Guessing they got some luminous balls ready for in case it snowed. Maybe they're cheaper or the normal supplier might not make em.

Stop thinking logically!!

I know, nothing but conspiracy theories allowed on here.
I only comment becasue they are generally RU balls and from experience they are a slightly differnet 'shape' ,we used to use Steeden coloured ones for training, sure they could have got hold of some coloured ones

Mago has the potential to completely transform our pack and help to give us the go forward that we frustratingly lacked last season.

This should allow us the option of going down the middle more often and provide the backs with some space.

I think what we may also see next season is an improvement from the likes of Byrne and Singleton who will feel less pressure with the workload shared.

From the photos of pre-season Mago looks an absolute unit, let’s hope he benefits from the sand dunes of Formby.

Exciting times ahead.

Yes he has been thrown in at the deep end pre season training wise, hill sprints in haigh hall and sand dune hill sprints in formby all in his first week



I liked what i saw of him in the NRL, the game that most people saw as it was free on sky (the one he looked unfit in) was by far his worst i have seen. I commented a few weeks before about how good i thought he looked and he gets through plenty work. Hard runner aswell, i have a good feeling about mago.

Our NRL recruitment has been bang on in general for this season i reckon, after going back and watching a few of custs games at stand off in the NRL, that lad is one hell of a signing and if he plays to that form i can see him being up there for MOS like he is predicted to be.

Just watched an interview with him on Wigan TV and he seems a good character and sounds really happy to be here. He notes during his interview that he’s trying to slim down and get fitter and it sounds like the club have been trying to help him do that and help him settle in by giving him cooking lessons with the club chef.

I recall around the time of the conversations about him looking unfit in a game for Souths, saying that I hoped he wasn’t coming here for a holiday and looking at him now and after listening to him, my mind has been put at rest somewhat. He looks to have put some work in during his time off, rather than taking it easy and it sounds like he plans to continue that over the next couple of months.

I have a good feeling about all the NRL imports. Young hungry for the opportunity with the best years ahead of them.

Mago impressed me all of last year. Didn’t see much of Cust or Ellis but their attitude seems spot on.

Like we’ve all said Mago and Ellis don’t have tough acts to follow replacing Bullock Clark and Clubb

Mago looked generally effective for Souths last year, It's a little odd that one of his weaker performances (although I don't think terrible by any means) seems to have got the most attention here, for some reason. Cust has been good for Manly, and although not a regular starter, was a fan favourite who often seemed to come on as a sub and 'make things happen'.

For me the NRL lads will have a major influence on how we go next year.

I appreciate they have NRL experience but they are all to a certain extent a little unknown in regards potential and how they will adapt to life in SL.

That for me is what I’m most excited about regards next years comp and all the relative unknowns including from a coaching point of view at Wigan.

Agreed! I think we need 2 our of 3 of the NRL guys to come good to give us a chance. The new coach effect can impact players you think you know as well. I remember quite a few making a jump under Maguire after years treading water.

Cade Cust is an absolute unit isn’t he? Really looking forward to seeing him play.

Quote ="100% Warrior"Cade Cust is an absolute unit isn’t he? Really looking forward to seeing him play.'" He has decent speed and a nice step on him too. highlights from one of his games i watched with him playing at 6 if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5WtF8e ... ugbyLeague

Quote ="100% Warrior"Cade Cust is an absolute unit isn’t he? Really looking forward to seeing him play.'" He has decent speed and a nice step on him too. highlights from one of his games i watched with him playing at 6 if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5WtF8e ... ugbyLeague

Wouldn’t describe him as a unit. He’s not like Hastings was in regards size.

He’s more a hooker/half back build than a loose/half back build from what I’ve seen, which is only very limited I admit.

Quote ="BoredWiganer"He has decent speed and a nice step on him too. highlights from one of his games i watched with him playing at 6 if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5WtF8e ... ugbyLeague'" Some lovely footwork during those clips. You’d probably think North Queensland are at the level of a top end superleague side, so hopefully it’s a sign of what we can look forward to. He looks a big George Williams like in his style of play, especially that footwork and some of his short kicking I’ve seen.

