Widnes want marsh and Davies on loan for the year, I think McGuire is due to go to widnes tomorrow to discuss.

Bloody hell, does that lad never have a holiday?

IMO it is important that young player get regular first team action. Playing in the reserves simply won't develop a player in the same way.

Considering Davies was at Widnes last year, I personally would have preferred to see him spelled out at another SL club (similar to Thornley at KR and Mossop at Huddersfield, Tuson at Cas) I think again this allows to player to develop even more preparing them for our first team.

There is a massive difference in national league rugby and SL.

I agree in one way but it gets them used to playing against big fellas instead of kids all the time, the advantage SL has over the championship however is speed. Im pretty sure both Ben and Stefan are longer term targets for Widnes, If we get the nod for SL im pretty sure we'll have a go at getting them down to Widnes on a permanent basis depending on how Wigan see there futures.

Ben will be limited next year with him already having about 5 front rowers ahead of him and stefan has Gleeson/Carmont/Charnley and perhaps Roberts ahead of him.

Im sure you wont mind them nipping down the road.

Going to Widnes did Joel or Farrell no harm so im happy for those two to go for a season.

I HIGHLY doubt you will get them permanentley. Coley may only do another year and Fielden is over 30,,, Ben will replace one of them no doubt.

Carmont aswell may only do an oher year and Glees is over 30,,, so Stef will compete to replace them.

I'd prefer them to go to a superleague club tbh

Personally I would love to see Widnes become a great SL side once again. I loved the old Wigan V Widnes battles as well as Widnes v Saints and Wire. I'm a Wigan fan, but also a RL fan, if sending talented young players to your club helps develop your club while giving them regular first team action then it benefits both clubs.
However, I still think they'd gain more from playing for a SL team at this stage in their career.

Not fancy Phelps or Pryce? both would be ideal for your squad.

True, but the advantage of dual reg is that it's easier to recall them if/when needed. Also, as I understand it, they continue to train with Wigan, which loaned players don't.

What's everyone's thought's on Leeds signing Ben Cross? From what I've read must don't rate him, stating he's past it.

Stolen of the Bradford board. But Leeds will have a pretty old frontrow next year.

Peacock - 33 at the start of 2011
Leuluai - 33 by the start of 2011
Cross - 32 at the start of 2011
Bailey - 27
Burgess - 24

love to see the reaction if it was wigan who signed him at 32.

was a top prop 2-3 years ago..a drop in talent if hes the replacment for eastwood IMO

Rumour that Burgess fancies a move down under too!

It's a very short term solution.

Realistically, they're now going to have to replace 60% of their props within 2 years, and I'd be surprised if they had enough academy players to make the steup up to Peacock/Leuluai's level straight away.

They have Jay Pitts and Luke Ambler as well as the lad from Cumbria who has been a let down thus far since signing from Whitehaven. I would expect one of them to step up, although doubtful 2 will step up at the same time.

If we had signed Cross u can gurantee that people like Barrie Mcdermott and Eddie Hemmings would ahve been complainig about giving youth a chance and doing nothing for the England side by having a foreign player come in. Nevermind hes 32 next season its ok its not us so no one says a thing. Mcdermott moaned when we signed the 3 from Melbourne and they were direct replacements for overseas players. Just like Cross is for Eastwood.

I would have signed Cross no danger as he is a top class prop but would have rather use the cap space to sign a hooker first.

Cross is still a great prop, always rated him highly.

But don't forget, we've signed Lima

Not strictly true. Ainscough and Tuson would train with Wigan then go up to Cas before the game.

In tonight's Observer, IL is quoted as saying we are not looking at any new signings for 2011.

IL describes our squad for next year as "frightening" and good enough to make an all out assault on silverware.

He adds that a decision is yet to be made on KP and Phelps.

He expects Wigan to make a final each year for the next 5 years.

Looks like a new hooker is out of the question (unless our chairman is just trying to manage expectations and Slater and Ennis are done deals)

I'm concerned about us not having a specialist 9 next year. Mickey Mac stepped up in the last few games and has potential, but I don't see him as being able to step up again to the level we need just yet, and with his injury record we may be exposed for a lack of creativity. Both he and Tommy don't have a great kicking game, and as yet the new signings need to be seen to be assessed. All too often antipodean players don't live up to expectation.

I've just got a feeling IL is telling porky's

I wouldn't mind trying Farrell at 9 TBH, with the options in the second row I would like to see how he went at 9, same with Tuson.

i can just see it, IL says ooo BTW i just forgot to mention that small thing in my last observer interview that we have signed Billy slater

I'll say it again. We don't need him.

So you'd say no?

With Roberts and Tomkins playing the way they have there then I agree.