Gildart is too small to play centre in the NRL, and should never have gone there.

That was exactly what I thought when it broke he was going.
He’s a stone underweight for me

It’s not necessarily an indication that he’s not good enough though. Hardaker looked like a rag doll over there and came back and is still effective.

Nobody will know him better than Wane though, so if he’s not being considered back at Wigan, he & Peet must see King as being better/better value for money.

There are probably a lot of examples, but I can’t recall Wigan letting go of many players and them going on to regret it.

Wigan have their centres sorted for next year in King and Wardle.

I really don’t see Gildart returning to SL.

I’m sure he has signed for The Dolphins for 23 just prior to going on loan to the Roosters.

Hock discipline, Tomkins cost, and Hardaker if you consider banning as going away.
Whereas I can’t think of any other players other than that of Wigan.

Sean Long, and to a lesser extent, Kevin Brown

It seems that almost all of those of Wigan or at least Wiganers, in contrast the Barbs post.

Long is a good shout, missed out on a genuine player there.

Hardaker when he left Wigan was third choice in his best position, so not sure on that one. Hock, well his career went the way we thought it would. Tomkins is 50/50, not sure who drove the move, but he had continued at a similar standard, but his body is slowly giving up on him.

Brown, good player but I’m not sure Wigan would have been too upset watching his career unfold.

Tomkins is a sign of true class. When he left Wigan and his speed was on the decline, I thought he'd end up as an average full-back plodding along on big money. However, he's shown he has got the brains and leadership to make a big difference when he's in the 13. I guess that's partly due to his Wigan RL education, they seem to breed good leaders through that system.

I think our starting No. 6 will be Ratchford, sadly.

I know we’re close to bagging a hb, I just wasn’t told who.
Looks like it’s Drinkwater by the rumours.
Anyways, it’s not a 6 we need but a 7.

If we do manage to sign Drinkwater (if true) i assume we'll see Ratchford at centre, until Wrench is up and running, or we let Thewlis have a go?

Thewlis will be playing on the wing, until Dufty leaves us.

I just thought, didn't someone say we'd quietly re-signed Minikin on another 1 year deal. Could be (and i hope not) him taking left centre if we have actually re-signed him.

Gosh, I'd forgotten about him

We signed him on a 2 years deal in Sep 2021, so he's here for next season.

Madame Boyd on twitter indicating Drinkwater has signed. https://twitter.com/BoydMadame/status/1 ... et%3DTweet

Madame Boyd on twitter indicating Drinkwater has signed. https://twitter.com/BoydMadame/status/1 ... et%3DTweet

Fair enough, i'll be happy with him in the halves

re. Drinkwater at his best Worth having a look at these highlights v Wigan 2021 season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdPHnzyqoK4 and added later https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0L6SRiIpdw Very good short kicking game. (Bit of fun at the end as well.)

re. Drinkwater at his best Worth having a look at these highlights v Wigan 2021 season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdPHnzyqoK4 and added later https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0L6SRiIpdw Very good short kicking game. (Bit of fun at the end as well.)

Saints and Wigan have produced more homegrown players than we have for years although things may be starting to change. Our failure to develop halves in particular is a sad story and potentially good players have been let go which suggests to me we got it wrong. If our pack is going to be as big and strong as predicted next season Riley Dean must be given a chance he would probably get at Saints or Wigan. Ratch is not a halve and Drinkwater is a one track pony.
I smell an Aussie!

Assuming we sign Drinkwater I guess he would be first choice kicker? Unless Matu'tia took it on full time?

Drinkwater hasn't done much kicking, last time he regularly kicked was 2018 when he averaged 67%, not great. Mata'utia last kicked regularly in 2020 he was at 73% ish.

Ratchford has regularly kicked 80%+ and has been up at 85% for the last couple of years, probably helped by the fact we can't shift the ball wide, so all our tries have been by the posts...

Which potentially good players have been let go?

If Drinkwater is fit, why would Catalans release him? He's got another year on his contract there. He also spoke about how he was loving life in France and couldn't imagine leaving and missed a few months with a mystery foot injury that puzzled doctors around the world. If you're signing him, who are Catalans getting? They were very happy with Drinkwater, so must be someone big.

Josh Drinkwater is an Aussie.

They seemed to prefer Tyrone May there at the end of last year and are lining up 2 new centres. I guess they would need to release Drinkwater for cap purposes.

Taukeiaho, Plus Tomkins, plus Pearce plus 2 new centres (think they where chasing Luetele?) won’t come cheap