As usual at this time of year there are plenty rumours about players leaving Wigan and being signed by the club. Actual movement is rather low with Green to Melbourne, Goulding to Hull KR. Joel has returned from Union and we have Tautai arriving from Wakefield. Compared to previous seasons this seems a very low turnover.

Are we to get a more settled squad for next year with very few leaving or joining?
Green hasn't been replaced and Shaun Wane says he won't be. Gelling has already established himself as Goulding's sucessor. There does not appear to be a forward leaving so Tautai and Joel are additions unless James doesn't get a new deal. Taylor's situation seems settled for at least 2015 and it has been confirmed Greenwood will be with us next season.

A settled squad could make a massive difference to our start to the season, all know the systems and what is expected of them in the pre season. The quality of players in the squad is staggeringly high and our current second position in the League signifies this bearing in mind our slow start and the massive number of injuries sustained.

If the club is now begining to set a patten of season to season stability with low player turnover then with the quality players we have the future has rarely looked better.

I haven't dared think it until the rumours about Taylor seemed to die down. I really hope we can manage to retain everyone we don't already know is leaving (bar possibly Dudson/Hughes/James who I don't rate) if we can manage that I think we'll storm it next year.

If we have:

a settled side next season,
a good solid 'off season' preperation,
a season with less injuries.

Then I could see us being very strong indeed. The future is looking bright indeed.

half backs are the real issue.
without Green we havent had any of the backups stake a decent claim for the SO spot.
our halves will definitely be weaker at the start of the season (lots of potential, but lots of risk as well)
therefore there is a real risk of a series of unsettled half back pairings whilst we try to find the right blend

If we go in to 2015 with what we've got as things stand we'll have a very strong squad and give every trophy a real tilt.

The stand off position is obviously the big question but there's three top candidates vying for it and I'm sure we'll be fine.

Still question marks over centres and stand off, IMO. But I'm willing to see how the players we've got go before calling for someone to be brought in.

Clear some of the dead wood from the squad, keep Taylor and add Tautai and I'll be happy.

Prop and stand off for me.

Dudson and James to move on and an experienced Prop to replace them.

Dream scenario Tom Leahroy Lahrs who is OOC and a stand off in the 30-31 age bracket similar to Bowen type signing.

I doubt we will be bringing a Prop in but remain hopefully we a looking for a stand off that suits our requirements.

I think we just need an experienced stand off. With that we can make 2 decent 13s and then some:

Bowen
Charnley
Gelling
Thornley
Burgess
New signing - stand off
Smith
Taylor
McIlorum
Flower
Tomkins
Farrell
O'Loughlin


Hampshire
Manfredi
Hughes
Gildart
Sarginson
Williams
Powell
Clubb
Doran
Tautai
Pettybourne
Hopkins
Bateman

Crosby, Burke, Lloyd? Greenwood, Tierney, Farrwll, Sutton, wright, Murphy?

Strongest line up for me next year depending on signings would be ...

Bowen
Burgess
Bateman
Gelling
Charnley
New Signing/Hampshire/Powell/Williams
Smith
Flower
McLlorum
Taylor
Tomkins
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Powell/Williams/L Tomkins
Clubb
Crosby/Pettybourne
Tautai

Hampshire/Powell/Williams/Tomkins
Crosby/Pettybourne
Dudson
Hopkins
Greenwood
Thornley
Hughes
Burke
Sarginson ...
Manfredi

Wouldn't want to go back to using Clubb as a back rower, and we could do with one on the bench as Lockers is getting on and Joel will still be finding his way. As such I'd go:

FB Bowen
RW Charnley
RC Gelling
LC Thornley/Sarginson
LW Burgess
SO Hampshire
SH Smith
P Clubb
H McIlorum
P Flower
SR Bateman/Tomkins
SR Farrell
LF O'Loughlin

S Taylor
S Williams/Powell (used at 6 or 9 depending on how the game is going)
S Tatuai/Crosby/Pettybourne
S Tomkins/Bateman

I'd keep Clubb at prop myself, I don't think he has the footwork to defend out wide. But has had a fantastic season so far at Prop.

I'd use Tautai at SR when everyone is fit. To me he looks like he'd cause all sorts of damage running out wide and using his offloading game. I may change my opinion once I see him in the Wigan set-up but I'm just going off what I've seen so far from him at Wakefield.

It does look promising after year after year of turmoil. Could that in part be due to an increased salary cap? What interests me is how many players we have with potential to develop further... like many others, I would like to see us sign an experienced 6, but that's all, unless others are leaving. Given how may 30 somethings Leeds and Wire rely on, there is everything to play for for us in 15 and 16. I am content with a prop roster of Clubb, Taylor, Flower, Crosby, Greenwood, Sutton, Dudson and James, and wouldn't lose sleep if we don't keep the last 2. Tautai and Eddie can both do a great job there as well.
With Joel joining Faz and Bateman we have superb 2nd row strength. I think Hughes does a good hard working job for us, despite his high error count, and would keep him, but if he is now surplus to requirements I don't think we'd fall apart.
One thing that has been frustrating about this year has been Rocky's injuries, as we aren't much further on than we were last year in terms of his potential generally, and his best position specifically...

It has been frustrating for Hampshire this year and the experience would have served him well. To put a positive spin on it though he should still be a bit of a surprise package next year and that may take some pressure off him when he gets a shot at 6 (which I really hope he does).

He's naturally the most gifted of our three options at stand off next year IMO but he may still need to show plenty of patience.