sportal.com.au/league-news-displ ... pair-94766

sportal.com.au/league-news-displ ... pair-94766

Hoffman is only 26 and Lima 28.

Replacements for Feka and Bailey I presume.

I still dont see the logic in Hoffman (as good as he is).

Good news both great players at the right age who've Maguire has previously worked with and will know all about.

Yes the Hoffman signing seems a little strange but if Maguire feels we need him then so be it. Plus we've still to add Hock to the pack next year as well.

Combined with Finch, three excellent signings although I am quite surprised by this news - I had heard Luke Bailey was to play for Wigan next year. Doesn't seem likely he'll be coming in as well.

Watch some uneducated RL fans start accusing Wigan of relying on overseas imports again despite our great work with the youth system. Should also be remembered that Bailey, Feka, Riddell and Phelps are all gone with Carmont and possibly Richards to go the year after.

That will be frightening pack next year if these signings are confirmed.

I get the feeling one of two of the young lads may be leaving as well, I would let Tuson go, he's decent enough but he's not the youngest anymore and I doubt he's ever going to become first choice. I seriously hope we resign hansen though.

Both great players for different reasons. Hoffman is hard as nails, great business by the Wigan club to get these 2 over.

Well if Mossop moves into the front row then we will may be a man down in the back row.

These are two massive signings at the top of there game IMO and if we have to shuffle a couple of lads around to sign them so be it.

This has made my day.

Take a bow IL and MM

Their stats for those interested.

Lima.
[urlhttp://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/teamid/8/playerid/16039/season/2010/jefflima/default.aspx[/url

Hoffman.
[urlhttp://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/teamid/8/playerid/187/season/2010/ryanhoffman/default.aspx[/url

Aside from the fact he's an Aussie test player, Hoffman does give us one vital thing that our current 2nd rowers don't show too much and that's offloading and ball playing skills.

Tuson should leave to gain a regular starting spot at another SL club and further his career whilst Mossop and Hock are options to move to the front row.

Likewise, as thrilled as I am to see us signing people like this, I wouldn't have gone for a Second Row as I genuinely don't think we need one.

Any idea when the club will announce it?

If Mossop moves to prop, then id assume Coley or Fielden is off as well, giving us Fielden/Coley, Lima, Prescott, O'Carroll, Mossop & Hock.

It does add size, power and class to the pack though.

All we need now is Finch and you can box recruitment off for me.

Maddogg - I cant see us releasing Pat next year, unless he wanted to go home with his newborn!

I agree, tbh, if we had confirmed Finch to, I wouldnt care, im just a little jittery until a halfback is sorted.

I dont see Tuson leaving, Madge seems to like the kid, perhaps a season long loan maybe his best option though.

Possible NFL move - $$$$$$$$$

I wouldn't suggest for one minute that Wigan would happily let Richards leave.

As much as I appreciate Finch is a class half back, I'd rather us sign a hooker.

Yes TL has his faults as a 7, but his partnership with Tomkins is outstanding and I do not believe TL has the ability to guide a team around a park from dummy half like Riddell or Buderus has.

and it does say MM is eyeing other storm players and the exodus to wigan might not end with these two. If storm only lose one their big four, and it looks most likely that will be inglis going to brisbane it could be widdop as storm will keep slater and chances will be limited for first team action. got to say though, if finch has signed with these two as well i am concerned about the hooking role. i just dont think Mcilorum and tommy will get the job done. we look a far better side with piggy on the field and we need someone of his calibre in this position.

Is it not as much the case that Finch is available and a front line hooker isnt?



I agree the NFL is possible, but id like to think IL was already prepping a new deal for Pat.

For me Hoffman would instantly be one of the best forwards in SL as would Lima. As Rouges said both are at the right age to really improve our squad for a good while yet.

Normally/in the past I’d be peeved if someone like Tuson or Hansen left for an Aussie import as they were usually the wrong side of 30 BUT Hoffman is just entering his prime at 26 and realistically he could be here for the next 6 seasons.

If we are going to let some of our local talent leave then I’d only accept it for players of this age and calibre.

Riddell leaving was/is a huge blow and I too am 50/50 on whether we should bring in a hooker/halfback.

But as AJ says - if Finch is available and a top class hooker isn't that kind of makes the decision for Wigan. Add that to the fact we're still in need of a better kicking game from the scrum half and the possibility that Leuluai will shine at hooker if given the time and training to work on adapting to the role, then there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about it.

Hoffman at 16 1/2 stone is also big enough to play / cover the prop position along with Lima.
Add Hock and Mossop and there's some seriously big lads in that pack for next season.

Just get Finch signed and we're sorted.

That may well be the best for him, he's got a decent future ahead of him, and IL won't want to prepare him for SL through the academy and introducing him to the first team and then let some other club get all the benefits.

Striaght swap for Bailey and Feka then. Hoffman is an interesting signing. Yes we are very healthy when it comes to the 2nd rowers but having an experienced head in there at the top of his game is nothing but a good thing for the club and will only aid and nuture the cracking young talent we have.

Nobody has to move to prop to accomodate these two. With injuries and competition for places everyone will get a chance to play. Look at this year for example we have been using young forwards we wouldnt have expected to in Tuson and Davies.

For me Mossop has still got alot of proving to do anyway he is by no means a first team regular yet. He needs to earn his first team place and fight against the likes of Farrell, HH and Tuson to to achieve it.

I do agree he is without a doubt a future prop forward but there is no reason to move him to prop till he fills out a bit more and develops his game. I cannot see him permenantly moving to prop for a few seasons yet.

Good signings IMO and I hope they come off.

Looking at Hoffmans stats and it shows that he is more than capable of being an 80 minute man. Lima also gets around the 40 min to an hour per game. I dont normally read into stats but these are pretty impressive (and hard to get wrong)

I've said this before on the rumours thread that Ian Lenagan confirmed to a member of our group when we went to Perpignan that Wigan had signed a prop forward. My hunch was Luke Bailey, but I guess Lima will do!
A friend of mine was talking to Kris Radlinski and he said that Lee Mossop could easily carry another stone and that the intentions of the club are for him to move to prop. This leaves us short in the back row department with Phil Bailey also leaving.

Stuart Fielden, Andy Coley, Jeff Lima, Lee Mossop, Paul Prescott, Eamon O'carroll and Ben Davies as our props for next season.

Joel Tomkins, Ryan Hoffman, Harrison Hansen, Liam Farrell, Chris Tuson and then Gareth Hock as our back row forwards.

I've said this before, but Wigan's pack looks phenomenal for next season compared to recent years.