would try and offload Fielden as well, maybe replace him with Lynch and then score a huge Feka like south sea island prop in there mid 20's

www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Phel ... 5058872.jp So Wigan are still talking about a new signing. I would hold on to the money to up the contracts of players like Sam and Ainscough. They are probably on a pittance and deserve to be rewarded which means they'll stay with us. I'd only bring someone new in if we can offload someone (no names mentioned). We have enough players in the squad. Some are not Wigan standard (or maybe they are) but the above two I mentioned are our future.

www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Phel ... 5058872.jp So Wigan are still talking about a new signing. I would hold on to the money to up the contracts of players like Sam and Ainscough. They are probably on a pittance and deserve to be rewarded which means they'll stay with us. I'd only bring someone new in if we can offload someone (no names mentioned). We have enough players in the squad. Some are not Wigan standard (or maybe they are) but the above two I mentioned are our future.

want a bet?

Yea. I bet he doesn't start next season as first choice centre.

id agree with richards to FB BUT, he is our best winger

From the Wigantoday article it gives the impression they know when a certain player may become available and what it would cost to bring him in. Using the word "Quality" is encouraging.
They wern't saying earlier in the season they had space, then it was "we've only £20k spare"

I think Roberts could fill that role, he is a fantastic try scorer.

Richards should be our fullback fulltime from now on imo. He's safe as houses, runs it back pretty well and is solid in defence. He also gives you a good option around the middle when kicking out of hand in your own half as he has unbelieveable distance and really gets you out of trouble.

We're lucky now that we have some great wing options to cover his loss in that position like Roberts, Ainscough and Pryce.

Spot on

I agree. I thought earlier on in the season (only been 5 games!) that we needed to recruit a fullback but given Pat Richards ability at fullback and the strength we have out wide on the wings I think we should give the number 1 jersey to Richards next season and just release Mathers and have Roberts and Ainscough covering the wings.

The only thing I would like to see Pat do is make more runs into the attacking line in anticipation of an offload or a ball back on the inside. A bit like Celtic Crusaders do with Tony Duggan.

I've always thought that in time Richards will start to do alot more of that as he gains experience in the position.

I thought we saw last Saturday that he's capable of it.

Should Wigan go after Martin Gleeson for next year.
He is OOC at the end of this year so will be available unless the Wire re-sign him.
He did express a wish to play in Aus but there don't seem to be any takers.
After the World Cup shambles perhaps British players are not now on their radar.
Tim Sheens mentioned that Ellis needed to learn the basics of Rugby League. That from the most experienced NRL coach about a GB/England established International.
Since then Sheens been appointed their National Coach.
If Gleeson doesn't go to Australia should we go for him?
If signed he would come to the club as a federation trained player, we've plenty room for those!
Thoughts please.

IMO i'd say yes.

I'm sure SL will see a marked improvement in Gleeson this season under Smith. He's defiantly gone backwards under Cullen and Lowes which is very understandable given their obvious limitations as coaches and man managers. I’ve heard people say Smith is more a disciplinarian which means he’s gonna have the Warrington bad boy behaviour reigned in big time.

Gleeson would do more than a good job at Wigan.

Gleeson wanted to come to Wigan when he was leaving Saints but they wouldn't allow it.

He's a Wigan lad and a very talented player. He's probably capable of producing better displays then he has been recently but i reckon a move to Wigan would bring out the best in him.

I'd love us to sign him without doubt.

Putting aside his off field activities for the moment, he's a quality British centre and they are few and far between. Certainly worth approaching the agent and enquiring but I reckon he'll get his wish of a move to Australia.

Martin Gleeson will be 30 next season.

Realistically if we got Gleeson & LMS in this pre season we will be onto a winner. I’m sure it would be very achievable to get these two in as well…..

Richards
Ainscough
Gleeson
Carmont
Roberts
Tomkins
Tommy
Fielden
Riddell
LMS
Hock
Tomkins
Lockers

Feka
Hansen
Mcilorum
Prescott/O’Carroll

Dobson brought in the season after that and we are laughing……….

Easy this recruitment stuff

I'm not so sure. I think Saints and Warrington would have had the best out of him. I don't think there is much more he can offer us.

I would like to try and snap up a world class centre for 2010 with Carmont coming off contract.

Where do people feel we need to recruit for next year? Because the emergence of Sam Tomkins and Sean Ainscough has changed everything.

Fullback? - Pat Richards to be given the number 1 shirt , Ainscough and Roberts on the wings with Pryce as cover/centres.

Stand off - Sam Tomkins and let Tim Smith go?

Centre?

Prop forward is a definate though.

I would like to us sign a prop forward and a top class centre.

Andy Lynch - is he injury prone?
LMS - Would he ever leave Harlequins?

Luke Bailey would be ideal IMO.

I will have to have a browse around t'interweb to see how many quality centres are coming off contract at the end of the season.

But I think at the end of the season we should have a lot more space on the salary cap with most likely:

Richie Mathers, Cameron Phelps, Phil Bailey, Andy Coley, Tim Smith all leaving and maybe Carmont if we were to sign a top class centre.

It really is shocking but British coaches do not coach skills, or work on them, once you are a first team player is is assumed you can tackle correctly and maintain the fine skills of the game.

It is this along with an influx of overseas players that is killing us at the top level of International competition.

I hope we can persuade Carmont to stay on another year.

With Tomkins x2, Ainscough, O'Carroll, Prescott and McIlorum making themselves established first teamers we will have alot of money to splash around.

We need a top class prop and maybe a half-back and centre, with the amount of young players coming through and maybe 6-7 players leaving, the recruitment looks exciting for next year.

