Would be a luxury signing. If Hoff decides not to take up his 2nd year AND Joel ends up being a revelation at centre then maybe it could happen. We'd still have Hansen, Farrell, Tuson and Hock in the mix though even if those were the circumstances come the end of this season

I think that we must be a team in decline if Flanagan was ever to be considered a luxury signing.

He did a very good job toward the end of the season and his defence was very, very good. However i think his reputation has been inflated far to much.

He is a steady eddy and not much else.

Joel Tomkins will NOT become a world class centre. He's got potential to be a good one but he'll never be as good as Gasnier, Hodges, Cooper or Inglis.

There are some very good centres available next season. I'd be gutted if we played Joel there to sign Flannagan.

I meant luxury in the sense that we don't really need him and he would probably be asking for an inflated wage due to that inflated reputation you're talking about

Thought we had 1 st refusal on flanninghan if he came back and we wanted him back anyway

We don't need Flanagan back. He's been no loss in my opinion.

I don't think anyone is thinking of next year we need a few players but if madge goes another coach will want his own signings not the ex coaches so were do we stand on signings for next year

I'll stick my neck out here and say I really rate Mark Flanagan and would definitely consider making a move for the lad.

What for? I could understand if we were short of back rowers but we really can't move for them here at Wigan. Far bigger priorities. Hooker, Full Back or Scrum Half for me.

Good for Widnes imo, would be a solid addition to their team

But in reality Flanagan wouldn't make our second row, so no big deal

Hoff will bugger off to souths with madge.

Poor man's Ginger Pearl



IMO The Hoff will sign an extention anyhow.

11. Ginger Pearl
12. Hoff

14. Hansen

Reserve: Tuson + Academy Lads.

Dont need him.

I'd agree with that.

He would be a very good signing for Widnes but not at Wigan (even in the slightest)

If we had room in that backrow i'd love to fit him in but we don't which is a shame as I thought he looked a super prospect in his half season in our first team. He's got a great work ethic and some good ball skills but we're well stocked in that backrow.

Him leaving actually seemed to open the door for Liam Farrell which has been no bad thing. As good as Flanagan was he's not in Farrells league who has been a revalation since coming into the first team and along with Joel, Hansen, Hock and Tuson will fight it our for our second row spots for the next 5 years+.

maybe we got it...and didnt want him??

Unless Flannagan has turned into a world class centre then no.

The last time i checked he was a back rower and by all accounts seems to have fallen way down the pecking order at Wests with the coach preferring the clubs other up and ocming young players in front of Flannagan.

However i do think from the players perspective that the move to the NRL has proved to be the right one and that there will be quite a few clubs interested in his services for 2011/2012.

If Widnes do want him then they will have competition, just not from Wigan.

Didn't we originally sign him as a stand off?

Just what we need. Another second rower........

Id get him back at the drop of a hat.
the guy is a young british kid at the time he left us he was playing very well, hes been one of the best players in the nrl and some people think he isnt good enough!?!?!
hoffman is crap, lets get rid and get a british lad in the team rather than keeping a aussie on a shed load of cash.

I rated him at the time, but to be honest I'd forgotten about him. Presumably that means he can't have made THAT much of an impact with us.

We've plenty second rowers. Pass.

Would like to see how he went at hooker personally, in my opinion he would make an excellent 9, good skills, great work ethic and pretty intelligent player. He would be a project though and I am unsure he would be willing to come back under that premise. Certainly would not want him back as a specialist backrow as, despite rating him we have a wealth of good back row players and several others to come through in the not too distant.

I wouldn't make it a priority signing at all, but if we could sign him/fit him with the cap/he's available I would. I really rate the lad as a player, great work ethic, versatile, disciplined and is also a very intelligent player too, which separates him from a few here we currently have. I realise we're well stocked in back row forwards, but I remember people on this board not too long ago saying that Ryan Hoffman was a luxury signing - I don't think he has been! With having a very young team, Joel Tomkins moving to centre, he has proven to be a very important signing with just Harrison Hansen, Liam Farrell and Chris Tuson alongside him. Personally I think the situation with back rowers will change next season. I don't believe Ryan Hoffman will stay here another year - especially with Madge leaving - and I think we're likely to see Joel Tomkins move to centre. Gareth Hock gets thrown in the mix, but Madge has publicly stated that he's looking to play him at prop. That then leaves Liam Farrell, Chris Tuson and Harrison Hansen. It doesn't look as strong then! We've reaped the rewards of having fierce competitions for places and players that have versatility. On the right wage and on the right contract Mark Flanagan could add to that for me. Don't get me wrong, I agree with everyone on this board who says we shouldn't make this a priority signing, but if we can add him to the squad, with room to strengthen other areas, I see no problem in bringing over a young, talented, British player with NRL experience to the side.

No, he will want a decent salary and we are still well off for second row forwards even if Hoffman goes home at the end of the year.
Jack Hughes is a much better option.

Are you being sarcastic or are you on a completely different planet?

First of all Flanagan one of the best players in the NRL? He cant even get into the Tigers first team at the minute!!

As for Hoffman being crap.... I assume your post is sarcastic based on this comment because he is the best back rower in Super League.

If you are not being sarcastic I have officially given up hope on the sanity of most Wigan fans when it comes to desperately wanting all our players to be English.

have you actually watched the last few games!!!!
every try that has been scored against us was due to a break between hoffman and finch, both of them falling off tackle, and other than that try at leeds what has he really done in attack.
over rated aussie,
i know he is australian so apparently he is above critisim and to some people on here they seem to have rose tinted glasses on them,
personally id drop him and get a kid in, id rather have a british lad trying and missing tackles than an australian being paid mega bucks missing them.