Only seen bits and bobs of him but he’s looked pretty good. He’s behind a lot of players here and certainly doesn’t seem to be as highly thought of as Hill or Makin. It’s always sad to see a young player go and especially to a rival but it’s not like losing Matty Nicholson. That was losing a guaranteed future international IMO, whereas this is losing a lad who may or may not end up as a first team quality superleague player.

Good luck to him.

Field and French both out of contract this year. Will be a challenge to hold on to them both.

Maybe I’m too optimistic but I think we’ll keep both.


French will be 29 at the start of 2025. Can’t see an NRL club really pushing to bring over a small player at that age, when he can still earn a big salary with us.

Field will be 27, think we’ve established his only position is full back. Can’t see an NRL club picking a 5 foot 10 13 stone full back (they are struggling for half backs but full backs they have loads).

What I can’t predict is they perosnal reasons for wanting to return but think Wigan balance it nicely with allowing them to spend a lot of the Australian summer at home and during the year they have Europe on their doorstep and are making very good money.

French will have played for us for 6 and a bit years. We’ve had the prime of his career and likely his best years.

They both have options on their contracts too so sorting extension, should the players want them, will be easy.

The later in to their careers that they’re here, the greater the chances are we keep them IMO. It’s crazy to think that they’d probably only get offers as squad players in the NRL and in the case of French, he’d probably go from being the starting stand off at a title challenging club in the UK, to becoming a back up winger for a basement club in Oz.

The fact Wigan are letting them stay in Oz for 3 months or so every year is likely to be really helping push the clubs case. Getting extensions announced in the run up to the WCC would be a real boost.

If Matty had stayed at Wigan he would have been our loose forward next season.

And would have been a downgrade on Smithies if so (imo if course).

Anybody is a downgrade on Smithies however, I agree with Nicky that the lad will become an international.

I think he'll be a peripheral figure on the international stage at best. I know he still has time to fill out but I don't think he has the size, or alternatively exceptional skill set, to flourish at international level in his position.

As ever, it's just imo of course.

No problem mate it is always interesting to read somebody else’s view. I suppose we will just have to wait and see.

Harvey Wilson gone on loan to Widnes for 2024.

Is he a good prospect?

I remember he looked good in some preseaon games.

Makin season long loan at Barrow too

Poor lad

Keighran and Ellis back at Wigan a few days ago, French and Field back today.

The staggered returns probably cause the intensity of training to go up a few notches.

Reports in France that Owen Farrell has signed a 2 year deal with Racing 92 and will join up with them in the summer.

Just seen a picture of Dupree. He trimmed down quite a bit it appears. Wonder if there trying to make him more mobile

I’m very excited about Dupree. When we first signed him I thought he’d be a Mago type prop, big impact, low minutes, sloppy defence but he blew me away.

Held up in defence and could play big minutes. He’s a tackle breaking prop and that’s what we really needed.

Only turns 24 in February and after a Wigan preseaon he’s going to get better and better.

Already a fringe England player.

Quote ="jonh"Reports in France that Owen Farrell has signed a 2 year deal with Racing 92 and will join up with them in the summer.'" https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67896635

Quote ="jonh"Reports in France that Owen Farrell has signed a 2 year deal with Racing 92 and will join up with them in the summer.'" https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67896635

On the topic of Mago, he looks a lot leaner too on the preseason footage.

I noticed that too Jonh. Was a different player in the second half of the year.

I’m an optimist but I’m so excited about our props/middles next year.

Byrne - now enters his 6th year in the first team. Carried a knock for most of last year. Had a coming of age game at Catalan away. Gutted he missed the GF

Havard - 5th year of first team. Hopefully we can get him right injury wise. Wire in the cup was the best performance I’ve ever seen from a prop at Wigan in about 20’years.

Ellis - wasn’t sure about him initially but took massive steps forward last year. Absolutely key when we were down on props. Coming into his best years as a prop/13.

Mago - again improved performances last year, combined with a slimed down version. He’ll be playing for a contract again next year.

Dupree - as discussed. Tackle breaker, international forward. Quality.

Thompson - obviously will all come down to fitness. On paper, international level, dream team forward.

Cooper - nothing but a bonus anything we get from him this year. Form was just improving before his injury. A nice option to have in the squad. Picked for England in 2022.

Hill - held his own last year. Played in the semi final of the playoffs. Unlucky to not get the spot for the GF. Only 20 should be good after another preseaon.

Chan and Eseh - 2 raw prospects but good potential, both have decent amount of SL experience. Hopefully we can improve them.



10 good options there to cover 6 positions in the 17 (8,10,13 and 3 on the bench). People thinking we have too many need to remember we spend most of last year with 3/4 out.

We’ve come a long way from back end of the careers Clubb, Flower and the likes of Singleton, Bullock, Mitch Clark etc

A real position of strength now. Should lay an awesome platform for our exciting spine.

I don’t like to put pressure or expectation on players but I’m very excited from what I’m hearing about Eseh.

He was the potential to be a very dominant forward and whilst he probably doesn’t start in our 17 I’ve a feeling he may push his way into contention once he gets his opportunity.

He was a big lad but I’m told he’s packed on a good bit more muscle and he offers something a bit different to the others in our pack as a player who looks to promote the ball in traffic.

Walters I’m expecting to promote the ball on the edges like KPP did but we’ve not had a player with that natural instinct in the middle since maybe Danny Sculthorpe/Hock.

You look at the body shapes of Mago and Dupree and I think you can see straight away what competition for places is doing. When you have 8 or 9 good options for the 8,10 and 13 positions, you’re going to need to bring your best or you’re not getting in.

I’d give Mago particular credit. He could easily have thought ‘F this’ with a new deal in his pocket and GF ring and a Cup Medal in his cupboard but he looks to be taking on the challenge. Maybe it’s the beauty of the one year (plus an option of an extra year) deal but his commitment is great to see.

Nothing more than a gut instinct but I think Eseh could be the breakout player too Jonh. Looks really settled here as well. Had a few words at the night under the lights event and him and Chan stood out as having really integrated into the squad. They both seemed like they'd 'come home' if you get what I mean. Leeming too from the socials although he wasn't at the event as he was ill. Looks to be a really good intake of signings this year with everyone contributing and buying into the club and it's approach.

Team for Cas Rd 1
Field
Miski
Keighran
Wardle
Marshall
French
Smith
Cooper
O'Neil
Byrne
Farrell
Walters
Ellis

Dupree
Mago
Thompson
Leeming

A bit early but bored because this is the absolute worst part of the off season, six weeks to go and it seems forever away

With playing Penrith just after we do need to go full strength. Would like to see junior get a game in the first 4

He’s out isn’t he first few weeks of season?

In my opinion we absolutely must go full strength and all out in the first have to get some competitive miles on the clock.