If we didn't bring anyone in and let Mathers, Coley, Bailey, Phelps and Smith go then our best 17 could line up as

Richards
Roberts
Pryce
Carmont
Ainscough
S Tomkins
Tommy
Fielden
Riddell
Prescott
Hansen
Lockers
Tomkins

Feka
Hock
Eamon
McIlorum

Not a lot of decent back up but thinking about it that side isn't bad

Tbh thats our best lineup atm but with Bailey in instead of Pryce.

If we could add to that team even further that would be great.

2010

1 Richards
2 Roberts
3 NEW SIGNING
4 Carmont (keep for at least another season)
5 Ainscough
6 Tomkins
7 Tommy
8 Fielden
9 Riddell
10 Feka
11 Hock
12 Tomkins
13 Lockers
----------------
O Carroll
McClorum
Prescott
Hansen

RELEASE
Smith, Phelps, Bailey, Mathers, Coley.
----------------------
Focus more on youth development allowing players from the lower ranks the opportunity to progress and take the chance to play for the 1st team.

Use the CAP to upgrade some current players contracts to award good play, possibly Tomkins brothers Ainscough etc if continue to play well and adapt the right professional attitude. It will create a better ethos if younger players see better wages going to players who are playing well and being professional, lads who were also once part of the academy/youth system.
This will create a better feel around the club rather than younger players seeing the money going to overseas Aussies.

Monitor the progression of the likes of McClorum, Prescott and O Carroll, I don't see the need to bring in new players if the lads at the team are doing a good job.

See who's available at
Scrum half/Stand off. Sam Tomkins will be one or the other, if McClorum doesn't come through then we have the option of Tommy at 9 on the interchange.
A centre, Pryce is already part of the team, but depth in a squad is also important. Someone with potential and the willing to be part of the team, no necessarily a big cap overseas signing. Money used to reward current players.


I would like to see Prescott and O Carroll to use this season to become 1st team props, if they come through, O Carroll as impact, Prescott as a 60min prop (similar to Fielden) we would have Feka, Fielden, Prescott, O Carroll as our 4 props. Depending on the Fielden situation, we could bring in another good prop, or keep Fielden on a reduced contract freeing up more cash.

Think carefully about signing overseas players, ask what they can do for the club off the field as well as on, can they add character and leadership to the current set-up? Can they aid the development of younger players? Sign with caution, and for the right money, signing an aussie for big bucks sets the wrong example.

Focus is Wigan players in a Wigan team. Aussies and signings only to aid a Wigan squad.

I seriously think following this structure, having faith in the rugby players Wigan produce, I truly believe Wigan can once again become the dominate force in RL.

A good post there and for most parts I agree.

In regards to a new centre - a lot of this will depend on how well Karl Pryce adapts and regains fitness this season. At some point this season he will be fully fit/match fit and at the end of the season we will have a better idea of if he has warranted a first team centre spot for next year. His contract is also up at the end of the year as well.

George Carmont - firstly if he decides to stay. Again same with Pryce we will have to see how he gets along this season. Last season he was our best signing - making the dream team. A fair judgement can only be made on Carmont is at the end of the season. FWIW I doubt he will be on a fortune even if we did upgrade his contract. So even if we did keep him on as a squad player or whatever he is worth keeping on for whatever part he plays because of the money he is on.

Also strength in depth in the backs is certainly needed. We will have Darrell Goulding pushing for a place in the backs but apart from that we are very limited in our options in the backs. So do we keep Phelps on? No I don't think so. A lot depends really on how well Karl Pryce settles into the side.

But for me I think we need to recruit a top class centre for 2010. A former Leeds target Iosia Soliola is out of contract.

[urlhttp://www.geocities.com/darrylbradford/index.htm[/url Have a look on that website those who have a better knowledge of players in the NRL and see if any quality centres are available.

The halfback situation is an interesting debate. Sam Tomkins will still be here but it is a question of can he cope with first team rugby week in week out and performing consistently week in week out at super league level? I don't doubt Sams ability but there will come a day when he will make a big mistake, when he will have a poor game and when he will come under some pressure from fans/management. So it will be how he reacts to these circumstances that will determine whether we need to bring in another halfback.

Thomas Leuluai is also out of contract and so he may come under the microscope this season - and a fair assessment should be made whether we sign him for next year - future years. There are quality players OOC in the NRL at halfback - Matt Orford the main target IMO. Darren Lockyer is also there abouts. You just have to think can Orford do a better job than Leuluai? Will he bring more to the side in the time he is here? Will Leuluai offer more to us long term than Matt Orford?

I still believe that we need to recruit a prop forward for next season. Having Fielden Feka O'carroll and Prescott is good in theory but what happens should one get injured? O'carroll and Prescott however much potential they might have they are not mature prop forwards and are still very inexperienced. Could they handle super league week in week out in the first team?. Maybe this season will give us a good idea. But I think we need a bit more "beef" up front and we need to look to recruit an experienced professional who can help develop Prescott and O'carroll rather than have a negative affect and hold them back. I think Luke Bailey would be a good example. At only 28 he still has a lot to offer and has plenty of experience in the NRL. If he was signed on a three year contract he would help offer advice/tips to aid both O'carroll and Prescott's development while offering us some strength in depth and keep everyone on their toes having 5 props for next season.Then when Fielden comes off contract in 2010 we can just have Feka Bailey Prescott and O'carroll - as Prescott and O'carroll will have progressed from that year Bailey was here. Also with Fielden coming off contract we have a lot more room on the cap to offer sufficient wages to O'carroll and Prescott and reward them for their progress as you mention in your theory.