Sorry if I missed this. Did they ever actually announce who is captain? Strange not to have it known so close to the start of the season.

On the podcast that everyone's talking about, Hastings mentions Bateman as possibly being captain.

Faz led us out yesterday with all over candidates playing?

Faz, Powell or Tommy for me, any of those 3 I’d be happy about. Everything you’d want in a leader, especially picking up where Lockers left off.

Leuluai confirmed. No worries about that with me other than the probable disruption of picking another captain again next year.

Yeah, happy enough with that. It’s boring to say but any good side has a few leaders anyway and we have that. It does feel fitting that such a champion player for us gets to captain the side before retirement.

A fitting honour for a player synonymous with Wigan and probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves at times.

We will have a cracking leadership team on and off the field with Powell, Faz, Bateman, Hardaker, Clubb, Hastings and Singleton and Lockers behind the scenes.

I wonder whether the year of Leuluai as captain gives them chance to assess whether Bateman has matured.

Singleton is an interesting one when thinking of captains. He hasn’t been here long enough you’d imagine to be considered for this season but with a full season under his belt and playing for a club where the players clearly buzzed off him when he came in and seem to love him, he may be a shot next season.

Plenty of options anyway and that’s what you want.

I don’t think Singleton will ever be a captain at Wigan but I think he has an important part to play in the leadership group.

He’s very experienced, been groomed under a Sinfield and Peacock regime and even in his first few appearances could be seen laying down the law in some of the huddles after we had conceded. He certainly doesn’t come across as someone who is comfortable taking a back seat.

Singo's class. Our fans never saw that. Brian Mac loved him, but sadly once he left things just didn't work out. I still think s a very bad decision to seek him though......

Well deserved and I’m happy with that selection. With him being captain it would also lend support to the thought that he’ll be starting more games than not.

Good choice for me I didn't understand the train of thought saying he would be taking a lesser role hes not that type of player if hes fit he will want to play.

Im happy for him.

We fans might think of the captain's role as lasting 80 minutes a week, but in reality it's probably as much about training, meetings etc. We have just had a captain who spent a lot of time off the field (either through interchange or injury) for a few seasons, they will know whether he was still an effective captain or not. Hill was Warrington captain for ages as a bench player too. I don't think this is much of an indication either way whether Field or Leuluai will partner Hastings in the halves. My prediction is that Leuluai will be playing off the bench if Field is any good.

I think Field has been signed as a replacement for French.

I think he will float around positions this year and be our fullback in 2022.

TL I think will play most weeks unless we want to give Smith some game time.

Yeah I'm largely in agreement. I think Field mainly at 6 this year, then 1 next year with Smith stepping up into the halves. Leuluai on the bench when everyone is fit, but starting in the halves or at hooker when form/injuries dictate.

I think TL will be in the run on side for all the big games this year.

Tommy didn't let us down in the back-end of last season.

Fair enough, it's hard to say because I've seen so little of Field. I don't generally rate Leuluai as a halfback but he did pick up form towards the back end of the year and he is unusually good in defence for a halfback.

It will be very interesting to see how we rotate players through the weekly rounds but also during games.

I know it’s been hinted at by Lam but I’d expect some players to be spending time in less familiar positions than they have played in other seasons.

For me, ideally field will play well enough to be our starting stand off with Hastings at scrum half. Looking at YouTube highlights his running reminded me of a young Tomkin's.

Could see Hastings Powell and Leuluai interchanging.

We have plenty of leaders, don't need Leuluai on all the time although I wouldn't be surprised if he is on a lot.

Agreed 100%

4th man on with his knees you mean?

aw bless