Step forward Castleford

Amos Roberts isn't available though.

I wish Mathers no ill will but he's simply not been good enough for a top team since his aborted stint in Aus. It's a shame as he seems a whole-hearted player, but that's life.

The deal was good for both Wigan and Wire at the time as Gleese obviously didn't want to be there and we needed the class centre he has proven to be for us. As others have said, Win/Win.

The Wire fans who were crowing about us getting the ty end of the stick at the time (not all of them by any means) are probably feeling a little foolish right now though.

Prediction time.

Hodgson will be unable to replicate his form at Wire that he showed at Huddersfield. I feel he'll be good in some games and then be fairly anonymous in others.

Nah, he was an upgrade on Stuart Reardon. It's all about progression, we got shut of Gleeson as we had better to come in. Getting shut of Mathers, so Hodgson can come in.

With the announcement of the next set of licences being made quite early next season I can see him moving after the announcement to a club that is going to be promoted. He will then get a chance to play the rest of next year in the Championship to build his confidence and knowing that he will be back in SL the year after. The club being promoted would then also already have someone in their squad with SL experience to kick start their squad building for the next season.

wire are just biding time till jordan burke breaks through by the looks of things, which will probably be in a year or 2. Hes an excellent player and very solid.

So on the basis of that hodgson is more than an astute signing for them.

However, If I was a wire fan I would be slightly worried at the amount of over 30's in their side.

Because we get a top drawer player to fill a crucial position until Rhys Evans is ready for first team action. He is our future long term full back and i know you've seen how good he is Rogues.

I don't see why, if a young player is good enough he's old enough, the same goes for the older guys in that if they are fit enough they are good enough.

We have some good youngsters coming through, Cooper for instance is a strong tough runner, great prospect.
Moz, just seems tireless/ageless we have a good mix.

The only worry I would have would be that Huddersfield aren't willing to give their best player a 2 year deal because of his age, and surely they know him better than the rest of super league. If they thought he could do 2 years to the same standard he is now they'd more than likely have offered him the two years.

Are both King and Monaghan off contract this season? Both are 29 according to Wiki so could possibly carry on at Wire for another 2 years possibly?

Wire will have to be very careful however if they sign Hodgson on a two year deal as if say Monaghan and King sign another 2 years they could theoretically have King, Monaghan and Hodgson all coming off contract at the same time. Add Morley & Briers into the equation of not having long left it could potentially be all their top big players leaving at the same time.

Not a dig at Wire there just looking at ages and deals and seeing potential problems that’s all.

I’d be very surprised if they don’t try to lower the age of their squad this off season much in the same way they did with the Atkins and Myler signings.

I dont think the point Newton-Le-Willows Warrior was making was that the over 30's are not good enough or fit enough, its just that those players will be good for you short term, but what happens when they all retire around the same time? The heart of your team will be gone. We have been there in the past and are only just recovering from it, Saints are on their way there and Leeds will be the same once Sinfield and co reach the retirement age.

Wasn't the same said about Morley, no one was prepared to give him a long contract except Wire. Times are changing people play just that little bit longer than they used too, sometimes people need a little faith but only time will tell i suppose ?

I hear what you're saying but i think we'll be ok with a mixture of players coming through and (crass, i'll apologise for this next bit) an open cheque book.

Only time will tell, players like Briers and Morley will be hard to replace!

I just long for the day Cunningham retires, saints will be doomed

Briers will be impossible to replace the guy is just so unique, there are great half backs but Briers is a complete maverick and unreadable. Forget if you hate him or not the guy is a talent and i'll be gutted when he finishes.

King and Monas, 2011

Morleys a bit different in respect that he's a prop and not a fullback though, but yeah I get what your saying. All i'm meaning is that Hudds would allow such a key key player for them to go because of his age.

You never know they might have plans for a Melbourne player

Bl00dy Hell Mathers!

I think the point being made is not whether they're good enough or not (Hodgeson most certainly is!) but that they are more suseptible to injuries. Look at Longy over at Hull. Out for 6 games already this season for various reasons and surely lending some credence to Saints decision that he wasn't worth a longer deal. Hodgeson too has already spent time on the sidelines this season. It's fine if you have good cover (is your young full back ready for SL for example?) but if not then it becomes more risky to give longer deals to older players. That's not to say all older players suffer the same, of course, but as a rule of thumb it's not far off the mark.

No one doubts that it's a gamble but if you are going to gamble then the current MOS is, imo worth a try.

More likely to be Rhys Evans unless he stays as a centre.

If the deal does happen and it is just all rumour the media are getting it off here then Hodgson will take Hicks place on the quota 30 something for a 30 something, the number of over 30s doesn't bother me at all we will have a good mix abit like Smiths Leeds teams.

Currently on a hat-trick today!

He got a hat-trick in the first half.

Catalans must be terrible.