I've never seen such a lack of discussion, even in the off season. I guess most seem to share my view that there isn't that much new to look forward to. A major exodus of talent with no amazing new signings to buzz about.

I really haven't felt this flat and lethargic about our club in a long time. I guess SL in general is going through bad times. I know compared to some clubs we shouldn't complain at all, but its all relative to the club you support.

The season is what, 7 weeks away and I'm really not that bothered at the moment.

The season does not start till September....

Personally I can't wait, months since any rugby league, had to put up with football!

Yeah, need the season to start, but not confident we can do much this year.

I must admit, I haven't experienced a pre season quite like this one. No confidence, no optimism for the season.

I reckon it's got a lot to do with not WHO left, but WHO we brought in as replacements.

How do you know how good/bad/average the replacements are without having seen them play?

because they've seen Thomas Leuluai and they've seen Matty Smith

Personally i am really looking forward to the season starting.

I admit this has been the most boring preseason in a longtime. looking at the amount of posts that seem to have been made i would presume that site traffic is very low in comparison to previous years?

There is definitely a flatness regarding RL at the moment. When the season finishes there is seldom a mention of anything in the press and it is almost like the sport hibernates for 4 months.

But Smith was here last season.

Doesn't matter if they're world beaters , with Wane at the helm we've no chance

I'm looking forward to it, as always. Looking forward to seeing how the season pans out and how the players jell.

i think the main reason it's been so quiet is there hasn't really been much to moan about as in previous years, kit on sale before christmas, signings announced etc

Well I've been to about 8 games in the last two years, so if I was at home - regardless of the boring off season - I would be almost exploding with excitement about being able to watch a proper sport live.

You lot are spoiled.

which is precisely the reason for lack of optimism, we all know we've downgraded.

Smith will be way better with a full pre season to settle in to the squad. Can't be easy just coming mid season and being expected to run the show.

It may sound harsh, but with the general doom and gloom surrounding British rl at the moment,clubs struggling financially ,clubs being bailed out ect. Is this not the time that Ian lenegan should be going for the jugular and taking full advantage of the situation like any great business should. With the money, the history and the wigan rl brand behind us we should be taking advantage of other clubs misfortune and signing and building a club that takes us levels above 80% of all the other teams in every area. Can't help thinking that if Mo in his prime would see the decline in British rl has an advantage to wigan rl. I don't mean any disrespect to any other clubs but business is business and the decline of your competitors gives you the advantage unless you fail to seize it. At the moment I can't see any evidence that we are doing that. I just see next year being the "norm" when we could be so much better.

I am struggling to get excited.

The Wigan players who left have simply not been replaced, the rules of the competition mean that it isn't really necessary to get excited until June and the Communist Cap continues to strangle the sport.

I'm sure I will watch the games when they come along, and indeed want Wigan to perform well.


But part of me is thinking "Why bother?"

Do you enjoy rugby league or are you not bothered about the sport and just support Wigan?

There is obviously no right or wrong answer just curious.

They don't exactly come with big reputations do they RG like Matty Johns, Greg Florimo, Mark Reber or David Vaeliki do they?




Oh wait.....hang on a minute.

Of this perceived mini recruitment crisis I think there is a certain amount of Rose tinted memories knocking about.

Tommy and Carmont were outstanding players without doubt and Smith and whoever replaces George have a major task on their hands.

Lima and Finch though are another story completely. In their first season they were outstanding but in my opinion their form dropped off significantly last year. Lima lost his impact and was significantly quieter, Finch at times showed sparks of genius but most of the time especially when it counted he was poor.

Taylor I anticipate will go on to be regarded as one of the best Props of his generation and I feel he will improve our team on Lima of last year from the off. Blake is a tough one, but again whilst he may not have the pedigree of Finch, in the big games, when it counts, I doubt he will play as poorly as Finch did for us last year.

Smith and Tommy are two different style players. It's not that long ago that many on here were saying that Tommy was a hooker and not a scrum half.

Smith will bring a much better kicking game, but doesn't hit as hard as Tommy in defence.

Green will add something we have lacked for ages in the halfback position and that is pace, he too has a good kicking game.

Taylor I'm looking forward to seeing play, he is a big athletic prop with a very good offload.
I would however have liked us to have signed an experienced centre and prop (Joel Moon would have been the ideal centre fit)

I just can't wait for next Sunday at Leigh to get the show on the road.

Part of the issue is that we haven't brought anyone over from the NRL. There's no real surprise package. Things may have been different if we'd signed Green from Canterbury rather than HKR.

Personally I'm looking forward to seeing Taylor but I'm a little disappointed that we seem to be going with Hughes as a centre rather than Gelling/Thornley but that may change as the season progresses.

I was discussing this the other night with a mate saying how good RL was 10 years ago.

Now I'm looking forward to the season but not half as much as I used to

The centre spot is the concern, but it could also be a nice surprise just as Goulding has been the last few years. I would have loved us to splash the cash on a big name NRL centre, we MUST be under the cap significantly and have the cash to spend, but I am also open to seeing how any of those 3 run next year.

I expect 1 of the 3 to really make a go of it.

Shaun Wane appears to be going for players who are far bigger than their predecessors. Lima leaving who was around 5'11" being replaced by Taylor who is 6'5", that's a massive increase in size. Prescott is back and he's 6'3", Thornley was brought back to replace George and Iain's 6'4" or 5".
There is concern about the halves but as has been said Green has real pace where Finch had none, Smith has a kicking game where Tommy had none.
Green and Smith may not be as good as their predecessors but they will both bring something to the team which we did not have. Behind the massive pack that should be on the front foot in most games our new halves will have plenty opportunity to show what they can do. I don't think they'll disappoint.

Years ago Maurice at the end of every season had a clear out of our younger players, many who went were given very little opportunity if any.
This was followed by announcements of the signing of NRL players, some of whom were great some who wern't worth the plane fare.
When IL bought the club he stated that it was to be his policy to bring through as many Wigan youngsters who were worth their place. We now are begining to see the benefits of this. From the U20s who won all those GF's we have so many now in the first team squad. IL was perceptive in that he saw the way the game was going and clubs would stand or fall by their youth development.
Our youth development is serving us very well indeed.

Given the circumstances in which RL in general and SL in particular are now in Wigan are very well fixed. We have a club that is very well run, making a profit, winning trophies, have an eye for the future with the youth set up and have the best marketing people in the game.

Fixtures out, squads announced, season tickets bought and really looking forward to the new season with the new signings and seeing how the team improves over last season. Bring it on!