Had we not signed Deacon we would need him and he would improve every team in super league!

Should have done time for perverting the court of justice, blaming his best mate who was playing golf at the time I believe.

So has Phil Bailey resigned or not?

I can only assume from this article that he has indeed resigned.

[urlhttp://www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Bailey39s-cream-of-the-crop.5859994.jp[/url

He wouldn't be back in training with us unless he had resigned, the only question now is, when will it be announced and how long will the new deal be.

Personally I'm not to bothered were he to leave us, but seeing as he'll in all likeliness be staying I hope it's only a 1 year deal on severely reduced terms.

would have offered him a contract without seeing how he recovered from this injury, so hopefully in a years time he'll be in a much better position to sort himself a new place out.

Can't say I'm overly impressed with that piece of business.

Quote ="jonh"The reason according to an article i read his custodial had been removed was because it had been accepted that his girlfriend had attacked him in an argument over her drug use she went at him with the glass he grabbed her wrists in self defence and neither knew how the glass smashed. I assumed that it was a case of self defence although i may be wrong in assuming this. edit just found this which suggests the conviction has been quashed. www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/g ... 5803912806'" bloody hell. not often that happens without a re-trial. If hes innocent hes innocent. fantastic player. be a shame not to see him super league next season

Quote ="jonh"The reason according to an article i read his custodial had been removed was because it had been accepted that his girlfriend had attacked him in an argument over her drug use she went at him with the glass he grabbed her wrists in self defence and neither knew how the glass smashed. I assumed that it was a case of self defence although i may be wrong in assuming this. edit just found this which suggests the conviction has been quashed. www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/g ... 5803912806'" bloody hell. not often that happens without a re-trial. If hes innocent hes innocent. fantastic player. be a shame not to see him super league next season

I can see Bailey staying at wigan as a coach after next season. It comes across as hes a very respected guy around he club..and reading hes only been back to australia onces since hes been here..it looks like he happy and settled in wigan.

With no Hock around these days i think keeping hold of Bailey would be good business, as for him staying on as a coach i got told hes saving hard in order to go into business with Bryan Fletcher when he retires.

I know some of the younger players in the Wigan first team and they have said that Bailey is a well respected guy and a great person to have around the camp. Always encourages and puts the effort in. Albeit, he may not be the best players Wigan have but he certainly IMO does his job well.

Who's to say that is going to happen?

MM might get the team playing well and improving individually (as has been documented) so offer new contracts, retaining the current crop.

Personally i would be very surprised if we did not so 3 maybe 4 new faces in the squad for 2011, i expect 1 Prop to be heading over from the NRL for starters.

So was the coach lying when he said our recruitment was finished?

for 2011.

My bad.

I really hope we get some high profile signings in during the season for 2011

How many do we need?

Defo we need a true top draw prop on the level of a Morley, Peacock or Graham!

But other than that I can honestly say we've got plenty of talent in the squad as well as plenty of other younger players on the up!

I'd be happy with a new top prop next season and then a new HB when piggy leaves in 2012 possibly.

Of course all this is dep on Maguire getting the best from the likes of Tommy, Gleeson, Feka, Phelps etc

I think you may be right with some of the high earners being off contract at the end of this year

Depending on Hock coming back we could need a Puletua-esque 2nd row.

Possibly a fullback as well, depending on whether anyone can step up from the reserves.

Hearted

We shouldn't have to sign another 2nd row for at least the next 10 years

Lockers
Hansen
Tomkins
Farrell
Mossop

That’s enough talent right there.

In the days of the SC any team with the depth in talent we have at 2nd row has to say yes that’s talented enough to win things and the position is covered enough that we can look at other areas which are more tricky to fill.

Don’t get me wrong I’d love to have top draw players in every position but it’s not possible due to the financial restraints.

There’s no point getting a player like Pauleta who is not that much better than what Joel or Farrell is gonna be and skimping on areas we can’t strengthen from the reserves i.e Full back like you said. Some times you’ve gotta put your faith in a Ryan Bailey, JJB, Cassidy, Gardner or Wellens etc level of a player and hope they fill a role for you. Having these types of players on relatively low wage means you can move funds to other areas.

The potential problem areas we will have to look at in the coming year’s imo are;

FB= I’m confident that I’ve seen enough from Phelps that he’ll make it but a lack of other options is a worry if he doesn’t.

Centre=Who is gonna replace Carmont? Do we splash the cash or develop the likes of Thornley? A lot depends on Gleeson and if he can recapture any sort of the form which made him a great centre. If Gleeson is firing then it would be a lot easier to bring a young gun through but if he isn’t then we are gonna have to look for a match winning centre

HB/Hooker=Riddell will leave a hole that needs to either be filled by Tommy or another player. Moving Tommy would also leave a hole at HB and we all know how tough of a position it’s been for us to fill over the last decade.

Other than those three areas our recruitment is pretty straight forward imo. We need a top prop BUT a lot of the players we have now have untapped potential I’d rather make the most of before we look elsewhere.

I think in a few years when maguire has hisnown squad we could be awesome with just a couple of big names- a prop and a fullback, possibly a scrum half depending on how mellor works out:

New FB
Ainscough
Gleeson
Thornley
Richards
Stomkins
Mellor/?
Prescott
Leuluai
New Prop
Hock
Mossop
O'Loughlin

Feka
McIlorum
O'Carroll
Jtomkins

Then after a few years Mossop can take over at prop Joel at 12 and Farrell on the bench

Hock
Tommy
Mossop
Farrell
Tomkins
Lockers

the future pack

Hope not

I personally think Hock will come into the team as a Prop when he returns.

Quite a few people have mentioned this. He does (or did) seem like JP in his youth, a strong agile second rower. Personally I do think he will make the move to prop forward in years to come.

Just a general question - when Hock does come back - if he does - would you be happy for him to play in the Reserves for the rest of that season? Surely after 2 years out he can't be put straight back into the first team?

He would have to start in the reserves but if the club have any sense at all they will ensure he is in top physical condition when he returns. He will in effect have a 2 year off season, and will need time to get get back to match speed/prove himself, but he should physically be in fantastic condition apart from lacking match fitness.

He should not be the only one in this position though, any player who loses form/returns from injury next year should expect a spell in the reserves until they have proved their fitness.