Bridge is better than Gleeson and King better than Carmont, it's that simple. Wigan are by far the best team in the league and will be even stronger next year with your new additions. I just feel Warrington are stronger in that area. Wigan have great leaders and outstanding talent all across the board. In my eyes Sam Tomkins is the best player in the league and you have a core of outstanding young talent with more coming through the system.

In your opinion.

The bit I've underlined has yet to be borne out, judging from what I've seen of Bridge on TV.

Don't think of Gleeson as the unhappy, unmotivated player he was at Warrington. At Wigan, he's been a lean, mean machine, and it's a bit of a joke that he wasn't taken Down Under.

Very happy with the news. Hopefully, it'll be managed well to enable a youngster to gain some experience and step up to replace him in 2012.

Belting news.

With the greatest respect to what Goulding has achieved this year, I am still of the opinion that he is not a top class SL quality centre and nor will he ever be.

For me he simply lacks the skill set.

He has proven himself an excellent finisher, and I feel he will be best served long term remaining on the wing.

There are a few candidates within the club, but personally I do not see Goulding as the long term solution. I also feel that we may very well have to bring in 1 centre probably from the NRL in the next 2/3 seasons or so depending on when Gleeson decides to call it a day..

I agree and I hope that Goulding gets a lot more games at centre this season. He has done a good job on the wing but I have always seen him primarily as a centre. I certainly see Marsh as more of a full back/wing than centre and I think that Charnley is also more of a winger than centre.

No they arent

That's your opinion. Bridge and King are both much better than their opposites statistically as well. It is great news for Wigan that Carmont has resigned and I don't want the thread to derail.

Sorry, but they're not - [urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2010&hp1=2596&hs2=2010&hp2=1017&stat=tries&season=2010[/url

Chris Bridge tries and assists combined = 20 in 18 games
George Carmont tries and assists combined = 18 in 24 games

Thanks for proving my point though,


Carmont misses more tackles, gives away more penalties and makes more errors as well.

Stats are never accurate about the play thats why I ddint use them, ask Bridge during the off season if hes nothing on does he fancy polishing Gleesons grans final winners ring.

Bridge doesn't have the time. Got a challenge cup winners medal to polish. What did Gleeson's Gran win? Bingo?

Yet, conveniently, he makes more tackles and more metres.

And, as you were so keen on using games playerd earlier, you'll have noted that Carmont missed 16 tackles in 24 games, yet Bridge missed 15 in 18 games. (Same goes for errors too).

At least be objective.

Not much between them I agree. It's not a case of me being biased. Wigan have a better set of Wingers, backrowers and the best player in the league. We can go back and to allday. Let's agree to disagree.

Fair enough.

Good luck for the season (but not too much mind

)

Don't think there is a chance to be honest. With the additions of Finch, Lima and Hoffman the strongest get stronger. Out of interest, who will be your halfbacks next year?

I'd presume Finch + Deacon.

Hopefully Sam will stay at FB.

Ah yes, Gleeson has one of those too...

Whilst the stats look good on paper - George does a lot of work that isn't recorded in them. He organizes the defensive line and as one of the leadership group comes across as a very calm and thoughtful player. He's also a great team player and regularly plays hurt. In the Leeds semi final he dominated the Rhinos backs with a fantastic defensive display.

At the end of last season when Pat was crowned club player of the year, he said that George was the best centre he had ever played with. Don't get me wrong; Bridge is very good player and definitely one of the best centres in Super League. However given the choice I would still prefer George in the Wigan side. However, as you said - let's agree to disagree

I want to see some English outside backs come through as well but I still support the re-signing of Carmont. I just don't think the others are ready yet to do the job full time.

I also think centre is one of the hardest positions to play properly. You see many wingers drafted in there or 2nd rowers having a go but true centres like Gleeson and Carmont are rare and I'd like Madge and Co to make sure whoever takes over has had the right level of training for this position for another year rather than just chucking them in the deep end by replacing Carmont.

Dave

You comparing the two medals

Depends whether Deacon stays on for another year, he was supposed to be moving into coaching this year but with the form he showed last season I hope he decides to give it another year, 32 at the start of the season isn't that bad.

Based on time at their current clubs. Sorry if that was a bit difficult to grasp. If we're comparing medals, then Ade Gardner is better than Pat Richards. See how easy it is.

How is Joe Mellor progressing?

He picked up a long term injury in pre season training this year and missed all the season, came back for the reserves playoffs.