Quote ="BoredWiganer"He has decent speed and a nice step on him too. highlights from one of his games i watched with him playing at 6 if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5WtF8e ... ugbyLeague'" Some lovely footwork during those clips. You’d probably think North Queensland are at the level of a top end superleague side, so hopefully it’s a sign of what we can look forward to. He looks a big George Williams like in his style of play, especially that footwork and some of his short kicking I’ve seen.

Sadly, I do! I wish I aspired a bit higher!

Now that you mention it, i think your right he does have flashes of george williams about him.

I like how vocal he seems when he is on the pitch, even as a junior halfback with little first team experience. He doesn't seem timid to bark the orders. This coupled with the interview coming out of the wigan club where he states he wants to lead a team around the park gets me excited, he comes across as confident. Hopefully he will step up and give direction if harry smith fails to do so, but i would like to see smith kick on this season aswell and shows the leadership qualities that were talked about in his come up.

Our direction is going to need to come from somewhere this season with Hastings leaving as most has come through him the last couple of seasons, will be interesting to see which halfback steps up to that role and which pairing gels best.

I’ve been hugely unimpressed with Smith ever since the York friendly last year. The mistakes he made that day were excusable but he continued to replicate them throughout the season.

He really needs to find his voice and place in the team in ‘22 and if he doesn’t kick on this year I don’t see a future for him at Wigan.

One opportunity I see for him to kick on is the departure of Hastings. Hastings was the leader and go to man and playing in a free role as he was allowed to under Lam, Smith either chose to or was forced into taking a back seat and junior role. Smith cannot let Cust come in and dominate in the same way Hastings did.

I’ve no doubt the potential is there with Smith but I do wonder if he is robust enough physically and the desire is there for him to establish himself as a long term Wigan 7. The coming season will certainly answer those questions as far as I’m concerned.

This is the frustrating bit with smith, he has these flashes of brilliance and great play it's just getting him to do it on a more consistent basis. Hopefully as you say, it's more he was forced to take a back seat rather then a timidness to take control.

Regards Smith, let's not forget it turned out, certainly unknown to me and I dare say the majority of Wigan supporters, he was playing with a busted shoulder, hopefully next season he finds his feet as a first choice half with a pack that's going forward and not getting battered most weeks

Smith was far from the only one last season who's form dropped off a cliff, there were many amongst even the senior players who look a shadow of what we know they can be so I think that and the reported injury given him some slack for me.

If (and it is a big unknown at the moment) the new recruits can give us a more consistent go forward then it will make it easier for Smith to show what he can do and having a more traditional type half-back alongside him would I think help as well as Hastings was so often out of position on the last tackle that Smith was left trying to do too much at times.

A good start to the season for a few of the players will be essential to get tham back to something like the better form.

By the sounds of it Cust and Tommy will be the starting halves but with Tommy playing reduced games and Smith stepping in.

Isn't Hardaker out for the start of the season?
If that's the case Im pretty sure Smith & Cust will start unless Cust can kick goals.

Quote ="Itchy Arsenal"Isn't Hardaker out for the start of the season? If that's the case Im pretty sure Smith & Cust will start unless Cust can kick goals.'" Nope https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.manc ... 423291.amp

Quote ="Itchy Arsenal"Isn't Hardaker out for the start of the season? If that's the case Im pretty sure Smith & Cust will start unless Cust can kick goals.'" Nope https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.manc ... 423291.amp

It didn’t sound like they expect French back for R1 when Peet spoke to John Davidson on his podcast.

If that is the case hopefully Hardaker is fit but I’d be tempted to run with Field at fullback in truth. It’s so important nowadays to have somebody who can ball play at the back and combine that with the pace he has and he could be a big weapon for us.

Quote ="Jukesays"Nope https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.manc ... 423291.amp'" Sorry Jukes I can’t read the link but thankfully it sounds like Hardaker will be available for the start of the season.

Quote ="Jukesays"Nope https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.manc ... 423291.amp'" Sorry Jukes I can’t read the link but thankfully it sounds like Hardaker will be available for the start of the season.