In the backs we do not really have an issue at the moment out of the youth players it is only Ainscough who is not really getting a game. There is still alot of time for him as well. All the other backs, Charnley, Thornley etc are a while of the first team IMO.

In the pack it is another story. I think the club have got some tough decisions coming up.

Does this put even more truth into the rumour that Phelps is going home?

Glad he's been kept, and a 12 month deal will keep him on his toes. Hopefully we'll see him improve and cement a longterm future at Wigan.

With so many young lads coming through from the under 20's and now Goulding being kept here for another 12 months I wonder whether Pryce will get a new deal?

There's nothing wrong with having great depth it's a real plus point for Wigan, but it's a fine balancing act to get the right mixture of depth and quality.

definately a better player than he was 12 month ago, imo they are keeping him around in case they can't get a replacement for Carmont in 2012, they will just hand him another contract, sort of like a safety net

12 months is right - gives him the incentive to earn another contract

Ah, an extension I understand, I thought it was a new deal from the OP.

Nice to see another academy player getting a longer contract with us. It's all up to him to prove her merits a longer deal now.

I'm happy with Daz being around in the squad. He won't win Grand Finals for you but he can step in pretty much anywhere along the three-quarters and you know he'll give 100% and won't let you down

Isnt Goulding a specialist centre? If so do you think he is being built up as a long term replacement for Carmont or Gleeson?

Any winger that can find the line on a regular occasion can win matches for you. Finals included.

Deserves another 12 months, hes put loads of hard work in as Maguire has stated on a few occasions.

Amber will be pleased!

I meant that in the sense that he's not the kind of winger who makes tries out of nothing like a Jason Robinson or Henderson Gill. You wouldn't build your team (or salary structure if you like) around Darrell Goulding, but at certain points in the season you'll be glad he's in the squad

No but every team needs a player like Goulding, just like our all conquering teams had players like Ged Byrne, Sam Panapa...etc in them.

He's been at the club since he was 13, he is Wigan through and through and always gives his all in every match he plays. He is 4th so far in the leading top try scorers in the whole of super league and has played less games than the 3 players above him, we would be stupid not to sign him on for at least another year, out of all the players off contract this year, he has earned it the most IMO.

Could not be happier about this decision!!

A very handy squad player to have around the place. He's a lad that never lets us down and is also young enough to keep on improving his game.

A good move for the squad and hopefully other young squad members like O'Carroll, McIlorum and Prescott will follow suit shortly aswell as us getting the more experienced heads like Hansen, Coley and Fielden signed up.

They have agreed to the "option" for 2011. Surely that means Pryce will be out the door?

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Even if Phelps is to leave?

4 into 3 sounds about right to me.

The same thought has crossed my mind before now.

It's inevitable some will be released but stating the obvious, it's a balancing act (though a bloody hard one). I have some faith that what the club won't do is overlook the younger players in favour of experienced-but coming-to-the-end-of-their-career type players who may become available either here or in Oz.

I'd like to think the days of signing average players are in the past and if they are, then that gives every opportunity for the younger players to push for a 1st team contract. Hopefully they won't find their way blocked by such players which I don't think was true in the recent past. Of course they may find their way blocked by other Wigan produced players and there is nothing we can do about that except hope the club makes the right choices when it has to.

What the club needs to get going is a balanced squad in terms of age such that each season a player (or players) may retire then everyone moves up a slot and a new player(s) is added in at the bottom of the 1st team squad. I doubt we can ever reach this ideal but can probably go some way toward it.

Dave

Sorry I missed the big thread on this. Now merged.

Good point but I still think we don't need both him and Pryce with youngsters like Josh Charnley and Stefan Marsh (and maybe the forgotten Ainscough as well) eager in reserve. I think it was between the two who would be kept on.

perhaps him or Pryce will move infield to being to take over from Carmont next seaso?

What I forgot to mention in my previous post was regarding Goulding both he and the fans should see the club taking up the option to extend his contract as a positive move. If was not considered good enough they would not have taken the option up.

Dave

I think we'll be able to keep most of our youngsters for another year or two, without too much impact on the cap - as Rogues has pointed out previously, most of them still qualify at U18 level, so presumably won't be earning much yet. As far as your "balanced squad" concept goes, that's already building, I believe - with good prospects coming along in just about every position.

I think it's more likely Ainscough is out the door, if anyone leaves.

Ainscough's contracted till the end of next season.