[quote="Or thane":1q6l5165]I guess that will have eaten a chunk out of the little cap space we have/had left. Happy we've signed him long term, he's our future captain and gets better year in year out, another puzzle fitted in to our golden era young squad [/quote:1q6l5165] I read a recent interview with Chambers and he said [b:1q6l5165] “Things will come out in time but in terms of our retention, I’m over the moon with what we’ve done and how it’s going to look. There will be plenty of positive stuff to come out of that.[/b:1q6l5165] So there sounds like we will have a few extensions to announce to the current squad, he did also mention there is some space left with the cap not a massive amount but still there is some

[quote="Velcro Boots":2ywu7l8i]I read a recent interview with Chambers and he said [b:2ywu7l8i] “Things will come out in time but in terms of our retention, I’m over the moon with what we’ve done and how it’s going to look. There will be plenty of positive stuff to come out of that.[/b:2ywu7l8i] So there sounds like we will have a few extensions to announce to the current squad, he did also mention there is some space left with the cap not a massive amount but still there is some[/quote:2ywu7l8i] Chambers is a very "sensible" head at the top. I think we are getting the sort of club most of us want.

[quote="Smiffy27":vmvtrp9j]I think Chambers is a very "sensible" head at the top of our club. I think we are getting the sort of club most of us want.[/quote:vmvtrp9j] I am pleased we have someone taking the longer term, strategic view and decisions on squad recruitment and retention. Leaving the coach to concentrate on performance and keeping Karl out of harms way.

[quote="Kevin Turvey":1qvnr69d]It certainly does and it's a big ask given his age and lack of experience. In his favour, he is brave, confident, strong in defence and seems well organised with an eye for a pass and could be a really good foil for Williams. It still leaves us with no real long kicking game when we're looking to clear our lines when under pressure. From what I saw last season we have no-one with a decent long kick. That makes a difference in a tight game especially when someone like Harry Smith is in the opposition team. Hope he does really well this year and becomes a local legend. Burgess & others obviously rate him very highly.[/quote:1qvnr69d] Should be a good contest as to who plays at scrum half. Not much between him & Leyland but I'm glad Hayes got the No7. shirt. From what I saw last year I thought Leyland kicked well & he's lively with ball in hand. Can't beat competition & back up within the squad.

We seem to be moving away from “short termism” and “quick fixism” which can only be a good thing. We finally seem to be bringing our own youngsters through in the sort of numbers that can actually make a difference, lets hope we reap the rewards.

a fellow Wigan poster has posted to say Byrne has signed for you for 2026. Anyone heard anything?

[quote="Mark_P1973":1rzcxj8y]a fellow Wigan poster has posted to say Byrne has signed for you for 2026. Anyone heard anything?[/quote:1rzcxj8y] His name cropped up on page 371 of this thread, but then again, lots of names crop up, so we'll see.

[quote="The Speculator":3g2r6fwl]His name cropped up on page 371 of this thread, but then again, lots of names crop up, so we'll see.[/quote:3g2r6fwl] Apologies i didnt go back that far , just looked at the last couple of pages There is a realistic chance as he's been touted with most clubs in the off season, and this is where the change to the rules mean that the player can secure their future much earlier now

Update: Warrington Guardian now reporting it... https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... ning-2026/

Update: Warrington Guardian now reporting it... https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... ning-2026/

Is this to be Vaughan’s replacement then.

He would add a bit of spite into our front row, which we are currently missing with our current players.

I like Liam Byrne. Big lad, 100+ games for Wigan and won everything there is to win. Bit of an edge with him too. Only 25.

Byrne is coming in to his prime years. I think Burgess could be just the coach he needs because Burgess played the game at 100mph each and every week, regardless of how big the game was or how good the opposition was. Byrne frustrates Wigan fans because he drifts through seasons and for months on end plays within himself but he then flips it and when the big games come around, he is excellent and shows what he can do. If he can find some consistency, he could be one of the better props in the league. Sometimes it feels like he just needs a bit more belief in himself.

[quote="NickyKiss":1cn414tn]Byrne is coming in to his prime years. I think Burgess could be just the coach he needs because Burgess played the game at 100mph each and every week, regardless of how big the game was or how good the opposition was. Byrne frustrates Wigan fans because he drifts through seasons and for months on end plays within himself but he then flips it and when the big games come around, he is excellent and shows what he can do. If he can find some consistency, he could be one of the better props in the league. Sometimes it feels like he just needs a bit more belief in himself.[/quote:1cn414tn] He cannot have a better mentor and role model than Sam Burgess. Good signing.

[quote="NickyKiss":35yrcwel]Byrne is coming in to his prime years. I think Burgess could be just the coach he needs because Burgess played the game at 100mph each and every week, regardless of how big the game was or how good the opposition was. Byrne frustrates Wigan fans because he drifts through seasons and for months on end plays within himself but he then flips it and when the big games come around, he is excellent and shows what he can do. If he can find some consistency, he could be one of the better props in the league. Sometimes it feels like he just needs a bit more belief in himself.[/quote:35yrcwel] While I’m broadly positive about Burgess/Chambers and the recruitment & retention work, I read similar about Bullock when we signed him. Granted, the environment that he came into was different, I just worry as to why Wigan would let anyone leave to join Warrington.

Yes, while I would have liked to have kept Byrne at Wigan, this could be one of those signings that works out well for all concerned. The move and the influence of Burgess could help Byrne kick on and become the player he can be just as he goes into his peak years, while the pathway opens up for Harvie Hill to get his first team place nailed down long-term, which helps Wigan hold on to him.

