I agree NK. The major improvements will come from our existing younger players rather than from the new signings although I do feel there will be improvements there too, especially if we get the best of Thompson and Leeming.

The biggest improvement that our recruitment has made though is the sheer number of options in the forwards. We could literally field 3 prop rotations that would be competitive at SL level. We won the comp with effectively half of our prop options missing for the majority of last season, which was a great achievement to be sure. However, barring an injury/suspension crisis of epic proportions, that shouldn't happen this time around.

I think it will be hard to say if we'll be a "better" side than this year. What we'll certainly be is a different side, of that I have no doubt.

Leeming, Kerighan and Thompson are different to Powell, King and Smithies. I'm not gonna say they are better, or worse - they are just different. As such, the way we play will be different. Add in French getting the 6 jersey and running that through preseason and you can see it will be different.

Next year does not concern me. Can Walters get to the level of KPP? Can Keighran get to the level of King? Can Thompson get to the level of Smithies? Easily. In the Wigan setup, with the young lads NickyKiss has mentioned having a confidence boosting year under their belts - we'll go really well next year and I feel we will be favorites to add to the 125 trophies we've won as a club...

My concern is 2025. Harry Smith, Bevan French and Jai Field all out of contract in 2024. Field and French are exceptional players for us, but I tell you - securing Harry Smith to a long term contract could be the most important bit of business we do if we are to have sustained success over the next few years. He is the best in play kicker in the competition. He was outstanding in that run to the Grand Final and his kicking game lays the platform for our forwards to play on the front foot and our backs to play in good field position.

Field and French are our Best players

Harry Smith is our most influential

Spot on, need to tie him up.

Could be our next captain.

Correct

I still think Field played within himself this year too as he was coming back from a 2nd bad hamstring injury and I think he never really pushed himself in terms of acceleration compared to last year. Saying that he was our best attacking player with and without the ball.

Get a proper pre-season and I think we'll see an even better version next year - along with a better version of French with a half season at 6 under his belt. Lots of reasons to be optimistic about next year. Looking forward to seeing Walters and his extra offload threat out wide. Field will be on his shoulder every time he takes the ball up.

Being reported that Salford are the front runners to sign Shorrocks, think that would be a good move for all.

Yeah, a really good move for Shorrocks if it comes off. I wouldn’t be surprised if Powell went there as well to replace Ackers.

Add in reports of Cust too.

Shorrocks
Cust
Singleton
Powell
Burgess

Salford Warriors looking strong in 24.

Add in the Wigan connection - Partington and Bourough and they look like our reserves.

I’ve heard that is on the cards.

I was worried for Salford in 24 financially but they are turning down bids for Brierley and Partington by all accounts and pulling together a reasonable squad.

I had them down at the bottom with London and Cas but I’ve a feeling if they get these signings over the line they could be a solid mid table team.

I knew I'd missed some, just couldn't think who it was.

Quote from Redvee:

Ok, so I'm now officially depressed. Couldn't get hold of my guy yesterday but did this morning. I asked him about the Welsby deal and he said he's definitely going but not likely for twelve months. I was about to ask him a couple more questions when he said, "You do know Wigan are in for Lewis Dodd - big, big money?" I said that sounded strange as they already have Harry Smith and Jack Farrimond. But he was adamant the interest is there. He also said Dodd has been rehabbing his ankle all year. Still not right.

I'll bet good money this "Jack Moves" is WW69, joined week after we won the GF, bigging up everything Wigan while pretending to be a Saints fan

He's winding me up. He's coming up to 400 posts in a month. Clearly has way too much time on his hands and talks absolute e.

Wigan signing Dodd when they have an excellent 7 in Smith and a generational talent in Farrimond is his best yet.

Would be a great signing, if our reserves our going to play in league one next year Dodd can be the captain.

Bad for Dodd if his ankle's still rotten. Nothing worse for a player than the same injury dragging on and on. But I don't believe any of the rest. There is such a thing as a salary cap, and though we've made some space now, the players leaving are mostly forwards, so that's where we're likely to recruit.

