Are you including Sita in the “impact Forward”? If so I’m guilty!

If the Tanginoa rumour were true then I couldn't see us taking up the option of a second year on Magoulias, especially if we're still in for Dufty or a.n.other halfback.

Exactly this. Remember how full of promise Powell's initial interviews were and full of "Challenge accepted" remarks that began to look more and more like rhetoric week on week.

You can't blame 'the boss' for working out what he think needs sorting out and then trying to sort it, I'd say that's his job.

I'm not sure these three will win us SL, as Dudson and Kasiano are not, in my opinion, an upgrade on Hill (and Cooper should the rumours be true).
They should help us challenge for a playoff berth, but that will be about it.

Are you not more concerned with our cap space.

Philbin out of those as got to be lucky his contract is not up this season.

That Mikaele 'showreel' doesn't exactly set the pulse racing, does it?...

We kick you off this forum for trolling.

Never seen Mikaele but seems highly rated a few years ago. Good size. The “sign a fringe NRL first teamer hungry to prove a point” is working at Wigan and this guy fits the bill.

Dudson no nonsense prop whose improved no end over the years.

Kasino is box office, love watching him.

Positive signings for Wire.

Your obsession with Ex Wigan grand final winners is becoming weird though!

It depends which forum he happens to be on.

No chance. I don't do such things.

Positive signings with some much needed size added to the pack! Mikaele should have a point to prove coming over here, Wigan have signed two relatively unknown props from NRL clubs & they’ve improved the side, hopefully he arrives with the same impetus.

Dudson is a no-nonsense hard yardage prop who will bring some experience in there, he’s seemed to of improved with age since his Wigan days. Kasiano, like previously mentioned is box office… although entering the latter stages of his career, he has magic hands and will provide us with a lot more go forward.

Personally I live in hope that we keep Mulhern next year. Along with Philbin & Bullock we certainly have a lot more cover now in that department for the next couple seasons.

Looking likely Cooper, Doro & JClarke won’t be here for certain next year. Then the likes of Hughes, Davies & Magoulias are all still abit up in the air currently!

What on earth is the question if "Hughes" is the answer?

I think Hughes and Davis will be looking at the likes of Salford / Leigh / Tolouse.

Why aren’t you on the Saints forum?

You never know, i think it might just come down to the Salary cap and if Powell see's enough in him to want to keep him?
With J.Clark leaving we will have 4 oversea quota spots free, and IF we have signed Tanginoa and Dufty we would still have 1 overseas spot free even if we kept Magoulias.
And not sure if Matt Davis will be kept on so he might stick around as cover for 2nd row and Loose. But honestly who knows until everyone is announced


Overseas quota 2023 If Dufty and Tanginoa have signed and we keep Magoulias.

1. Pete mata'utia
2. Mikaele
3. Magoulias
4. Kasiano
5. Dufty
6. Tanginoa

Not the paciest looking set of backs I’ve seen, OT. Are you Steve Price? Swap Dufty for Hughes and you’ve convinced me. All we need is a 7 who can kick to touch at the corner at the end of every set of six.

Kasino looks exactly the sort by of chap we need.

Mikaele doesn’t look quite as inspiring but if we are being honest, all 3 are probably better than us lot.

Mega. Bloody. Excited

Bit nervous about Mikaele just because of how much it means, and how hit and (mostly) miss our NRL recruits have been.

If he's another dud then it would be incredibly deflating. But if he plays to his size and potential, then we could have our perfect prop for 7/8 years if he settles.

He's a bit of a gamble but he is also fitting the profile of what we should be looking for from the NRL. If he doesn't work out that's unfortunate but that's out of the clubs control. I'm happy with this signing, the best indicator for optimism is that I haven't seen any wests fans waving him off with a good riddance so they seem to have liked him well enough, there is no questioning whether he is up to it just a few saying his hands let him down a bit.

My god can you imagine this as the backline

I know many on here go on about our pack not being good enough - and usually the term 'size' is mentioned. But I doubt size is the real issue. I think what we need - any side needs - is a player/s with 'presence'.
I looked at the 'sizes' of some of our packs - 4 main props - in the SL era (ok - based on wiki, but interesting nevertheless).
Can you guess the players or years?
Answers below.

Pack A - a) 6'1", 17st b) 6'3", 17st13lbs c) 5'11", 16st6lbs d) 6'4", 16st10lbs
Pack B - a) 6'1", 17st b) 6'3", 17st c) 5'11", 16st6lbs d) 6'5" 17st7lbs
Pack C - a) 6'2", 16st7lbs b) 6'2", 17st13lbs c) 6'00", 15st10lbs d) 6'1" 16st3lbs
Pack D - a) 6'2", 17st11lb b) 6'3" 17st c) 6'5", 19st12lbs d) 6'5" 17st7lbs

Overall D is the biggest just looking at the stats but pack C is the best Wire pack I've seen in the SL era.
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
A - Coops, Hill, Philbin, Akuaola
B - Coops, Mulhern, Philbin, Bullock
C - Morley, Carvell, Wood, Harrison - oh I wish!
D - Dudson, Mulhern, Kasiano, Bullock (and there's James Harrison at 6'4", 16st7lb) - ok this may not be next years pack, but wont be far off).

That's true, which is why I thought Philbin could make a great prop. Didn't have the size but had the attitude. That's been lost somewhere.

Morley too is a good example of what you're saying. He wasn't a particularly tall or heavy prop but had a presence like no other.

Then you have Leilani Latu, bigger and heavier than Morely, but well, yeah . . .

A prop needs to have the right attitude which is usually a destructive mindset, controlled aggression, huge courage, and a disregard for self-preservation. The 'C' group you highlighted all had that, as did a few others in the club at the time. Size obviously helps, but without the attitude and presence, it's useless.

You may think I’m joking but I think he has changed his attitude since he had his teeth done…and/or he became a dad.

I think running his own start up business has affected him. He can't focus 100% on both rugby and business. Shame as he was promising in 2019/20 when he got his international call up.

Hughes like Philbin’s form has nosedived since 19/20. Can’t say we’ve actually missed him on the field this year, as I suppose he doesn’t really bring much the side? He makes a few tackles, plays 80 minutes covers a few positions.. I’m not really seeing anything else.

At least with a young player like Longstaff for example, you see him punch above his weight and put himself about abit.

With so many players off contract, it’s hard to judge who’s actually going to get a new deal!