Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 03, 2024 6:10 pm  

Looks like this thread will essentially be redundant for a while with the French news. Cooper will surely be replaced from within (assuming he leaves). Maybe an overseas back rower to replace Willie Isa?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 03, 2024 6:30 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Looks like this thread will essentially be redundant for a while with the French news. Cooper will surely be replaced from within (assuming he leaves). Maybe an overseas back rower to replace Willie Isa?

A back rower with a similar profile to Kaide Ellis when he came over would be a good replacement for Isa. Some NRL experience, plenty to prove, hungry for a chance and not costing the earth. If Cooper and Mago were let go I think we can replace from within and that is likely the plan in the next year or two.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 03, 2024 6:36 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

A back rower with a similar profile to Kaide Ellis when he came over would be a good replacement for Isa. Some NRL experience, plenty to prove, hungry for a chance and not costing the earth. If Cooper and Mago were let go I think we can replace from within and that is likely the plan in the next year or two.

When Isa goes we will still have Farrell, Walters & Nesemba.

I think we already have our 4th secondrow/utility forward in Chan.

I expect us to go into the market when we have to replace Faz but in then I don’t see any front line signings for a while.

We have Havard and Eseh yet to play and with the exception of Cooper all our props are either in there Prime or well before it.

I could possibly see us dip into the market for a Prop is Mago takes up an offer elsewhere and Copper retires.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 03, 2024 6:41 pm  

jonh wrote:

When Isa goes we will still have Farrell, Walters & Nesemba.

I think we already have our 4th secondrow/utility forward in Chan.

I expect us to go into the market when we have to replace Faz but in then I don’t see any front line signings for a while.

We have Havard and Eseh yet to play and with the exception of Cooper all our props are either in there Prime or well before it.

I could possibly see us dip into the market for a Prop is Mago takes up an offer elsewhere and Copper retires.

Chan could well be that 4th option in the second row. He seems to have been signed to play in the middle though and didn’t look comfortable in the friendly at Wakey. You can never write a guy off in a position after one game though. It’s probably not a question they need to answer just yet. We’ve not seen Walters playing full time in the second row yet and we need to see more of Nsemba before probably knowing what’s needed.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 03, 2024 6:48 pm  

I've said before that we could with a Curtis Sironen-type player. The NRL seems full of these powerful, mobile second-rowers.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 03, 2024 7:08 pm  

All different opinions, but I'd like to see us sign a workhorse second row.

We've got size and athleticism in Walters and Junior. What Wigan have always had however is a world class defender. Someone who leads the line and sets the tone. We've had Smithies, Hansen, Bateman, Cassidy and Isa too. Some have obviously been better than others, but I don't see that in the makeup of this season (without Isa) and not at all for 2025.

Personally and I know it's only early days, but I think we're really missing Smithies.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 03, 2024 8:27 pm  

We could do with Bryan Fletcher type signing

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 03, 2024 9:13 pm  

[Gareth] wrote:

We could do with Bryan Fletcher type signing

Everyone could do with one of those

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 03, 2024 9:16 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Looks like this thread will essentially be redundant for a while with the French news. Cooper will surely be replaced from within (assuming he leaves). Maybe an overseas back rower to replace Willie Isa?

I’ve a funny feeling that Isa will go round again.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 03, 2024 9:18 pm  

jonh wrote:

When Isa goes we will still have Farrell, Walters & Nesemba.

I think we already have our 4th secondrow/utility forward in Chan.

I expect us to go into the market when we have to replace Faz but in then I don’t see any front line signings for a while.

We have Havard and Eseh yet to play and with the exception of Cooper all our props are either in there Prime or well before it.

I could possibly see us dip into the market for a Prop is Mago takes up an offer elsewhere and Copper retires.

I think we will look to promote from within. Don’t rule out a return for Nicholson.