A bit like yourself I have been going through different combinations but what I just cannot see is Escare & Sammut both being on the bench. For me why sign Sammut unless you are going to play him so Escare seems an expensive option so I assume we will look to offload.

My biggest concern in this is who will be our goal kicker and main tactical kicker. TL's kicking game is generally poor and Williams apart from a short kick near the line has no kicking game whatsoever. It is because of this and Sammut's off the cuff plays that I also think there is a strong possibility he may well start at 7 with TL at 9 with Powell on the bench. Not particularly inspiring and personally I would have gone with Smith at 7 or got a "project" HB from Australia for a season or so until young Smith is ready.

I am very hopeful that Williams will at last get some coaching to further develop his game and that Lam will also bring Smith through the ranks quicker and hopefully give him some freedom to develop as a player and technically.

I think we may be in for a rocky season but I'm quite hopeful that Lam will develop our play and make the game more exciting. I believe all of the forwards particularly Clubb & Flower in pre season are being encouraged to look to offload more often which for me would be a small step in the right direction.

Interesting times. I was just hoping for a new signing to add a bit interest particularly for supporters who have drifted away from the club and very much so in trying to attract younger spectators. The average age of our fan base is far too old for me and we desperately need some young and new supporters and Sammut just doesn't get anywhere near in delivering that

For me we needed a marquee 7. Someone with the attributes needed to take us to the next level, someone with experience to control the game, excellent kicker and great game management. That would be the only option which would justify keeping either Escare, Tommy or Powell out of the 17.

In an ideal world I totally agree.

The question is who???

Do you think Wigan have just signed Sammut with out enquiring about others???

Too late, Ryan Bailey has already signed for Fev!

Not a fair question to ask me or any poster. There's no way we have the information to say who we should or could have signed.
Could easily end up being a discussion of hypotheticals.

Instead I look at who other SL clubs have signed and question why the SL champions are signing Sammut?
I don't know what's going on with the club when this is happening.

I could further by asking who in SL have a weaker 7 IF Sammut is our starting 7?

I woukd have honestly sooner gone into the season with a starting 17 which include a 6 and 7 of George and Tommy with Powell at 9 and Escare on the bench.

Surely that option is still available. It's up to them how they perform in pre season isn't it?

If we go with this then why sign a championship 7 who's 31 going on 32 on a 2 year deal for cover when we're already supposedly tight on the cap?

We have just re-signed an injury prone 36 year old who played less than 30 minutes in 16 SL games this season and you moan about signing a 31 year old

So you think Sammut is as good as Lockers now? Keep banging your head on that wall.

Just skimmed through that thread. My God! If it weren't for his being signed as a coach it would be almost identical to this one! Virtually no one saw him as a starting half. Ok as coach/backup/help bring the youngsters through but no way a starting half. This from 'moonlight flit' caught my eye:

'Strange and IMHO a poor move which would waste a bit of salary cap.

Even in his prime he was just a mediocre player.'

One of many such comments but it could have been lifted straight from this thread!


Anyway, on to more pressing matters. If we both post that Dammit (typed Sammut but I think that autocorrect is in keeping! Haha) is a good signing...

People can keep comparing the Deacon thread to this one but I don’t care what anyone says, the two players are of no comparison.
Deacs was a winner with a proven track record.
Sammut is a journeyman who’s mainly failed wherever he’s been.

If you think we can compare the fans opinions fron Deacons signings then your blind to how far RL has changed (fallen).
I’d sooner have Deacon at his current age, than this lad.

Wild and crazy idea, but I'll just wait and see how he goes first.

Wigan won the title in 2018 with a spine of #1 Tomkins, #6 Williams, #7 Leuluai, #9 Powell and #13 O'Loughlin.
Escare was back up.

The only change for 2019 is Hardaker for Tomkins, and the addition of Sammut.

What I'm hearing is that in pre season there has been a lot more ball work and field time for the players. I'm not keen on Sammut but he is a better option than Woods IMO, and I'm willing to give him a chance before throwing him on the fire as many seem keen to do.

It seems we at Wigan always need a scapegoat, just look at the Powell, Williams and Sarginson comments from earlier this year.

Decent post.


Sammut is a necesary choice if true theat IL is cutting back a bit and i do not blame him. Either he digs in his pockets again or we the fans dig in and pay more. We still have the best squad in SL.


And Squad wins GF and not 1-13

Fair summary I’d say. I’m not too keen on the signing but you lose nothing and risk little in adding him to the options we have and you never know, he may surprise us all and thrive in a big club atmosphere.

What I would still like is another forward to come in. We’ve lost Sutton and Bateman from the end of last year and Joel mid season. We’ve brought in Greenwood and Joe Bullock so I still feel we’re one light to add depth and competition. You’d have to think Lockers will continue to miss games and that puts pressure on the senior back rowers with us being one injury away from having a youngster on the bench. The likes of Hamlin, Wells and Paisley offer good suppprt but I’d feel more confident with just the one more.

We've arguably lost our 2 best players/biggest contributors since 2018 in Tomkins and Bateman.

But still got Hardaker in and Greenwood. All depends in Hardaker behaving.

Of the 2 Bateman is the bigger lose. Its just a pity we cold not have Tomkins stay and go to 7 would have been a great spine. But Bateman will be missed unless we get someone of his style in. Greenwood is more direct so will be different to Bateman.

Still say our squad is better than Wire or Saints.

I agree with the Tomkins shout. Would have been perfect to have him as a 7 with Williams and Hardaker at 1, all playing under a more attacking creative coach.

The sum of the whole is often greater than its individual parts. This is my hope for next year with Sammut. I have learned to trust IL and Rad to do the right thing for the club and in the vast majority of cases, their judgment has been good.
IL knows far more about running a business than I do and Rad knows more about managing a Superleague team than I do. Both of them are Wigan fans at the end of the day and want what’s best for the club.
I was underwhelmed by the signing but I’m prepared to suck it and see! Hopefully with good players around him, running good lines in a flamboyant style the gets defences on the back foot, he’ll come good.

I thought Sammut came across well in his interview on Wigan TV. Also thought he summarised his current style of play well saying he has all the maverick/off the cuff stuff 'in his back pocket' but these days he's more of a team player and an organiser. Also says he know its important to play different styles at different times.

A classic example for me would be the Million Pound game when Sammut played a very intelligent and conservative game in which he directed the team brilliantly. You certainly wouldn't have recognised the maverick tendencies that people talk about in that game.

True but that's mainly restricted to the loons on the VT.

Agreed, all this talk of him being a creative player/maverick is true but like you say his organisation skills are often overlooked, he looks like he can lead a team round the park, he has plenty of experience and could be a very key signing for us

what if sammut isn't our starting 7 and we start with the super league winning 7.

think thats a fair shout in keeping Sam and getting shut off tommy who has just got a new deal which guaranteres a job after it and off loaded escare as well and maybe a winger.