Saracens posted a video to twiiter showing Owen Farrell back in training for them. Not sure what to make of it, obviously their season is still in it's early stages so makes sense for him to be back. But if he was signing for us i would have expected us to buy him out of his current contract and for him to be resting up now in preparation for our pre-season as it would need to be a big one for him i feel. Just doesn't seem to add up. https://twitter.com/Saracens/status/171 ... gr%5Etweet

Saracens posted a video to twiiter showing Owen Farrell back in training for them. Not sure what to make of it, obviously their season is still in it's early stages so makes sense for him to be back. But if he was signing for us i would have expected us to buy him out of his current contract and for him to be resting up now in preparation for our pre-season as it would need to be a big one for him i feel. Just doesn't seem to add up. https://twitter.com/Saracens/status/171 ... gr%5Etweet

Quote ="BoredWiganer"Saracens posted a video to twiiter showing Owen Farrell back in training for them. Not sure what to make of it, obviously their season is still in it's early stages so makes sense for him to be back. But if he was signing for us i would have expected us to buy him out of his current contract and for him to be resting up now in preparation for our pre-season as it would need to be a big one for him i feel. Just doesn't seem to add up. https://twitter.com/Saracens/status/171 ... gr%5Etweet'" As I've said before, Owen Farrell coming in would be a commercial signing bordering on vanity. We don't need him and it would be an unnecessary sideshow. I personally feel Kaide Ellis is the best option as a longer term 13 and we have more than enough options at front row to cover his role there.

Quote ="BoredWiganer"Saracens posted a video to twiiter showing Owen Farrell back in training for them. Not sure what to make of it, obviously their season is still in it's early stages so makes sense for him to be back. But if he was signing for us i would have expected us to buy him out of his current contract and for him to be resting up now in preparation for our pre-season as it would need to be a big one for him i feel. Just doesn't seem to add up. https://twitter.com/Saracens/status/171 ... gr%5Etweet'" As I've said before, Owen Farrell coming in would be a commercial signing bordering on vanity. We don't need him and it would be an unnecessary sideshow. I personally feel Kaide Ellis is the best option as a longer term 13 and we have more than enough options at front row to cover his role there.

I’m so glad someone has said this. Because if I said it I’d be accused of being bitter etc.

You’re spot on. It would be a signing that screamed “look at us and how much money we have.” It would make sense commercially and I appreciate how big the story would be because of who he is, his name, his stature in world sport. But from a playing point of view I just don’t get it.

For him to play at 6 it would mean French or Field going and trust me, every opposition fan would rather play you with Farrell at 6 and Field/French at 1 than your current set up.
At 13 he wouldn’t do half the work that the likes of Smithies or Knowles do. He’s not taking 15 carries and doing 35 tackles a game. It just won’t happens.
Centre? You’ve signed Keighran to play alongside Wardle so again it wouldn’t make much sense.
2nd row? Again, he’s not the type to making those types of carries and running lines.

It just doesn’t make any sense from a rugby point of view. I’ve been told by someone at Wigan they’d be amazed if it happened but he doesn’t know for 100% certain. Personally I’d be shocked if it happened but it genuinely wouldn’t concern me from the point of view of playing against you.

The Luke Thompson deal worries me far far more because if you get the 2019 version then it’s the signing of the season by a country mile.

Thompson is the great unknown, if he's finally got over his injuries he'll be a massive signing for us even if he's just come here to put himself back in the NRL shop window, two out of the four years he's signed for then a transfer fee is good business, if he turns out to be G Burgess MkII we've dug a big hole for ourselves.

You’d think with Farrell back in training with saracens, that pretty much puts the rumours to bed. As someone previously said, if he was coming here he would be most likely resting up ready for pre season here.

I think Ellis is a great realistic shout for the loose forward spot. Has more than good enough hands to be the middle link like smithies this season. Clearly got the work rate and big mins in him too. I thought he was outstanding at the back end of the season!

There’s a few options I suppose, looking forward to seeing what the club do with the 13 shirt next year!