Loaning to Quins obviously benefits Wigan, and from the other side it really isn't very different to signing a player on a 1 year contract. From Quins point of view they would have to be (if they are indeed youngsters) far superior to their own academy/fringe players. This means they would have played SL last year. I would imagine they would be pretty damn good fringe first-team players/academy starlets, but would Wigan retain the right to recall any of the purported four with 24 hours notice.

Stefan Marsh
Ben Davies or Eamon O'Carroll
Chris Tuson or Lee Mossop
Josh Charnley or Johnny Walker

No point for Wigan letting them go on loan unless they will play, no point no Quins taking them unless they are far superior to their own and Wigan should insert a reasonable recall clause, if only for self-interest.

Walker has been released.

Now that Phelps contract hasn't been extended i cant see both Marsh or Charnley going. I'd be doubtful on either tbh but for me if one was to go i'd let Marsh go to me he needs the game time more to build up his composure in superleague games because at times he's seemed rushed and thrown some bad balls or just chose the wrong option. Charnley seems to have taken better to first team rugby and seems much more at ease.

Davies is a must for me to go out on loan. Last year at Widnes he ripped it up from all accounts and it wouldnt be the end of the world if he goes back there. Preferably he'll get snapped up by a superleague team though as he didnt seem to impose his self on any games last year although he didnt get too much of a chance.

For me the only players i'd be willing to let go with the situation at the moment is Marsh, Tuson, Davies, Mellor then i'd allow one of either O'Carroll or Mossop to go for the first 2/3 months to start with but with strict 24 hour recall clauses involved.

That is the key for me, any deal regardless of who it is for must have a recall stipulation in place.

If it were up to me the four I'd send to Quins would be.

Davies - Huge potential but with so many other props currently in front of him his chances of gaining experience at Wigan at present are limited. A stint with Quins would be far more beneficial to him than playing with Widnes at a lower level.

Tuson - He's going to find it increasingly difficult to get in the 17 next year particularly in the backrow in what is our most competitive position. A long term loan where he can develop and the Wigan club can see in which direction his career is heading would be best.

Marsh - Most likely behind Charnley in the pecking order of filling in for injured players. Again like Davies would benefit from playing at a higher level for an extended period of time.

Mellor - He's just come back from a major injury but like all the players above he no longer benefit's from playing in the reserves, a stint with Quins playing in SL will do him the world of good.

It would be fantastic for all involved if a deal like this could go through.

I think Tuson's form at the end of last season warrents him a place in the Wigan squad regardless of the competition.

Tuson is ok, but if Farrell is also playing we lose size in the pack.

Not when you've got Hoffman, Joel and Lockers in the backrow.

I'd have Tuson as the main condendor for a first team place at second row over Harrison Hansen based on last years performances.

While I agree he was good towards the back end of the year (although for me faded in the final weeks of the season, maybe due to it being his first year of first team action). I struggle to see him forcing his way into next year's 17. Assuming Madge goes with Joel and Hoffman to start with Farrel on the bench that still leaves Hansen out of the 17 who for me is ahead of Tuson in terms of ability. It shows what a tough job Chris has on his hand's of getting in the first team, and I haven't even mentioned Mossop or a possible returning Hock.

Speaking of Mossop I feel some of the criticism of him has been a little harsh, yes he does have his injury problems but so do many others such as McIlorum and O'Carrol. Thinking back to earlier this season when Lee was fit I thought in the Saints away game he was fantastic and put in a tremendous effort. What Mossop needs to do very much like Joel did this year is up his consistency levels, when your a youngster you can get a way with putting in the odd good performance and then being a passenger the next week, but now's the time he stops showing glimpses of his potential and actually shows on a consistent level that he's worthy of spot in the 17.

I wouldn't, I think although Hansen may not work quite as hard as Tuson he still does a lot and I think because of his size he has a lot more impact than Tuson.

I wouldnt have Tuson over HH at all. Tuson was brilliant when he came back from his loan spell at Cas but i think he seemed to tire abit and couldnt keep up with the speed of Super League hence why he was dropped in the Playoffs. I've really liked the way Harrison has progressed this year he runs the perfect lines onto sam, tommy and lockers passes, tackles like a mad man and drives like a prop. I actually do think the coaching staff will turn him into a Prop in the next couple of years and he will be a bloody good one once he gets some size on him. Once Fielden and Coley retire, Hansen, Hock, Mossop & Davies could be our fearsome foursome if all goes to plan...

I'd add both Crosby and Burke to those above. On the three occasions I've seen those two play they've both looked good.

I was under the impression the reason he never forced his way back in was because he remained injured and in the end had his season was ended due to his injury he never fully recovered from.



The point I was making was I do not think you can use the number of appearances as some sort of measure of how highly rated Prescott may be at the club when for large parts of the season we only had four fit props with sufficient experience (I include him in that group compared to Davies for example).

Dave

He did come back into the 21's IIRC for a couple of games but fair point, he never got fully fit to give him a chance to force his way back.

It still shows that Prescott played 11 of the 1st 12 (The one missing being Bradfors away - our only loss).
He also started the 1st 3 or 4 before O'C got in (In place of Feka).

As for the 2nd part, don't disagree too much.
I for one will be more than happy if a GF winning prop can't make his way into the squad next season as it will show how well our Props are playing.
I do also think that Prescott may be "Limited" in how far he can go in this game, but IMO, no more limited than O'C and a few others.
And as I said earlier (And you agreed

) if he is providing good Value for money as you can't have 12 "World Class" forwards and the club/coach thinks he's doing that then that's good enough for me.

Anything about the rumour in the local papers in Wigan, radio phone-ins, etc

Would seem to be beneficial for both clubs.

The Wigan club have announced today that they have signed six U20s players onto full time contracts and they will become part of the first team squad.
Ian Lenagan is quoted as saying that the club will be looking for loan and dual registration deals when Michael Maguire believes they are ready.

I'd have thought that Quins would perhaps have been after more senior players with SL experience. There does seem a lot of good young Londoners at the club but since various departures, they have lost a lot of SL experience.

What positions do you reckon you need to strengthen? I think there are quite a few of our squad that would be up to SL loan standard (rather than dual reg).

What sort of positions are Quins lacking in/struggling for? Might give us abit of an idea who the 4 could be.

1 - 17

Having a quick look at their squad I think they might be in need of a winger, a prop and a back row. If they play Chris Bailey in the pack then they might need a halfback too.

and a coach!

To be fair Chad Randall is ok, so they are ok at 9. Maybe we could have him in exchange for the 4 loan players.

Possibly Davies/O'Carroll, Marsh/Charnley and Tuson?

Those are the ones I was thinking of. Mellor could be a possibility too if they want a half, although I wouldn't be too keen on sending him out to a team that looks likely to struggle.

I think Mellor needs time in the reserves to recover from his injury. Hopefully all will go well and we might see him if we get an easy draw in the cup, give Deacs a rest and if he goes well, send him on loan.