Some very good points although I wouldn’t like and can’t see us turning completely towards Aus for all our signing next season as it wouldn’t be good for us in the long term as it would mean continuing the policy of having to keep replacing the same positions every two/three years e.g O’Neil-Moran-Trent when Saints would have just had Long in that time or will have Pryce for a good few more seasons. It’s all about stability for me and although I agree Sam will make mistakes and have a few bad games we have to stick with him and give him more than a good run in the first team. It will only benefit us at the end of the day.

Saying that however a scrum half may be needed as Tommy isn’t the best 7 in the world and is far more suited to nine. Dobson would be my first choice out of anyone realistically available. He does the basics well and does other stuff on top of that which wins you games. He’d be the perfect foil for Tomkins and again we’d achieve continuity in a pivotal position for a number of seasons. It’s a shame that he’s off contract at the end of next season and not this one meaning we’d have to find a alternative for just next season- maybe Smith till then? I just think Dobson is the man to partner Tomkins for a good few years and we should move heaven and earth for him over someone like Orford or even Lockyer.

Realistically if we do say get one of either Orford, Bailey or Soliola tho we don’t have to recruit players with as much experience in other positions as these three have experience in abundance.

I still like the idea of signing LMS if he’s A-willing and B-Available as he’ll be a top quality prop one day and is already just a very good SL prop now. He’d be an investment who should get better year in year out.

When we start to put a team together that will for the most part remain the same for a good few seasons we will see a marked improvement in our week to week performances. It’s no good having four or five new players coming in or leaving every season in key positions.

I really think this team is on the verge of being a successful one and all It needs are realistically two signings of a really good quality to take us to the next level. Soliola/Gleeson and LMS would be the pick for me.

Good post

Whoever we do sign I just hope they have thought about it long and hard and made sure they are of the right quality to add something to the team

Can't really ask for anything more than that

A very good point. I didn't realise I had picked all Aussies

I was only using them as examples. Andy Lynch could do a job for us but I worry about possible injury problems. LMS would be a fantastic signing he will be a cracking player in the future and certainly an England international. (I think he is already?) He could offer us depth for next season but when Fielden's contract runs out after 2010 that would leave us with three very young prop forwards in Prescott O'carroll and LMS. Talent yes but experience no. It would be interesting to see how far they progress in that year previously to see how they cope with the strain of super league week in week out. Although I would class LMS as an established super league player. Prescott and O'carroll we will have to see at the end of the year. I have high hopes for both.

I agree RE Dobson he is something special. But I have a feeling it will be a real battle to get him back at Wigan as Hull KR will move heaven and earth to keep him if they have any sense about them. We could extend Leuluai's contract for another year and review the situation and then maybe make a bid for Dobson. I agree with the stability comment. It is noticeable that the two best sides (Leeds and Saints) only recruit one or two players each year and keep the vast majority of their squad and are not chopping and changing key players.(Fullback,Stand off, Scrum half, Hooker and loose forward) something we have never had stability in. We have Riddell and McIlorum on long contracts. Hopefully Sam will be here for the next 10 years and Pat Richards should be given the number 1 shirt. Tommy has been here a while but we now have a whole new combination - is Tommy the man for the job? I'm not sure it is something Ian Lenegan and Brian Noble will have to think about.

I guess we may have to be in a bidding war for Dobson and hopefully if we put in a really good offer for him he'll come just because of the opportunities we can give him and a realistic chance at the title in a few years. Will he be asking for or will he get as much as what Trent was on or what Orford or Lockyer would demand? Probably not and when you put it in those terms it doesn’t seem a bad deal as imo. I’d rather pay over the odds for Dobson and have him stay for five or six seasons than Pay even more for someone like Orford or Lockyer who although are both better players they won’t have the same prolonged impact Dobbo will.

I’m glad you agree about the core of our team tho.

1-Pat
6-Sam
9-Riddell
13-Tomkins(Lockers 2 2nd row and let Joel have the 13 shirt as Faz did with Lockers)

Not only do we have to make sure it's kept almost the same for a good few seasons but we also have to make sure our spine is made up of quality players. We could as you can see above have this at Wigan very easily

Although I agree that the likes of Orford etc are very good players I feel looking towards Aus isn't necessarily the best move to make.

