I did not see that coming!

Who will play hooker for the pies?

Powell & Leuluai, with Tomkins likely moving into the halves.

Gelling also released. In my opinion need to get some couple of players in, I'd just for squad.

McIlorum and Gelling departing the Pies is very interesting. Either Wigan have some big signings in the bag or Catalans have splashed the cash. Didn’t see it coming at all.

The suggestion is that some players who were expected to leave decided to stay and that with planned contract improvements Wigan have got so close to the salary cap that they needed to let someone go.

Where's Gelling going?

I always thought that if you could implant a brain in him, his physical attributes would make him a really good centre.

One thuggish brute joins a team full of thuggish brutes.

That signing of Irish international hooker Michael McIlorum, along with PNG international and captain David Mead being signed to play full back, gives the Catalans a good chance of a top 4 finish.

A top four finish only if you flip the league upside down.

It had been rumoured for a while tbf (the other one was that he was going to Canberra to fill in for the injured Hodgson). Its still an odd one though and one that I wasnt going to believe until it happened. Should prove a good signing for the Dragons. Terrible business for Wigan unless they have a top replacement ready to step in. He's not everyone's cup of tea for obvious reasons, but he's a fine hooker.

Maybe.

Leuluai certainly should offer more at hooker than he has in the halves, but I think he's finished personally.

Gelling's gone back to New Zealand. I liked watching him play, but was glad he didn't play for my side the amount of mistakes he made.

Catalans now have two quality hookers -- Michael McIlorum and Paul Aiton --- to rotate in each game. Alrix da Costa is a standby back-up, who will learn from watching the other two. This, after the signing of the star speedster David Mead to play full back, creates the balance in Catalans roster which will give them a great chance of being in the top four.

Wattsy gave him his comeuppance before bailing out to foreign shores.

I am delighted but I wouldn't go that far!

I am delighted but I wouldn't go that far!

great player, great signing for Catalans.

Sad to see McIlorum move on but it seems as though he’s had to be sacrificed to make cap space after the expected departure of Frank Paul ‘drop the ball’ Nuuausala didn’t materialise.

It’s certainly not left us short of numbers though. It’s expected we’ll run with Escare and Tomkins at 1 and 6 (in either order), Williams at 7 with Powell and Leuluai sharing the hooking role. We’ve also got Jake Shorrocks back from a bad injury to cover the halves and Josh Ganson (Steve’s son) is very highly thought of at hooker.

Gelling leave creates more issues. We look short at centre in terms of depth and we’ll miss his entertainment value.

Agree with this post, Gelling is a bigger loss IMO, as an opposition fan i'd rather Gelling be missing that Micky Mc, although he is tough player, he doesn't offer the attacking threat of other top hookers in SL. Your spine looks a lot stronger in the attacking sense, but maybe weaker defensively.Looking at Wigan last year, attacking was the problem though so this may be a risk worth taking.

Gelling has been a bit off form, but still a threat and and better than his replacement.

I wonder if Wigan will look to develop one of the wingers into a centre, you have 4 good wingers and 3 of them are certainly too good not to be playing in the 13.

We tried Burgess at centre last year when both Gelling and Gildart were both out injured. He wasn't really successful, but he looked like he was playing injured. I wouldn't be surprised to see him there again at some point this season depending on how Forsyth/Higginson/Marshall progress.