What are your thoughts about him?

I know he has had some bad injuries over the last few years, hopefully he will get a bit of luck at Hull.

Quite happy with signing, low risk really and if rumours are correct about Lynch joining Hull we will have 5 decent props next year.

Just returned from long term injury, he was getting stuck in against the Bulls there was no holding back so he seems confident in his fitness, not the biggest but will do a decent job

Strange that. We are pretty light in the pack as it is.

It's no coincidence that we lose against teams with a big pack/front row, [ia la [/iwire and catalans.

Not happy with this at all.

He has been nursed back to full health and is now leaving. That is ben davies and o carroll that are going in favour of that bloody liabillity from Hull.

www.hullfc.com/newsarticle.aspx?n=19024

www.hullfc.com/newsarticle.aspx?n=19024

Makes no sense at all; not impressed at ALL with this. Letting young talent go and no doubt bringing in that numpty from Hull? Not happy at all Wigan!

Sad to see O'Carroll go, but wish him the best of luck. God knows he's owed some after the last couple of years he's had with injuries.

I had touchline seats against the Catalans at the DW and the difference in size of their bench forwards to Wigans was noticeable. When Cross was signed to cover the loss of Feilden I thought that would be enough for the season. Losing Cross and now Hock who could get a ban that would see him miss the rest of the season is a blow.

Will Mossop make a return?

No doubt Mossop will return and pronto.

And he does fight well above his weight, but he isn't as big as, say, Cross.

We need Fielden to return pronto too IMHO. If we don't get our front row sorted we can say bye bye to the final at OT.

Good Luck to him, he's had a horrendous run of injuries so I hope it turns out well for him.

We still have Fielden, Mossop, Lima, Prescott and Hock as senior props for next season, but IL has some serious wiggle room with the salary cap to bring some new players in next year.

Personally, I'm not sure I ever saw O'Carroll as being one of our four starting props - unless there were injuries - and I doubt he would have been very happy with playing fifth or sixth.

Lets not condemn the club until we see the big picture, eh?

Good luck to Eamon, be a shame to see him go, had an awful couple of years. Hope he can tear it up next year.

My thoughts exactly. We cant exactly criticise until we know who is replacing him

Sad to see him leave especially after the club stuck with him for 18months whilst he got fit. I'm not saying he's done anything wrong as I get the feeling the club has made this decision.

As for moving forward our replacement for Coley is pretty much going to be Fielden and it sounds like Dudson and/or Flower will replace O'Carroll which may turn out to be a good move. In terms of replacing Hoffman I think Hock will take that role on so it really leaves us just looking at possible backs. I don't think Joel is up to the centre berth and his try at Wembley proved little so I'd love to sign a centre (aside from Thomas) and if Deacon retires a halfback but available quality in those positions looks to be lacking.

Outside of all that I just hope we make sure we leave Lauaki well alone. I see potential in guys like Dudson and Flower and commercial opportunities in Thomas but I see little to be gained by signing a bone idle, overweight loose cannon.

As i understand it Wigan have no room left on the cap for next season due to the structure of all the long term deals that have been awarded over the last couple of seasons.

I think Wigan's recruitment will be restricted to the three from Crusaders and Lauaki from Hull.

4 signings that would beef the forwards up and strengthen a position we're weak in.

If there's nothing left for any further creative players, I'd want Deacs to stay on for another year to ease Mellor or someone into the 7 shirt.

Not sure about beefing the forwards up: losing Coley, Hoffman, Davies and O'Carroll and bringing in Lauaki, Flower and Dudson is a serious down-grading. I don't see any of your current u20s' forwards ready to step-up yet either.

Perhaps beefing isn't the right word then, there's no doubting Hoff and Coley will be difficult to replace based on their form.

But Davies is hardly a fixture in our pack, haven't seen enough of the 20s to comment on them.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 581485.stm He's aged and lost his hair quick

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 581485.stm He's aged and lost his hair quick

How does an article about O'Carroll become that much about Fitzgibbon?!

Hoffman will be replaced by Hock who is also a left sided 2nd row.
Coley, replacement remains to be seen but Fielden is back next year with Prescott, Lima, Mossop, Dudson & Crosby.
Should Deacon retire I'd go with Mellor. Played SL for Quins earlier this year and was told when he played v Saints he was excellent. If d/r is to mean anything then Mellor and Crosby should be in the first team next year.
Centre is the main problem. Carmont in his last year in 2012, Joel still learning and will be next year if he stays at 3. An experienced centre needs to be signed for 2012 and most definately for 2013. Who and where from, who knows?

If that is true then not being able to retain O'Carroll for this reason is not very good.

Before his injury he looked the more natural prop than Prescott. He ran the ball in harder and straighter and never took a backward step. That is no slight on Prescott because he as come on leaps and bounds this season but that is just how it was back then IMO. Pre-injury of the two I'd have said O'Carroll was the brighter prospect. There is no doubt in my mind that while the injury didn't end his RL career it has ended his Wigan one and I think that is a mistake by the club. Coley is leaving next season and it is not yet clear that Hock will fit into the the way the team plays or where he will play. We also have Mossop who seemingly has a bit of a problem with his shoulder which has gone at least twice.

I was looking forward next season to see O'Carroll challenge for a place in the front row and I reckon he was more than capable of doing so. So this idea he would be 6th choice is not right IMO because in theory players are picked on form and he is easily good enough to give Prescott a run for his money.

Replacing O'Barrell with Lauaki is stupid. Unless his injury has had an involvement.

If indeed we have done. By all accounts we've signed 2 props from Crusaders so I really can't imagine we've signed Lauaki as well. 3 props? nah.

Always tried hard, but ultimately I think we have better options a head of him and it's no surprise he'd want to see more first team action.