I noticed Hurrell messaging Sarginson on Twitter yesterday saying how much he’d miss him so that looks unlikely.

The whole vagueness of it all points to the rumour not being true imo.

All 3 Tongan centres seem unrealistic targets but maybe if NZW are getting Gelling they might offload Kata?

This.



It may be there was something in the rumour once, but for whatever reason, we've now signed Sarginson.



Let's not kid ourselves. We are not going to sign two centres when we are so short of talent elsewhere.

We signed a PNG centre who couldn't get a work permit - he didn't play in the WC. I think 2 + 2 = 5 here.

It's down to Mac to make the call, I would suspect that a decision would be made this week so that squad numbers can be released.

Isn't MM still in the US on holiday?

He turned down I believe the offer in Australia so no disrespect to Catalans unless the money is mega bucks I 'd be surprised if this move takes place

Who was that then

Quote catalanglais="catalanglais"There are a lot of rumours that Mcilorum is coming .The Dragons in fact badly need another half back not another forward.However it can be argued that since most of our forwards are elderly and injury prone Mcilorum would fit in well . Good luck next year. Your u.19 team last year was outstanding .'" Another half back you say? Here you go www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/h ... fm?c_id=79

Quote catalanglais="catalanglais"There are a lot of rumours that Mcilorum is coming .The Dragons in fact badly need another half back not another forward.However it can be argued that since most of our forwards are elderly and injury prone Mcilorum would fit in well . Good luck next year. Your u.19 team last year was outstanding .'" Another half back you say? Here you go www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/h ... fm?c_id=79

During the World Cup, I mentioned that Wellington Albert from PNG looked like he’d be worth a chance. Widnes have announced his signing for them and I think he’ll be great in SL. Look forward to seeing how he goes. David Mead to Catalan still looks like the best import so far!

Don't panic. We have got Sarginson back







One of the worst centres in the league. If we finish above 6th this season i will be amazed. Unless i get a freebie, i won't be attending any games this season. If they want to treat me with contempt then i will return the favour.

I don't know mate.

Canberra Raiders have just released Kurt Baptiste, their only fit hooker. Does this pave the way for MM to move there?

Hopefully

We now seem to live in an age when people take offence seemingly just for the sake of it. But taking offence because we sign an international centre who has already contributed significantly to us winning honours in the past, takes the biscuit. What a poor gentle soul you must be if you feel that the club are treating you with contempt.



Wigan are bookies favourites for next season already. As you never see a bookie catching a bus, I'll trust their judgement over yours. But if you feel free to have a bet on your assertion, I'll offer you even money that Wigan don't finish top 4 I'll even let you have fifth place because it's the season of goodwill!!! In other words, put your money were your mouth is.

I think it's time for some perspective.



Yes, we had a bad season last year. No, the signing of Dan Sarginson is not especially exciting.



But on the basis of that, people are saying they'll boycott the club ('unless they get a freebie' - good grief!).



Is this for real?



This sort of daftness massively encourages those opposition fans who jeer that Wiganers feel they are entitled to success. It doesn't matter that the majority of us support the club through thick and thin, or turned out in army-loads to support the lads when we were fighting relegation - it only takes one person to pointlessly grandstand like this, especially over something so minuscule, and all the accusations of arrogance from our opponents look to be well justified.

Looking at the squad and options

Fullback - S. Tomkins, Escare, Sarginson

Wing - Burgess, Davies, Marshall, Manfredi*

Centre - Gildart, Sarginson, Higginson*, Bateman, Forsyth

Halfbacks - Williams, Leuluai, S.Tomkins, Sarginson, Shorrocks*, Powell

Props - FPN, Sutton, Clubb, Flower, Tautai, Bretherton

Hookers - McIlorum, Powell, Leuluai, Ganson

Back Row - Farrell, Bateman, J.Tomkins, Isa, Wells

Loose Forward- O'Loughlin, Bateman, Hamlin.



Then the young guns who will probably get some game time this year, Worthington, Field, Partington, Paisley, Kibula, Wood.

The * are players with injury doubts/records.



That doesn't look like a poor squad to me, and I don't see it finishing outside the top six as suggested a few posts back.

It’s not a poor squad but not a top 4 squad either. I’d say ahead of us on paper are Cas, Leeds, Hull and Saints with Wire now not far off. Huddersfield had a good end to their season and Wakefield will probably contend again.



We are in for a tough season unless we can sort our defence out and find a way to win close games again like 2016.

Micky Mc has zero desire to leave the club and as far as I am aware the club have zero desire to let him go.



Gelling announcement will be early new year, however maybe just after xmas. Sau was main target to replace and was keen to join but he wasn't/isn't fit so deal wasn't done, sarge has since come in.



One note, all the rumours regards Gells seem a little off target, it was literally a decision made less than 24 hours ago by the club. No further developments regards incomings/outgoings.



Squad numbers will be released after trip to Wales as competition for shirt places is on. Escare is also doing a lot of work at #6

Not really fussed if Mickey Mc stays or goes. Obviously rock hard, plays full on, but I'm stuck in the days of a Martin Dermot at hooker, someone with an amazing rugby brain. If he goes we have two like for like players to drop in, which then opens up other positions to move around which will definitely benefit us.

Ryan Hampshire has joined Trinity - on a one year deal. Quite literally a journeyman at age 22. And joining another club where he will not be first choice at half back. Oh Ryan, if only you'd had some patience. And common sense. And good advice from those around you... www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... ns-trinity

Ryan Hampshire has joined Trinity - on a one year deal. Quite literally a journeyman at age 22. And joining another club where he will not be first choice at half back. Oh Ryan, if only you'd had some patience. And common sense. And good advice from those around you... www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... ns-trinity

It all depends if we under achieved or not last season for me. I think we did and if so then it is a top four squad without any question because it’s far stronger (with all the bodies back) then the squad we had available to us for a good chunk of 2017.



If the players play to their potential then challenging for honours should be the minimum requirement. The issue has been that we’ve not done that enough for a while now (for two seasons really apart from a spell of about 6 weeks at the end of 2016).



It’s a huge few months for Shaun Wane and us. If it goes badly Wane could be in a really poor spot. He’s so pro Wigan that he’s rubbed a lot of opposition up the wrong way and if he ever leaves the club, it’s tough to see who’d take him on. In terms of the squad, I just want to see them look like they’re enjoying being at the club again. The players don’t look too happy to me in general and haven’t done for a while.

You're right there with them not looking like they are enjoying it (not so sure about the Wane bit, I'm a critic but I do think plenty other SL clubs would have him, or maybe an NRL team as an assistant). I think all the injuries broke them mentally to be honest, it looked to me like guys who weren't fit were being patched up to go out there, then we went to Cas with the opportunity to go top and it all fell apart with players dropping like flies and them sticking 50odd past us.

A swap on the cards?

What about Navarette?

He’s signed for Leigh the Canberra lad.