With Gill Dudson beating all expectations and the young guns playing like they did last night I wouldn't even be thinking of replacing Big Jeff Lima. Ok he is an immense forward and his workrate is 2nd to none but the most important cog in the current machine is without a doubt Brett Finch.

If Brett wants a big pay day then use the money freed up by Jeff's departure to tie him down to another 2 years.

We have the forwards to cope with Jeffs departure but I feel that the loss of both Finch & Tommy could spell big trouble. The momentum from Madge's tenure is picking up pace with Wane's coaching - We don't want to go into a transitional period where we are settling in 2 new halves.

Thoughts?

I think deep down Shaun Wane knows Brett Finch is moving on. His simple theory is that if it happens, we will deal with it. Said the same last week when asked about possible bans and injuries for the Leeds game. It is like he said he will methodically set to task when it happens. I have heard again today that a deal to bring Lee Gaskell to Wigan has already been done.

If we could have Gaskell & Soward, with Hampshire & Williams competing to take over from Soward, I reckon we'll be set for the next decade.

I am more impressed with Wane after his comments after the disciplinary hearings, the focus is about being positive; you get dealt an hand play it.

He's re-signed. Stop fretting.

hide his passport

It would clearly be better to keep Finch if we can for another year or two while his replacement is groomed. Losing Finch and Tommy at the same time is not the best. It seems clear that Wane would like to keep him hence the only issue must be money. I can understand Finch holding out for as much as he can get but we can't be held to ransom. If he leaves this successful Wigan era just for money then I say let him go so long as we have done all we reasonably can. I trust IL and Wane will do the right thing.

I will trust IL, if he wants to back to OZ so be it but bet him and Lima want that double, lets just enjoy this season, whatever happens Finchy will owe us nothing what a great season so far, hopefully the deal is done and he stays at Wigan, if not keep leading us to the silverware Finchy.

Ok!

Has Soward signed/shown interest, heard it a few times on here, if i wasn't on my phone i'd google it?

Nope, just a random rumour/wishful thinking! He's contracted to St George till next year, but the rumour appeared in an Aussie magazine (RL Week, I think) back in April...plus he's reportedly on A$300 pa, which is a bit much to compete with.

Re-signed or resigned?

£190k pa too much to compete with?

The talk on the St George site is to make Soward Captain if Hooper retires.

Well someones not going to come all the way from Australia, give up the chance for representative football where they get paid a fortune on top of this, and give up the chance for a contract upgrade when the new TV deal comes in for exactly the same money as they get now. I would have thought you would have had to add at least another £100k to this before a player even thinks about it and then it would still probably be a no.

I think it's massively important you keep Finch, he's very important to Wigan and IMO the main threat. I watched him very carefully at magic and his organisation is second to none, telling and showing players where he wants them and very vocal on the fieid.

To lose both lulu and finch will be tough to replace, they know the plays so well that it just comes so natural, each knows where the options are and who's where which makes Wigan attack so potent and hard to defend.

Lima is a big reason our pack is so good so I don't think it will be that easy without him but given I don't know of any equally good props on the market I would go with your plan to keep Finch at the drop of a hat.