Says SW;

[urlhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/18/sam-tomkins-wigan-shaun-wane[/url



He's playing a very dangerous game imo. With many clubs looking strong for next season it's going take an increased effort for this group + Sam to win something.

A signing or two would have made things easier, especially given some of our current issues. Brave move but one that could spell the end for him.

Also is anyone perplexed at the talk of in five years time? Five years is a long time in RL. It's almost 5 years since we won the GF under Madge. Think how much the club had changed in that time, nothing is guaranteed.

looks like they have put all their eggs in 1 basket

If we were set to sign Sam before the marquee rule, with it being passed that equates to a sizeable amount of salary cap space freed up, and if it is true we won't be signing any players, I sincerely hope the likes of Hampshire get signed up to long term deals.

Just feels like we are scrimping from IL.

Wouldn't expect him to say we're after players even if we were looking desperately to be fair.

This... Paper talk.

TBF he said the same thing almost 12 months ago and then we brought in Patrick;

[urlhttp://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/9441472/super-league-shaun-wane-confirms-no-more-signings-for-wigan-warriors[/url

Uncanny how close that article is to today's. I wonder if he's now happy that Crosby has had an extra 12 months

?

If we are after another signing then time is most definitely running out. The quality players are snapped up in June, July and August and late deals tend to see guys like Patrick move clubs.

Before anyone says it - the above isn't hyperbole it's just simply looking and learning from previous mistakes that have been made.

He must watch a different wigan team to the rest of us

I do worry if sam is our only signing for next season.

Every man and his dog can see we are lacking some firepower in the front row.

We're only a good prop short to be fair but without one I don't see a great deal down for us. We're a little light in other areas (wing/centre) but we can cover it with some exciting young talent and by shuffling things around but we can't paper over the cracks at prop.

If it is the case and we don't sign anybody else it will be totally unacceptable if we don't get John Bateman tied down (I'd say Hampshire also but that ship has surely set sail and been round the world 8 times). He is worthy of a five year deal on very decent money going off this season and I can't empathise how important he is to us long term.

I have always liked Hampshire and have followed his career with interest

IMO Wigan haven't got a clue what to do with him what so ever at present, Or even going forwards as to what his career pathway is to regular first team footy at that club

I would love to get Rocky over to Headingley

We need to get rid of Tautai and sign a decent prop, I'd even take a pint on Anthony England from the Dire.

Well I can't see him signing a new deal here so he'll be available at some point. If Wigan aren't going to give him a shot they may as well go and swap him for a player they will find a use for (such as a prop or a back up wing/centre).

We need two props at least and clear out some of the dross namely Mossop,Patrick,Tierney and Lloyd. I could list more and actually reduced my initial thoughts by more than half.
At the start of this season I anticipated some ups and downs but what I didn't expect was the total mediocrity of the performances and the team in general. Another season like this and there is only one way that season tickets sales will go and it won't be an increase.
I can't recall a season in recent memory where I'm actually losing interest so fast and know that when we play anyone with any sort of intent we fail miserably. Actually I do recall when this was it was in Noble's last season.
The atmosphere at home is rank and there is nothing going to happen in the next few weeks that will change this. Second place is possible but expect to finish no higher than 4th therefore, no play off game at home to look forward to.
Tomkins next year will be welcome relief but will absolutely be nowhere near enough to resolve the malaise that currently surrounds the club. If IL can't see this then he isn't the businessman that he leads us to believe he is.
If the squad isn't enhanced and the dross ditched I will seriously consider not renewing my season ticket next year and just go to the Saints, Leeds and Wire games.
What I don't understand is why make a statement of no change when it's patently obvious that the current squad lacks size and sufficient skills to deliver quality performances on a consistent basis.

Their fans think he's dross so he probably wouldn't be an improvement. It seems like all clubs are saying they need props at the moment but others sides probably are looking.

Another season of being bullied to look forward to.

I just don't get it with Rocky. He's an England international youngster with bags of pace and potential. He plays in a position that we've been been struggling with and plays with the type of flair we so desperately need. It should be a case of right guy coming along at the right time.

If he leaves without getting a proper shot at the 6 jersey then we might as well shut down our academy. They don't come much more talented than Rocky, why develop him through all the youth teams and then not give him a proper chance at the final hurdle?

You've summed up my feelings perfectly.

I just don't understand how fundamental flaws in our squad are just not being fixed or sorted out.

Reading identical articles from Wane but 12 months apart and knowing he's not learnt from the mistakes of this year feels like I'm stuck in groundhog day.

Yet the pro Wane brigade skips along offering him every excuse possible.

I've never seen a softer, more one-dimensional Wigan team... Personally think we need new ideas and signing Tomkins is just PR and papering over the cracks. If anything, I think Sam moving to NZ has put his own development back a couple of years...

I usually lean towards trusting in the academy but this season I really think we have been shy of a couple of good props, at least one.

At last people with a little sense, not be long before the wane lovers come out with But he won the double haha

De ja vue ala Sam Tomkins he had the talent but could not get a game in the 1st team until Finch got injured and we all know were he went onwards and upwards .Same thing is happening with Hampshire IMO don't think Wayne thinks he is big enough hope to god he does not go elsewhere.

It was Tim Smith that got injured but same principle stands.

The issue Hampshire has that Tomkins didn't is there's an older and bigger option in between the first choice halves in the shape of Sam Powell. That means Hampshire isn't even first back up so he's relying on two injuries/suspensions to get a game in his actual position. The only time he was selected there this year was against Huddersfield in the 2nd week of the season when Williams was injured and Smith suspended and even then it was only 5 minutes before kick off that he got the call.

That proves what he's going to need to get a chance which is pretty laughable.

I know the road i would be going down. It seems very likely that Sarge will be leaving, Thornley has already gone. We NEED a centre. This might come as a crazy shout but i would take Atkins from Wire on a free transfer. I know he has had a shocker this season but so has most of the Wire team. I wouldn't be worried about that. Some different coaching might get him back to his best. A couple of years ago he was right up there with Watkins for me. In the forwards i would drop Lockers in at interchange prop, move Bateman to LF with Burke covering LF, Drop Tautai into his position, back up second row then make one big(ish) signing. For me that would be Rulon Nutira, OOC at the Dragons, 6ft 5" monster, splash the cash and that would see me happy. We have Tierney to cover FB and Wing and the obvious one is to get Hampshire and Williams in the halves and that would deffo do for me.

What an exciting time to be a Wigan supporter.
We have always maintained that our youth system is the best there is and that we produce too many players to fit them all in the first team, well now is the chance to put that right.
The current squad can't be all that bad as we are second in the league and have beaten every other team in the competition and with the addition of Sam Tomkins then it can only strengthen us.
Our forwards next season will be older, wiser and hungrier than this year and will be pushed by academy products coming through.
Lenagan , Radlinski and Wane should be applauded for what they are doing not criticized as most on here are doing.

Thats the biggest urban wigan myth going

Sam played plenty of games during that season. Possibly more that Tim Smith.

Even Tomkins will struggle to open up defences playing behind our current pack. There's just no go forward at all.