That just doesn’t make sense to me whatsoever. What about when Tommy comes back on? Powell back to 7, S Tomkins back to FB and Escare off again? Then the same rigmarole when Tommy goes back off again?

Constantly changing our halves is a p*ss poor tactic and gives us absolutely no continuity whatsoever.

Yeah I don't think that will happen. Suspect it will be Escare into the halves with Powell to hooker. The same as what we previously did with Deacon coming off the bench and Leuluai moving to hooker

If they line up in their squad numbers. Rather than moving half the team around to fit Morgan in. Could he not come on late in each half and play a Rob Burrows type role?

Last season people's expectations of Escare where very low and everyone was pleasantly surprised by his form. Some posters even suggesting that he deserved a place ahead of Sam Tomkins (which was ludicrous). This year things are different.

Expectations are now quite high for Morgan. My gut feeling is that his form in the Catalans game was more like his normal game. I hope I'm wrong about this, but I don't think he's good enough for the first 13/17.

Agreed. And fans' judgment on Escaré's form was also coloured, not unreasonably, by the size of his pay-packet compared to ST.

I also agree that swapping full-backs to accommodate a dummy-half switch is not sustainable; it's fair enough to maybe do that in a pre-season friendly, but I can't see it happening week on week in SL. But we *will* get injuries, and Morgan will get some game-time. I hope Jake Shorrocks does too.

Totally agree. I was pleased when he was signed as cover for Tomkins etc. I wouldn't have been as happy if we'd signed him as a starting FB. The FB is arguably the key to the attack operating both flanks, often the best attacker in the team is now the FB, for me, this has to be Sam.

Do we know what Escare's injury status is? I thought he was back fit, but the squad number press release seemed to suggest not.

Edit - Never mind, he's in the squad for the Leigh game

Wane has said he is back in training but not Match fit for the start of the season.

On the Wigan Warriors Official Board it shows the images of last years players and not this years you would think that they would update it for this year.

Start of the season

1.) Sam
6.) Williams
7.) Powell
9.) Lealuai

14.) Ganson

Clubs are only just doing head shots around now so would expect it to be updated next couple of weeks.

For me Escare is speedier than ST and offers more in attack from FB. Realistically speaking he should be the future of the FB for Wigan.

I genuinely believe ST is nowhere near the player he was before he left for the NRL. He’s only 28 coming on 29 but age is catching up to him and a move to the halves is the logical step for him where he will flourish once again. He WAS a FB, he isn’t one anymore.

Don't agree with this. Escaré may be faster, but just because he's faster doesn't mean he offers more. Tomkins may have lost some pace due to his injury, but he's still great with the ball in hand and much more creative in his passing game than Escaré.

His speed ensures he can link up with the attack better. Tomkins last season was slow and predictable. It wasn’t exciting, wasn’t good and certainly was not effective. Prior to his injury, Escare’s link up play was good and a lot better than Tomkins’ - I’m not saying it was the finished article but it was a lot more promising than Tomkins.



You’ve just proven why he should be in the halves with this statement.

Escare was good and much better then expected but I wouldn’t go overboard. You have to judge both players at fullback on actual performance and not expectation. I want Sam in the halves as much as the next man but he’s still a better fullback then Escare, it’s just the team would probably be better with them both in for my money.

To say Sam Tomkins wasn’t effective in his games at fullback last year is again judging on expectation. The bloke got 5 try’s and 7 assists in 12 games so he got a try/assist per game. The best fullback in superleague got 11 try’s and 18 assists in 28 games so just a slightly better ratio. If you look at Escare he got 4 try’s and 3 assists in 13 games and another player people rave about in Jamie Shaul got 17 try’s and only 4 assists in 29 league fixtures. Those stats aren’t the be all and end all of course but it’s a major factor in any fullbacks game and I think we’d all agree that defensively Sam has really improved.

As I say I’d want him in the halves but he’s still a really good fullback. Those stats highlight how much performance vs expectation can distort people’s views.

Good post... . Just to add Tomkins was also playing in a team that we could see was not clicking and with few options being created. I imagine in a team going well he would up those stats, which we hope to see this season. I think he may move to the halves in the futute, longevity wise if hes injury clear, hes had very little rugby for three or more seasons?

True. The guy was not only coming back off one very serious injury but two in a sense because he’d played very little in late 2015 or most of 2016. He’s had a full pre season now for the first time in years and I’m confident he can have a Big year in 2018 regardless of position.

His man of steel odds at 25/1 are very tempting!

I'm excited, team looks good...

T Davies will be immense this year, physically he is strong as an ox and mentally he is raring to go, the #2 shirt was earnt in pre-season, he has excelled beyond anyone's expectations! He has a great rapport with Sarge already! Whether or not some of the nay-sayers claim he won't get a pass all year, I see him making a huge impact this year.

Joel T also looks fit and strong...done a huge amount of work in the off season to get his body right, I don't see him missing many games with niggles...worthy of the 11 shirt IMO, I know he has his doubters but give him chance.

Really good to hear both those points (Source?



- Mine says the same).

I am so impressed with Davies - From day 1 he reminded me of how Josh Charnley came into the team like a duck to water - His strength, maturity etc. are way ahead of what you'd expect of one so young.
I don't mind Marshall but when he was getting all the praise early/mid last season it was Davies for me that was catching the eye with his all round game. Budgie needs to take a look at his work ethic and try and match it (And Everyone who knows me knows what I think of Joe).
I still think Davies missing Wembley may have been the difference between a win and a loss.

Really good to hear about Joel T - I know a lot don't like him but I think as a "Squad" player he adds some size etc. and offers things the others don't. As I always say the More players fit and healthy and fighting for positions the better!

Davis looks a great prospect and JT has always been one of my favourite players. When JT first came into the team he looked like a natural, like Budgie. Other players have to work at being an RL player and Sarge is a prime example of that.

Unfortunately JT, like TL and Lockers is another year older. The scepticism people have is down to how injury prone some players are (like Lockers appears to be) and the lack of form of players like JT, TL and certainly Sarge who was poor for us in 2016. There isn't a day goes by that we don't hear of someone "killing it" in training and Navarette is the latest one to get a mention. I get the club wants to paint a positive picture of the teams prospects for the upcoming season but we have heard all this "killing it" stuff before. I think most will only be convinced when they start to actually deliver on the pitch. If we see the JT of old and Sarge proves he can actually pass then great but the scepticism is understandable.

Cannot comment on Romaine, the article today came as a bit of surprise to be fair as he was carrying an injury last time I saw him (first week of Jan), so he must've kicked on impressively in the last week.

JT will be rock solid this year, and I firmly believe we will see the best of him at SR. I cannot see many spells at prop as previously touted by some. I am sure Sarge will deliver, my only concern as you mention is him finding and maintaining form.

Have not seen much of S'OL or Tommy actually training, have heard a few things regards injuries but nothing direct so shouldn't comment. The JB finger situation has caused quite a bit of annoyance mind you!

Posted on another thread about Davies that he is an immense talent.
I have also been told that he has had great pre season so hopefully he can & will kick on.

Didn't know that. Worth a punt together with Farrell me thinks

Labrokes judt releases their odds and he’s 33/1!

I’m definitely sticking a tenner on at that price.

Great to see a positive thread. I was beginning to think Wigan would be the suicide capital of the world this coming season! Haha.

Great options within that squad. Lots of 'ifs' but the possibilities are immense. We just need a good run with injuries and a willingness to experiment and adapt from the coaching staff.

Those odds on Sam are very tempting!