Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Nov 02, 2013 12:12 pm  

I think we should persevere with Logan. I'm not his biggest fan currently and I think we operate better as a team when McIlorum plays for the full 80, but the game time he got this season will have benefitted him greatly and he's still got plenty of time to improve.

His distribution from dummy half reminds me of McIlorum when he broke in to the first team, concentrating on pointing his toes and making sure the pass is accurate, at the expense of releasing the ball quickly. McIlorum has improved on this dramatically and there's no reason why LT can't. His main downfall when compared to McIlorum is Micky has always been tough in defence and tackled well above his weight, whereas LT has struggled with bigger guys running at him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Nov 02, 2013 1:04 pm  

jonh wrote:

It will be one hell of a task to keep them all happy, but if a player like Bateman comes on the market it would be irresponsible of Wigan not to come in for him.

I would say this move will see Pettybourne used mainly at a Prop. Bateman will cover Lockers.

It puts massive pressure on Hughes who was suffered from second season syndrome.

To answer the original question though, no I do not think we have too many forwards. I think we will see players rotated throughout the season, which could mean we do not have that drop off that we had this year because of the quality of all the forwards we have.

From Rads comments about Bateman, I think it might be a while before we see him as a first team player.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Nov 02, 2013 1:14 pm  

TEAM A

Bowen
Charnley Goulding Clubb Mantalino
Green Smith
Flower McM Dudson
HH Faz
Lockers

TEAM B

Tierney
Burgess Sarginson Thornley Gelling
Hampshire Powell
Taylor Tomkins Powell
Pettybourne Hughes
Bateman

Plus many others left out. I've put Clubb in at centre as with the amount of forwards we now have, and with his former success in the position I can see Bitcon getting him fit and developed into a centre.

Our 'B Team' looks like it could do some damage any many SL opponents let alone our first team. I think the idea could be, as I discussed months ago, Wigan are developing a squad which has the potential to win the league and rest key players so they are fit and full of energy to win the big 'must win' games.

Basically the same as this year minus our loosing streak.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Nov 02, 2013 1:22 pm  

Wigan Peer wrote:

Rugby League News @RugbyLeagueNews
Leeds Rhinos hooker Paul Mcshane has been released from his contract and will move to a new club in 2014.

No thank you. I posted about four years ago that McShane was one of the most overrated young players that I had ever seen, and got ripped apart on the Leeds board for saying it. I may have to remind them.

Seriously, I have seen nothing since to make me change my mind.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Nov 02, 2013 1:27 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

No thank you. I posted about four years ago that McShane was one of the most overrated young players that I had ever seen, and got ripped apart on the Leeds board for saying it. I may have to remind them.

Seriously, I have seen nothing since to make me change my mind.

I agree, i only posted it because he had been mentioned here, and this was posted on Twitter..

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Nov 02, 2013 1:41 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

TEAM A

Bowen
Charnley Goulding Clubb Mantalino
Green Smith
Flower McM Dudson
HH Faz
Lockers

TEAM B

Tierney
Burgess Sarginson Thornley Gelling
Hampshire Powell
Taylor Tomkins Powell
Pettybourne Hughes
Bateman

Plus many others left out. I've put Clubb in at centre as with the amount of forwards we now have, and with his former success in the position I can see Bitcon getting him fit and developed into a centre.

Our 'B Team' looks like it could do some damage any many SL opponents let alone our first team. I think the idea could be, as I discussed months ago, Wigan are developing a squad which has the potential to win the league and rest key players so they are fit and full of energy to win the big 'must win' games.

Basically the same as this year minus our loosing streak.

So much strength in depth, I don't think we'll see Clubb play at centre though, he's a 2nd rower or even a prop now.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Nov 02, 2013 1:50 pm  

With losing Sam, Pat, Mossop etc I think a lot of fans were fearing the worst for next season. But looking at the squad as a whole, SW has put together an excellent young squad with plenty of strength in depth in every position. We've also got a good number of players who can play in several different positions.

FULLBACK – Bowen, Tierney
WING – Charnley, Burgess, Manfredi
CENTRE – Goulding, Thornley, Gelling, Sarginson
STAND OFF – Green, Hampshire
SCRUM HALF – Smith, S Powell, Williams
PROP – Flower, Taylor, Dudson, Crosby, A Powell, Pettybourne, Hopkins, Greenwood
HOOKER – McIlorum, Tomkins
SECOND ROW – Hansen, Farrell, Hughes, Clubb, Lloyd
LOOSE FORWARD – O’Loughlin, Bateman, Burke

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Nov 02, 2013 1:51 pm  

With so many players something is going to have to give if they are all to play each week, bar injuries.
Either they are hoping to re-instate the U21 & U18 squads with this depending on the power base between SL owners with IL and the progressives against Hetherington and the headbangers.
Or maybe Ian Lenagan is in someway going to help out Rugby League in London.
None of us know what will be happening with the London Broncos but with us taking on the Skolars in the Capital Challenge I can't see that being our only involvment down there.
We can Dual Register five players at the Skolars with immediate recall to Wigan.
As far as loans to the Broncos would go then I don't know if there are numbers involved. As we know it is a month on loan without recall then after that recall at anytime depending on future deals done.
Our overseas players, Bowen, Green, Gelling, Pettybourne will probably only play at Wigan due to work visas.
It does seem though that we now have a first team and the old fashioned "A" team.
I reckon our "A" team if playing under another name could come mid table.

First team,
Bowen,
Charnley, Goulding, Thornley, Gelling,
Green, Smith,
Flower, McIlorum, Pettybourne,
Hansen, Farrell,
O'Loughlin.

"A" team,
Hampshire,
Manfredi, Clubb, Gildart, Burgess
Sarginson, S Powell,
Crosby, Tomkins, Dudson
Hughes, Bateman.
Hopkins.

Then quality players like Taylor, A Powell, Lloyd, Burke, Tierney, Williams, Greenwood. Lever.

I make that 34 players of which 31 have already played first grade. So just wondered what other formations and views on which seems to be our squad for next year and where they are all going to get a game each week.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Nov 02, 2013 2:21 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

No thank you. I posted about four years ago that McShane was one of the most overrated young players that I had ever seen, and got ripped apart on the Leeds board for saying it. I may have to remind them.

Seriously, I have seen nothing since to make me change my mind.

I think he showed his class at the back end of last season with Widnes, small stocky fair quick and a good defender when ever i have seen him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Nov 02, 2013 3:30 pm  

McShane is much better than Logan in my eyes,if we can get him fairly cheaply I think we should jump at the chance,though I think he might go back to widnes.