The balance needs to be better in fairness to both sides of any argument. You can’t leave yourself in a position of starting a Derby game with just Liam Farrell in your pack over the age of 22. Yes we had a couple of players absent but we shouldn’t be that short of experience. The prime example is Willie Isa playing most of the season at centre. That has been an issue of our own doing and in fairness to Rads/Lenagan they have owned up to mistakes but now the next step has to be fixing that. A policy of producing our own players is brilliant, it’s worked and we’ve been successful but that was when striking the right balance and we’ve got that all wrong these last few seasons. That’s why I look at our squad for next season and still think ideally we get the halfback mentioned, we keep Hankinson as a squad player and ideally we get another experienced prop in. If you can get that prop with 70k I’m not sure.

I'd have thought you could get another prop in for that amount- just perhaps not an experienced one. It'd be great if we could find a big unit in the NSW/Queensland Cup with a point to prove.

I think one of the other big issues is the quality of the 3/4 line - I think its well short of what you would want in a title challenging team, even if the quality of the league is poor. I don't understand the Thornley signing at all.

Problem we have now though is we’re running out of quota space. It would probably need to be somebody here but it’s slim pickings.

On the backs I absolutely agree and it could get worse if Hardaker leaves. That situation really needs managing well.

Hardaker cannot be allowed to leave without a like for like replacement under any circumstances. A centre pairing of Hank/Thornley in 2022 seriously concerns me.

I remember waiting for Fieldens and Vaelikis contract to run out to free up some money but every year we seem to spend less and have a weaker squad. I would love to know where all the money goes.

We really need a halfback for next season, Smith and Field are supporting halves so we need a dominant half. James Maloney would have been perfect, Mitchel Pearce would aslo be fantastic, I'd gave welcomed Aidan Sezer with open arms too, I'd gave piggy backed George Williams all the way from Australia. We might not have top dollar to spend on a half, if I've got this right we have £70k to spend on a halfback so where the heck has all the money gone? Looks like we will be signing someone from the Championship with that amount on the cap unless we can persuade Kevin Brown to play 1 more year, only get £75k on the cap with him, then we have an old head in the halves? Thoughts?

The £75k is what is left over after signing a halfback.

I'd say the most obvious answer is that wages have increased, whilst the caps stayed the same. KR pretty much said the same thing.

They literally told you.

Not that it matters to you, because players are still taking the knee so you're done with the club.

You have not got it right regarding having 73k to spend on a half back. An amount of money has been set aside for this. And if Hardaker goes we will have both a transfer fee and then his wages to spend on a replacement. I personally hope he stays but only if he is happy and wants to be here. Its a fair old commute that 5/6 days a week.

On what basis is the future bright for Wigan?

I didn’t say sacrifice youth for big signings. It’s a balance and currently I think the club has got it wrong with too many young players being as Rads put it, being paid the market rate. It’s a jam tomorrow policy and there is no guarantee the likes of Byrne and Partington are going to be worth persisting with. That does not mean getting rid of Harvard, KPP etc.

Too many have come through at the same time to keep them all and have a balanced squad.

I suspect they really all do get the same market rate once they get their senior contract and if they do I think that’s wrong as well. This is pro sport where some players are deemed worth more than others. If the club offered half as much to Bryne than Harvard, so what if Bryne then leaves?

[uThe Squad[/u
We have a superb team when you sit back and look at who’s in. Our starting 13 at full strength is superb

1. French
2. Marshall
3. Gildart
4. Bibby
5. Field
6. Smith
7. Hastings
8. Singleton
9. Powell
10. Havard
11. Farrell
12. KPP
13. Bateman

On paper that is a superb side. One that should achieve far more than it has been doing. Granted we’ve had injuries but we still should be getting more and that falls down to one person - Adrian Lam.

Next season we’ll have two powerful props, a promising winger and a little less exciting centre. The squad is there to be optimistic.

[uAdrian Lam[/u
Thankfully going. If he was staying I’d be nowhere near as confident that the future is bright. Literally has no idea what he’s doing, no attack, baffling selections and his post match comments are becoming a comedy (see his latest after today’s game).

A new coach who is competent and actually has a clue what he’s doing will go a long way. Saints/Catalans despite being far and away the best teams in Super League aren’t that good. We’re not far away, although it seems it.

[uFinances and Stadium[/u
There is a significant shortfall but that’s not debt against the club as it’s been covered. The stadium rent is going up - no arguments from me - but it’s still cheaper and more sustainable that our own ground in the [icurrent climate [/i.

I know you don’t agree and that’s fine but I do believe the future is bright and I do believe we’re not too far away. We just need to sign players where needed (done) and get rid of Adrian Lam (shortly to be done) and we’re halfway there.

Next season we won’t have Hastings or Gildart.

We have signed 3 unproven and relatively inexperienced Aussies and a centre for the third time with no heart.

A 9 with no discernible skills other than to tackle.
We haven’t got a clue if Field is good, bad or indifferent before you even suggest that he is a winger.
Not sure what Bateman is but he isn’t a 13.
At the moment Smilh looks nothing like a starting 6 for a Championship side let alone a SL player.

I admire your confidence but next year on paper will be worse than 2021 unless we recruit an exceptionally good coach. Hope I’m wrong.

There’s talent to work with for sure but Matty Peet alongside Wane (in whatever role he has) are going to have to have a really big pre season on the training field to get us back to looking the well organised team we used to. It’s a rabble with the ball at the moment.

I’m not fussed about the outside backs position if Hardaker stays. I think you can work with a backline line including French, Hardaker, Marshall, Bibby etc and Miski does look a good fit for that style of rugby we used to play under Wane (which I presume will come back) but the halfback signing, alongside how Mago and Ellis settle in will be absolutely key. We’re desperate for not only a new coach to sort this mess out but alongside that, any new man needs better players around the middle and he’ll need a good replacement for Hastings. I thought we saw today that there’s some real talent in the likes of Havard and KPP but they need that extra support as well and they need to be pushed to earn their spots.

That's the way I'm seeing it too.

FWIW, I thought when Bullock had his 8 mins we looked a better side. He was making ground and we got into a wrestle for the match. Now I'm going on one of those 'if' rants here, but IF Ellis and Mago can provide that go forward on a regular basis & IF that helps Singleton do this thing and takes pressure off Byrne and Havard - we'll see loads of improvement.

Mago and Ellis are out and out punts. We needed more certainty (if that’s possible) but rank bad squad management by IL/KR in the last few seasons has led to the acquisitions of uncertainty yet again.

The more I I think about it the more I don’t want a Peet/Wane partnership. 2016 and 2017 nearly finished me off as a fan. The quality of play and the siege mentality of the club to its own supporters for me was pretty poor.
We need much much more than “tough” play and the wrestling pit. Not sure if Peet/Wane can provide that.

Madge on the brink ? https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 082bc765af

Madge on the brink ? https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 082bc765af

Can't beleive they are still doing it, I won't give the club another penny until they stop.

Well thank you for supporting the club, anti racism, and a progressive society

Speak soon

Serious question - If you're anti- the anti-racism gesture/message, does that make you a racist?

I would say "Yes", and that you're not the type of fan who will be missed.

And I hope I’m right but we’ll see.

What’s it got to do with the club?

It’s the players choice to make a statement as far as I am aware.

Good. Let’s hope they continue.

Imagine being so upset by a peaceful anti-racism/discrimination gesture that you would boycott something you enjoy.

Bizarre.

=#FF0000Cut out the personal insults, pemps