for a further 2 years.

Still it's a nice thought to think of him at Wigan and I don't think we could be labeled boring with guys like him, Sam and Leuluai running around and Hock coming back into that pack on a regular basis.

Dureau is the one for me.

Class in a glass.

Deacon should not retire this season he is still a very good SL player. If for any reason we dont know about eg injuries etc then maybe he should but he should not let his age dictate when he retires. If he struggle to cope with SL fair enough but i think he is still a good player.

If we could have Chase or Dureau in place of Deacon, i'd file the retirement papers for Deacs myself.

We'd be on another level with one of the first two.

Chase would be an awesome signing though I heard there could be a snag regarding any work permit due to his recent conviction, i.e. he would have to apply for another work permit if he moved to another SL club and it may not be granted.

This is the first potential signing I have been vaguely excited about for next season though, still cant believe we have been linked with Luauki or Thomas and I'm also shocked we've let O'Carroll go. I know we cant sign players like Lima, Finch and Hoffman every year but there is a certain standard incoming players should reach and I've seen nothing of these to suggest that's the case!

Unlike O'Carroll who has been ripping it up for the last few years, and is an integral part of our championship team. The same O'Carroll that we have supported throughout his injury and turned down a deal with us.

Another case of the Wigan above criticism product syndrome.

Not at all, I never take that opinion. I do find it strange that the club searched high and low to find a specialist to finally fix his unusual and problematic injury just to let him go. Although I have seen elsewhere that he was offerred a contract by Wigan but chose the one Hull offered him so cant complain. I think Thomas is too old and has been nothing other than solid in an often very poor team since hes move from rah rah, leaving Joel in the centre is a better option imo. Not seen much of Dudson and I've not seen anything from Flower to think he is better than we aready have and I wouldnt have Lauaki anywhere near a Wigan shirt!

The Chase rumour was round wembley and today a saints fan as been saying the same on twitter.

In order to sign chase we would need to negotiate his release / buy out from the 2 years remaining on his contract. Cant see cas letting their star player leave.

Castleford are lucky to have a franchise let alone a player like Chase.

Why would he want to stay there with much bigger clubs knocking on his door?

Contracts, as we've found to our own cost, might as well be written on toilet paper. They can be flushed quite easily.

The story is that Wigan are currently negotiating the compo package for Cas. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but if Chase wants to leave - a la Shenton - there isn't much, utlimately, that Cas can do to prevent it, apart from freeze him out of the game, which is always a pointless exercise when the alternative is to pocket some cash.

Where are we thinking of playing him?

the cas forums say chase has signed a two year extension to stay with them. also if he were to move clubs wouldnt he need a new work permit???? this could be difficult with his recent guilty plea to assault and conviction !!

When I was watching the football transfer deadline day last week, there was something about one of the foreign players moving between English clubs and possible work permit problems. Apparently though it was sorted as they can be transferred as just a new place of employment within the country. Don't know if there'd be anything in that.

i dont know the ins and outs of immigration and permit laws and would love Chase at wigan but sadly i cant see it happening.

I can't second-guess the coaching staff, but IF he were to come to Wigan, and IF I was making the decision, I'd play him at stand-off with Finch at scrum-half. Mellor would be the reserve halfback, and Tommy and Mickey Mac would share the hooking duties.

X2, he would work partnering Finch who is the organiser/kicker.

i was told that chases contract extension with cas would be announced yesterday, nothing as yet, i posed the question on the Cas board asking if they knew anything...... touchy about the whole thing to say the least.

m.skysports.com/article/rugbyleague//7155087 quins have signed michael robertson from the manly sea eagles . Good signing?? . i'd say so

m.skysports.com/article/rugbyleague//7155087 quins have signed michael robertson from the manly sea eagles . Good signing?? . i'd say so

Very good signing highly rated no nonsense winger

Cas have plans for a new stadium and yet are skint.
They are dependent on a buyer for Wheldon Rd and their hopeful target was a large supermarket group. This it seems has hit a snag!
They have just appointed a high profile coach in Millward who no doubt will be in line for a high profile type salary.
If a cash deal for any of their players was right for Cas and the player then it would happen. If the player says he doesn't want to play for you any longer then he will depart.
The real problem, as has been said, could be a new visa.
Football may be able to get one instantly, we though are not Football!
This rumour seems almost too good to be true. Like most things that appear to good to be true, they usually are.
Hope it is true though!

possibly won't count on the quota either .