So if Gregson is behind Hampshire, why don't we bring Hampshire back? You never know, it could work! But if not, what have we lost?

Because he's implicated in a swap deal with Justin Carney for 2017.

Even if he was, and I don't think he is it wouldn't matter anyway as the Carney deal would be for next year, and both players are "on loan" for this. Hampshire played fullback yesterday, so where does he fit in Darryl Powells plans?

This just gets better! Plays fullback for his loan club but wouldn't play fullback for his parent club? Unbelievable! However, I'd still bring him back given our injury situation at the moment, regardless of what may or may not happen in 2017.

I agree he should come back, which shows how desperate we are atm.

Shorrocks should be close to fitness by now, going off the original statement, which had him out till March.

I doubt Wane will get Hampshire back but he should IMO. If George Williams isn't going to be right for a while yet and with Lckers obviously having a couple of niggles Wane can't afford to be stubborn. You sense he's not been impressed with Hampshires attitude but the lad is a cracking young player and now would seem the perfect opportunity to give him the shot he wants.

If we play Cas next week with no stand off and him turning out for them you have to wonder what we're playing at.

Totally agree NK, Wane has got to do what is best for the club. If that means bringing Hampshire back in the short term, (and on the face of it, it is) so be it. If Wanes stubbornness and pig headedness loses us points IL should step in and sort it.

May or June I believe.

It'll be pretty ironic if we line up with a makeshift 6 and Hampshire is at FB for Cas!

But, pound to a penny, I'll bet that's exactly what will happen.

As things stand it's looking very likely!

Wane has told the Wigan Evening post that after stating he expected Flower and Bateman back this week, it's now looking like none of the 7 from Friday will be back with Lockers also ruled out and Faz likely to be banned.

If Hampshire isn't recalled on the back of that news it's safe to assume his extended deal is just a bargaining chip for him going elsewhere for 2017.

Just seen the article on Wigan Today. So confusing about Williams!

“We’re continuing to monitor George,” said Wane. “It could be tomorrow, it could be four weeks, it’s hard to say.”

If that's the case, Private Godfrey must be in charge of the medical dept!

Baffles me why we haven't recalled Rocky. If we don't bring him in then I'd be going with Sarginson at 6, at least he has played there a bit at SL level and has a running game. Gregson hasn't looked much like a halfback in the games I've seen him play, though Rogues may correct me based on academy/reserves showings

Who says he can? What's in the season loan deal? I wouldn't be surprised if there's a "you can't recall me" clause as part of the extended deal. He doesn't want to play outside the half's from what I can see and that's the kind of pig headded petulance I think Im expecting.

All he has to do now is be good enough to get another team to buy him out of the Wigan contract.

They specified at the time that he could be recalled in the event of injuries to our halves.

I can't believe that ANY loan deal, especially an extended one would not contain a recall clause - very bad business otherwise.

Seems we've got 2 pig headed people in Wane & Hampshire then (although Hampshire possibly playing FB at Cas would suggest not). The main losers in this are the club and fans.

The club have already confirmed he can be recalled. They did it when the Tomkins injury was announced.

Suffice to say, this probably confirms a major issue between SW and Hampshire. Don't ever see a way back for him. May as well get rid for good.

Reminds me of the Sam Hopkins saga to be honest.

But SW gave Hampshire his debut and has picked him over 20 times for the first team. Any "major issue" seems to stem from Hampshire spitting his dummy out because he isn't being picked in his preferred position. And now he finds himself on loan at Cas where he isn't first choice there either. If he pushed for a loan move as is rumoured to be the case then I can sort of see why the club wouldn't be in a rush to get him back.

But he's OUR player and priorities come before Castleford's in this instance. It seems ludicrous that we are scratching around the reserves when we have a ready made (and fully fit) half back in waiting.....unless there is an issue.