Someone pointed out the strength and stability saints have with Pryce/Long, similar to how Leeds have with Burrow/McGuire. During that time period we've had
Orr/Moran, Orr/Dobson, Barrett/Tommy, Tommy/Tim and now possibly Sam/Tommy, by the end of the season there is every chance we may see Sam/Tim.

We need to build a long last partnership with two half backs that know each other inside out and can lead a team around the park, Wigan at times lack direction.

It is clear to see that both saints and leeds have UK halfbacks, people who want to play in this country and want to play here for their careers, it helps if the players are from that country, a lot of top class Aussies are either in their late 20's by the time they arrive or only stay here for a season or two.. i.e Tim Smith. The exception to this is of course Dobson.

Dobson now has experience, is a good age (still young) and seems committed to the SL. (Probably a different age gap between Sam and Dobbo as Edwards and Greg).

Away from Dobson, I would look to this country, look at our own team and look at other UK players to partner Sam, stability is the key, it's what's been lacking in recent years in such a key area of the team.

The question is who is of good enough quality that we'd want at our team?
Myler? maybe, maybe not.
Brough?
This is the problem, this is why we look to Oz.

Let's look for stability and UK players, for a prop maybe one of the Burgess lads? If a prop is needed for next year or for when Fielden goes/takes a reduced contract.

As you can tell I see stability and UK based players as the key to such stability.

I honestly don't see why we would need to invest in a 6 when its obvious Sam is up for the job as of next season.

Tommy and Sam in the halves with Riddell at hooker, sounds and looks brilliant IMO.

Money will be far better spent in a new prop/FB.

FB? unless it's cover for Pat we don't need one.

If a new FB comes into the team we'll need to move pat to the wing pushing out either Ainscough and Roberts.

Something I don't think Wigan should do. Pat is also needed in the team for his kicking, kicking can be the difference between a winning and losing.

I think you may be jumping the gun a little there - whilst Sam may have the talent the question still remains can he stand up to the rigours of playing in most of if not all games. Given his build there is a serious question as to his ability to take the hard knocks week in week out. I for one hope he can do it - it would be fantastic to have someone from the youth setup make it in such a pivotal position - hopefully this season will prove he can.

he has to take those hard knocks to get used to them and adapt. if his form holds up, he is our 6 for at least the next 10 years

Yes but Pats best position is wing. Amos to FB maybe?

I'm happy with Pat at FB but IMO his best position and the best place that Wigan can play him is wing.

All down to preference but I prefer Pat at FB with roberts (speedster) and Ainscough (quick step) on the wings.

A balance similar to Offiah and Robinson.

I think there is little doubt Tommy's best position is 9 but he is stil a very good 7 and IMO our best player

I agree Dobson would be fantastic but if we get him it won't be at the end of this season so the question is who will partner Sam for the 2010 season? Do we stick with Tommy at 7 for a season or do we bring a Lockyer or Orford in for a season? If we do bring a Lockyer or Orford in where does this leave McIlorum?

If we have the cap space (which we should) I would like to see an experienced half back to come in and partner Sam as it would be better both for Sam and the team IMO with McIlorum going out on loan

A prop and centre should be the priority first though. The centre will be very difficult as there seems to be a shortage of quality centres in rugby league at the moment so I think we will need to look overseas for one. Unless IL can pull of a piece of magic

HARRISON HANSEN COULD BE ON THE MOVE TO SALFORD TO FURTHER HIS CAREER , HIS DAD SHANE IS A LEGEND AT SALFORD , AND HARRISON IS SEEN AS A BIG COUP AS SALFORD MOVE INTO THERE NEW STADIUM AT THE SAME TIME AS HARRISONS CONTRACT IS UP ALSO ITS RUMOURED THAT A SWAP DEAL COULD BE ON THE CARDS INVOLING RAY CASHMERE AND PALEASINA

He isnt contracted til 2045



Hitmans going nowhere.

Thanks for that

Caps Lock stuck ?

True Hanson is going to Salford....next week

correct, all roads lead to Salford next week

I know Shane fairly well mate! Thats total pish

Aww.

By the time Salfords new stadium is completed Harrison will have retired.

You almost had me then, until you said to further his career

Edited