Happy with this signing from what ive seen looks a good player strong and powerfull with good finishing plus hes a Wiganer !

Only downside seems he's another lefty, if he can play right centre that would be a big plus for us.

Doesnt really look any better than Sarginson or Hankinson from what ive seen. Just being honest. Maybe im right, maybe im wrong, time will tell.

He played well in the play offs and GF but I’d still prefer Sarginson personally.

I’ve been hugely impressed with him at the back end of this season. He looks a natural centre and it’s good for us that he already has that link with Hastings on the left hand side. I thought Gildart did equally as well over on the right side at the back end of last year as he’s done on the left this year, so at least we have that comfort that he can play there if needs be.

Without a shadow of a doubt. Sarginson is massive loss for us next season imo.

I’d like to see Hardaker and Gildart in the centres and Bibby as backup with French at fullback but doubt it’ll happen

Really don’t see the point in the Bibby signing what so ever. Gildart should not move from the left for me, looked a different player on the right side (same as Farrell) so Bibby is either going to be a back up for Gildart or play on the right centre which is a step backwards from sarge.

Also very much agree that losing Sarginson is a bigger loss than some people think as he ran his blood to water every week and did so much donkey work.

Agree!

I have to say when we first signed him my initial thought was, “Who?”.

I’ve taken a much closer interest in him since then and gone out of my way to watch him whenever I can and I have to say I’m excited to see him in a Wigan shirt.

He is a very intelligent player. He runs some of the best lines I’ve seen as a centre and as has been mentioned above he seems to have an at times telepathic relationship with Hastings.

Whilst Sarg is all work and effort I think this lad is all class, I see a little bit of Gleeson in him. Very intelligent player and I think he will be a cracking asset if he is given a bit of time to establish himself at the club.

He's certainly looked OK in the last few play-off games, but really, I think backs are the least of our concerns; I think we have enough decent options. But we badly need another half and at least one more good forward.

I'd say he's got a good understanding of centre play and is technically good. But he's not a bums on seats type of player, he's not a big centre who'll smash the opposition, he's also not particularly quick, so you're not going to get must 'razzle dazzle' eye catching runs from him.

I hold promise for him; I think he could well become a 'wingers centre' for those who know the game will know exactly what I mean.

Spot on, best “wingers centre” I’ve seen at Wigan has to be Darrell Goulding, he wasn’t the quickest biggest or flashiest but boy he knew when to put his winger away, that partnership with Charnley was incredible at times

You are joking right?

Does anyone remember Henry Fa'afili? Played for Wire, was the top SL try scorer in around 2007, then left for union. Point being Henry wasn't the best winger SL has ever seen but he had one Martin Gleeson as his centre. That season Gleeson was fantastic, a true 'wingers centre' who knew how to draw in his opposite centre and also often commit the winger freeing up space for his wingman.
His passing and timing was a dream for a winger.

Gleeson was a master at this, I'd say the best I've seen at Wigan as a wingers centre was Gene Miles. Offiah credits Miles as the best centre he's played with. Created space for Offiah, his timing, passing and offload was the perfect foil for Offiah to be set free.
Honourable mention to George Carmont, a classy operator who also knew the details of centre play.

Ironically I do like Sarge. But I feel he's never been a wingers centre, I've never seem him fully learn the position properly, how to draw in his opposite numbers, create space and play for his winger, I would have loved for Sarge to spend time with the likes of Gleeson or Carmont to develop his centre play.

It’s probably the way I’d start as well. The first change I would make is French to fullback and then the rest take care of themselves and fight it out over the 2-5 shirts. I’ve been reasonably impressed with Hardaker this season but we need more pace out the back IMO. Hardaker got three awards at the clubs end of season do last night and he deserves them but I think it says a lot about how the team has gone that his pretty good year has been enough to walk away with those.

I still have a game on VHS somewhere of Offiah being interviewed after a game, it was when Connolly was playing inside him, he said Connolly was every bit as good. It's easy to forget how good a young Connolly was, most memories come from him with knackered knees and lacking a few yards of pace.

For me it really does depend on how we play, with the missing ingredient being Jackson Hastings. Jackson isn't structured at Salford, he may start off the left and defend on the left but he's one of the few halves who's allowed to move around the park and create on both flanks and either side of the ruck. Zak could very well benefit from this style of play.

However if we're going to with a left and right pivot I'd go with French at 1, as a second pivot linking out the back door.

I say try them both at 1, see what works best.

Hardaker could have a field day working off the back of Hastings, as Evalds has done at Salford but I just worry he’s not got the pace to make the most of those chances anymore. There’s 25 try’s waiting for a fullback who’s got the pace and fitness to take them playing with Hastings. Maybe a big pre season for Hardaker will do the trick. It’s great problems to have mind. To have two players like Hardaker and French in the squad can only be a good thing.

Loved Connolly. From a young 17 year old FB at saints destroyed in the 1989 CC by Wigan in a 0-27 to one of the best centres (and FBs) we've had at Wigan in the past 30 years.

I rate the likes of Gilly, but my god he's some way off some of the centres we've seen at the club from the links of, Gleeson, Carmont, Miles, Connolly, Bell etc. I guess he's still only young and will develop and improve.

Personally I do sadly think Zak has lost some of his pace and acceleration, his broken play running was one of his main weapons at Cas and Leeds. It's almost like he lost a step during his time out of the game. If I remember rightly he did put on some timber during his time off, maybe he never will find his lost step.

I really rate Zak, I'd always find a place foe him in my Wigan 13, even if it's not at FB.

He did pile weight on and whilst he’s trimmed down he still looks a bit heavier then he was in that last season at Cas. That gives me hope he can get half a yard back if he loses some bulk but we’ll see. He’d do a great job at centre anyway IMO but I’m not sure he’d be too happy with a move from fullback.

Hardaker is a full back and his main strengths as a player are those of a good fullback end of. Simply just fitting him in the team at centre because he can cover there is stupid.

I have yet to see anything in French that tells me he would be this extra 3rd pivot that everybody talks of. His passing game seems poor which immediately creates a problem for somebody wanting to play as a 3rd pivot. Sadly all i have seen in him so far is a winger.

Clearly you didn't watch French at Parra.

Hardaker doesn’t have a decent passing game though. Doesn’t seem to offer much at all offensively.

Defensively French has been sound and came up with a brilliant try saver on Bibby the other week and we’ve seen glimpses of real class with ball in hand. Someone with his raw pace could light up the comp so I’d be happy to see him given a chance at fb before condemning him to a life sentence on the wing.

Can’t hurt to try can it?