I'm not excited by the Patrick signing, he has been hyped for a few years and never lived up to expectations. A few negative comments about Crosby on another post and i think it's undeserved.

Looking forward to Williams getting a run at half. For other teams I'm expecting big improvement from HKR and Catalans.

Plenty to look forward to IMO-

Hampshire and Williams- Huge seasons for the pair of them! They're both hyped up to be very special players and this season feels like the year both could have that kick on season were you move from junior to be a 'proper' first teamer.

Sarginson and Gelling- Both finished the season in fabulous form and both have lots of improvement in them! Sarginson was exceptional for England against the best sides in the world in the Four Nations and that's makes him an even more exciting player to keep an eye on.

Tautai and Patrick- they could be two explosive additions and add real impact to our forward pack. I think Tautai will end up being our best signing and possibly one of the best signings across the league.

Joel Tomkins- A full pre season under his best after a four nations campaign were I thought he improved in as it went along. He was playing at about 40% of his capabilities last year and I think we'll really see him push on now.

Hampshire. POTENTIALLY I believe that he is the most exciting youngster we have developed in recent memory and I personally subscribe to the view that he can eclipse what Tomkins achieved.

Saints. Revenge hopefully will be swift.

Ryan Hampshire for me, i think if he stays injury free and he gets an early opportunity then he will be hard to keep out of the team.

Hampshire, surely they must finally start giving him some serious game time this season he's too good to leave out

Can't see anyone outside the fist 17 just being given a few games now we have P&R back until we have points under our belt. I would like to see Hamshire play as well - but at 6 and with Williams with the 6 jersey I can't see that happening much if at all.

Of the players I expect to make the side regularly our two new forwards and Williams are going to be very important to our chances so I will be looking forward to watching them. I also think Joel T will have a big season.

I'd take the squad numbers with a pinch of salt. Hughes got number 4 for 2012 under Wane but lost the spot to Thornley before the season even started. I don't see why the same couldn't happen wirh Hampshire getting in ahead of Williams or Powell. Likewise Thornley has a starting 17 number this year but doubt we would ever play a back off the bench

Fui Fui Moimoi

I agree about taking the squad numbers with a pinch to salt to the extent I have not taken any notice of who got what number. I didn't even know Thornley was in it. There will however be a definite "first 17" in my view whatever number is on the backs of the players in it and I can't see Wane making many unforced changes to what that first 17 is, certainly until we have a few wins and points.

I also don't think the Hughes analogy is going to apply with Williams. Hughes was a stopgap centre just as Joel T was before him whereas Williams is actually a half back. Unless he just can't hack it I reckon Wane will persist with him. He's been given the jersey and I can't see Wane giving someone else a go in that spot unless we get a very easy CC fixture (which is less likely now) or we have injuries.

I'm actually quite confident that Hampshire will take and keep the #1 jersey by the end of the year. I think that Hampshire could leave the coach no choice but to play him but unless Bowen plays an absolute blinder, we should probably do all we can to facilitate this happening.

The idea of breaking up a halfback partnership mid game is not one I would go along with.

I too am looking forward to see how Hampshire progresses this year. I'm expecting him to get between 15 and 20 games (some at #1 and some at #6) He's such an exciting player who was unlucky to get injured at the same time as Green last year, otherwise I'm sure he would have figured more in the first team. I also hope we get to see him at #6 and Williams at #7 for a few games at least.

Hopefully Oliver Gildart will get the odd game and fulfil his undoubted potential.

One other young player I would like to see get a game is Luke Waterworth, a hooker who has probably the best passing game I have seen at Wigan since Martin Dermott. He's a bit on the small side at the moment, but the kid can play.

Really? Why? Unless there are injuries I think he will be lucky to get half that number in my opinion. I know you said split between two positions but that means Willams and Bowen stand aside for between 7 and 10 games each. This is just not realistic.

We'll see.

A regular bench spot isn't that unlikely. If it's close he can do half an hour at stand off as a straight swap with Williams/Powell, if it's less close he can come on for Bowen or McIlorum (Williams/Powell to 9 in that case).

Waterworth sounds like a very interesting prospect.
How old is he?
I'm a huge MM fan however, his weakest point is probably his distribution.

I personally can't see Bowen playing more than 60% of games this season.

Waterworth played well against the Aussie tourists. His passing is exceptional really fires the ball out from dummy half

Waterworth is only 18 years of age and a very talented young player. It will depend on how he "fills out" IMO.

A regular spot on the bench for Hampshire when Bowen is at fullback would help to alleviate the problem Wigan could have with no back up for MM on the bench,
To spell MM move Smith into the hooking role for a spell (he almost plays as an extra dummy half as it is) , this would allow Hampshire to come on and resurrect his halfback partnership with Williams.
It is only by giving the pair a chance in their natural positions that Wigan will see if what was a devastating partnership in junior rugby could grow in the first team, done gradual it could only benefit both players and the club.

I think that Larne Patrick will be outstanding this season for us off the bench and will make a real impact

But the player i am most looking forward to watching is Budgie, I hope that he can continue his fantastic 2014 form into the new season and progress even further

Hampshire will be really someone to look forward to watching. Fir his own and also that he'll replace Bowen next year.
Will be interesting to see how the club sort out Burgess's replacement. Manfredi is the obvious one and his introduction throughout the season will be something to look forward to.

There are some intriguing new half back partnerships in Super League this year -

Walsh/Burns at Saints
Kelly/Campese at Hull KR
Dobson/Chase at Salford
Roberts/Gale at Cas
Dureau/Carney at Catalans

I'm looking forward to seeing all of them. I also hope that this season sees a reversal of the decline in standards of the last few years.

I think we are strong throughout the team and I expect big seasons from Joel Tomkins, Josh Charnley, Matty Smith, Micky Mac, Faz and Lockers of course. I'm looking forward to seeing Williams and Hampshire develop. And I fervently hope that Lee Mossop gets back to full fitness.

Bar Gale, all are overseas players. That's a very sad indictment of what's happened over the last few years in producing quality halfbacks through the academies.

Really looking forward to seeing billy bostons statue errected just to annoy the football lot

Yes, as ever, you make a good point.

I'm really only talking about it from a spectators viewpoint. I think it's good for Super League that the likes of Walsh, Carney and Kelly are playing in the competition. The standard will hopefully improve.

Of course Wigan are doing their bit to give the youngsters a chance and let's hope that Williams and Hampshire can succeed. Warrington haven't gone the overseas route to be fair and Leeds seem keen to bring Sutcliffe through, and they did bid for Ryan Brierley.

Interesting debate; does quality always come through? Do overseas players stop British talent from succeeding?

My view is that there are enough spots in Super League for quality to emerge. Youngsters generally get their chance and if they are good enough they stay in the team. On the other hand, the current system doesn't help. I would favour a return to U20s or even an U21s team to give them a little more time to develop.