Wigan Warriors should be the priority for all concerned and Hampshire should be recalled during the present injury situation, regardless of anyone's stubbornness or ego. What happens when we are through the injury crisis who knows? Perhaps he will form a fantastic partnership with Smith and be one of our halves for the rest of the season, perhaps not. But the priority must be the best outcome for Wigan Warriors.

www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2016-04-07-no-excuses Quote Wigan Warriors Head Coach Shaun Wane says illness will not be a factor this weekend when his Wigan side face Wakefield. The Warriors tackle the Wildcats at Belle Vue on Sunday on the back of a week of disruption after a virus ripped through the squad with training cancelled on Wednesday and Thursday. Wane admitted the preparation was far from ideal but refused to look for any excuses ahead of the game. “We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s going to be a special game for us because we will be giving another debut out. “Things are quiet (at the training ground) we had to send the players away yesterday (Wednesday) and today (Thursday) and some staff members too because of a virus that’s gone through the club. “We’ve lost two full days. With it being an eight-day turnaround I thought we’d be able to get some work into the players but that’s not happened so we’ll just have a team run and then play but the players will be good at the end of it. “We’ve lost a few players on the back of having a busted team but I do have a good medical team, the players will be good and ready and there will be no excuses from us being lethargic on Sunday. We’ll be fit and ready and really challenging Wakefield.” Pushed on which Wigan junior would become the fourth academy product to debut this season, he said: “There’s a few people I can pick from like Joe Bretherton and Jack Wells. I’ve not decided which way I’m going to go yet but Lockers is out, Liam Farrell is banned and I’m not sure about these illnesses and how they’re going to turn out.” Wane knows his side are not the only team to have a few players missing at the moment. “A lot of other clubs have had it too,” he said. “I don’t mind these periods, I don’t fret or lose sleep over it. I get quite excited when I get the chance to give another debut out and we’re under pressure, we lose Lockers and we’ll more than likely have Nick Gregson in the halves this week. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, we’ll be looking forward to going there and it’ll be very satisfying if we can get two points on Sunday.” In more positive news, he added: “We’re going to get players back very soon over the next few weeks, players like Lockers, Ben Flower and Dom Crosby. Sam Tomkins is only four or five weeks off, Anthony Gelling will be back in that time too.”'" SW hints above that Gelling will back in 4-5 weeks (similar to Sam), that's how I read it anyway.

www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2016-04-07-no-excuses Quote Wigan Warriors Head Coach Shaun Wane says illness will not be a factor this weekend when his Wigan side face Wakefield. The Warriors tackle the Wildcats at Belle Vue on Sunday on the back of a week of disruption after a virus ripped through the squad with training cancelled on Wednesday and Thursday. Wane admitted the preparation was far from ideal but refused to look for any excuses ahead of the game. “We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s going to be a special game for us because we will be giving another debut out. “Things are quiet (at the training ground) we had to send the players away yesterday (Wednesday) and today (Thursday) and some staff members too because of a virus that’s gone through the club. “We’ve lost two full days. With it being an eight-day turnaround I thought we’d be able to get some work into the players but that’s not happened so we’ll just have a team run and then play but the players will be good at the end of it. “We’ve lost a few players on the back of having a busted team but I do have a good medical team, the players will be good and ready and there will be no excuses from us being lethargic on Sunday. We’ll be fit and ready and really challenging Wakefield.” Pushed on which Wigan junior would become the fourth academy product to debut this season, he said: “There’s a few people I can pick from like Joe Bretherton and Jack Wells. I’ve not decided which way I’m going to go yet but Lockers is out, Liam Farrell is banned and I’m not sure about these illnesses and how they’re going to turn out.” Wane knows his side are not the only team to have a few players missing at the moment. “A lot of other clubs have had it too,” he said. “I don’t mind these periods, I don’t fret or lose sleep over it. I get quite excited when I get the chance to give another debut out and we’re under pressure, we lose Lockers and we’ll more than likely have Nick Gregson in the halves this week. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, we’ll be looking forward to going there and it’ll be very satisfying if we can get two points on Sunday.” In more positive news, he added: “We’re going to get players back very soon over the next few weeks, players like Lockers, Ben Flower and Dom Crosby. Sam Tomkins is only four or five weeks off, Anthony Gelling will be back in that time too.”'" SW hints above that Gelling will back in 4-5 weeks (similar to Sam), that's how I read it anyway.

The way i see it things between the 2 of them is perhaps Hampshire tried a powerplay with the half back or nowhere stance (worked well last weekend didnt it wasnt he FB for Cas?),now if this is whats happened and things,as they seem to have,broken down there can only be one winner IL has to back SW,hence the loan deal at Cas.

Surely if he was ever going to be recalled he would have come back by now.