[quote="Barbed Wire":2vn6emq6]While I’m broadly positive about Burgess/Chambers and the recruitment & retention work, I read similar about Bullock when we signed him. Granted, the environment that he came into was different, I just worry as to why Wigan would let anyone leave to join Warrington.[/quote:2vn6emq6] I think you are stretching it a bit to even suggest that Byrne & Bullock have much in common apart from being at Wigan.

[quote="Barbed Wire":jzxtfj5g]While I’m broadly positive about Burgess/Chambers and the recruitment & retention work, I read similar about Bullock when we signed him. Granted, the environment that he came into was different, I just worry as to why Wigan would let anyone leave to join Warrington.[/quote:jzxtfj5g] There is a difference with Bullock and Byrne IMO in that Byrne does show that he has an edge and an intensity to his game when it really matters, in the biggest games. Bullock looked great physically but he just doesn't have the mentality IMO to use it correctly. I would never say anybody playing Rugby League is soft but Bullock is like those heavyweight boxers you get sometimes, where they're huge and look the part but there is just something missing when things get tough. Byrne does have it in him to smash people and play at a huge intensity but currently doesn't do it often enough. If he can find his best games more often, then he can really kick on.

[quote="Barbed Wire":3uxsd2br]While I’m broadly positive about Burgess/Chambers and the recruitment & retention work, I read similar about Bullock when we signed him. Granted, the environment that he came into was different, I just worry as to why Wigan would let anyone leave to join Warrington.[/quote:3uxsd2br] It might not be a case of Wigan "letting him leave". His contract is up at the end of 2025, so it's then just about who makes him an offer and which one he chooses to accept. I have no knowledge about whether or not Wigan have made him an offer to stay, but I would be very surprised if they hadn't. Maybe we have offered him more money, maybe he fancies the idea of working with Big Sam? And maybe, until the move has been confirmed, we are all just getting ahead of ourselves anyway!

[quote="Smiffy27":3prb8gkr]I think you are stretching it a bit to even suggest that Byrne & Bullock have much in common apart from being at Wigan.[/quote:3prb8gkr] bang on Byrne, is a different league to Bullock, and thats not be saying he is a world beater, but he is a far better player than Bullock the comments so far seem to be positive, and as NickyKiss says, there is a player in there when he wants to. I personally think some of that has been down to playing 2nd fiddle to Thompson and Havard this last season, and not being able to get up to speed "in game" quickly enough. When he starts he's usually very good and a player i'll be disappointed to see move on, but equally its a good move for him if he can guarantee himself a starting spot, as its unlikely he'll replace Thompson or Havard as starting prop this or next season

[quote="The Speculator":3p3rakhn]It might not be a case of Wigan "letting him leave". His contract is up at the end of 2025, so it's then just about who makes him an offer and which one he chooses to accept. I have no knowledge about whether or not Wigan have made him an offer to stay, but I would be very surprised if they hadn't. Maybe we have offered him more money, maybe he fancies the idea of working with Big Sam? And maybe, until the move has been confirmed, we are all just getting ahead of ourselves anyway![/quote:3p3rakhn] i've just posted about the rule changes on the other Wigan forum. Its interesting to see that he's sorting his career out so soon under the new rules (if he has). You would assume Wigan have made him an offer, but as a squad player, and Wire may have been able to offer him a starting spot (assumptions on my behalf on all of this but its a scenario), and as you say playing for Sam is an appeal, most likely to a prop forward

[quote="Barbed Wire":209v9soe]While I’m broadly positive about Burgess/Chambers and the recruitment & retention work, I read similar about Bullock when we signed him. Granted, the environment that he came into was different, I just worry as to why Wigan would let anyone leave to join Warrington.[/quote:209v9soe] It’s not a case of them allowing him to leave. With this new thing of players in last year of contract now able to talk to other clubs sooner my guess is we have offered him a better deal than Wigan wanted to.

[quote="karetaker":2vhbeenp]It’s not a case of them allowing him to leave. With this new thing of players in last year of contract now able to talk to other clubs sooner my guess is we have offered him a better deal than Wigan wanted to.[/quote:2vhbeenp] Pretty sure that will be the case. With Thompson and Havard starting games and both regularly playing for 50 minutes plus, there are very few minutes to go at for Dupree, Mago, Byrne and Hill and the need of Warrington, compared to the need of Wigan will have lead to more money being on the table at Warrington. I think he'll be a regularly starter at Warrington and you can't begrudge him taking the opportunity to have both a better chance of a starting shirt and more money, all while still being at a club that can compete for trophies.

Can see him struggling for game time if Peet favours Harvie Hill which is understandable from Wigan’s point of view. Might be coming over in mid season like Luke Yates if we have room in the salary cap.

[quote="49er":b9gwigt0]Can see him struggling for game time if Peet favours Harvie Hill which is understandable from Wigan’s point of view. Might be coming over in mid season like Luke Yates if we have room in the salary cap.[/quote:b9gwigt0] i posted something very similar on the other wigan forum, but more of a question re Hill as myself and the other Wigan fans have said, our starting props are Thompson and Havard, with Byrne usually 3rd choice with Dupree and Mago. It will be interesting to see if Matty Peet still uses Byrne all season, or if he looks to the future (for Wigan) and gives Hill more time from the bench. What Wigan cant do this season, is to isolate him completely as we will need him to be fighting fit when there are injuries and suspensions