Whoever we sign we'll be able to afford to pay their wages and stay under the salary cap.........end of.

With guys like Feka, Bailey, Fielden, Riddell, Carmont, Phelps, Pryce, Coley etc etc all off contract(as things stand) at the end of the season I see no reason at all why 3 or 4 signings is unrealistic.

Ian Lenagan will again show how shrewd he is at managing the salary cap and we'll have the squad with the most depth to it again. I mentioned on a few occasions to opposition fans before the start of this season that we had great depth for 2010 when they were questioning the back up we had but thats been proved correct. We have the best young talent coming through and the depth to our squad is growing all the time.

Where has White's name come into it from?

I haven't seen White reported as a Wigan target by any Aussie sources.

This thread has gone down a predicatable route.

Wigan are about to sign 2/3 overseas players (whilst releasing imports of inferior quality) from the top end of the market and other fans are jealous, given we currently look the best side in the comp with a squad that our coach, as yet has had no input in, and when he does input, it is likely these players will come from the worlds best team....

Under IL, we aren't going to break the salary cap or pay stupid wages. End of.

The sooner Hoffman, Lima & Finch are officially confirmed, the better for me. Then Madge can start planning for 2011.

White has signed for Canbarra according to the Sydney Morning Herald when I looked about 15mins back. I think people are just presuming we're after any Melbourne players going but that obviously isn't the case.

It seems like Wigan being linked with a couple of top line players along with our form this season has got a few people in the game abit worried. We're top of the league, we have the best youngsters coming through and we look like we're trying to bring in world class players so maybe they should be a tad nervous.

I haven't seen it in the media, been bannded around by Wigan folk in this thread. I agree with nicky kiss, Wigan can bring some real talent in, I just don't think 2 Aussie test stars, a kiwi test player and a marque nrl half back will all come together.

To be honest with you, I haven't heard White mentioned in anything other than the same airhead fantasies that have also mentioned Billy Slater and Cameron Smith.

This campaign you're waging today is really only aimed at one or two very unrealistic people. Most Wigan fans I know expect two or, at the most, three, of these signings to come off. In that respect, most of us probably agree with you, so I don't know why you feel the need to keep repeating yourself.

if you win 3 gf's in a row I will be a tad nervous! until then al rest easy.

agreed, point taken. as people have said you look the real deal. when madge adds his players that he thinks he needs and with the kids you are the team to beat. sl is a better comp for having Wigan and wire truley amongst it with Leeds and saints. I'm still not convinced by fc.

I do think Lima, Hoffman and Finch will come to Wigan.
The strange one for me is not White but Quinn. Why do we need a wing/centre?
Melbourne appear to be over by double the amount first thought of by the press. This morning's Aussie press do think Inglis may leave.

As far as SL clubs are concerned we do seem to be the front runners for Storm's exiting players for obvious reasons.
The onus is now on Melbourne to say who is leaving before any club can make announcements on signings.
I don't expect to hear anything from Wigan for a while!

Nail On head!!

Although Im not cinvinced we need Hoffman if it means losing one of the kids! Finch is prob a must if not Smith would do




If Rumours about Roberts are correct then he will replace him!

I'd be very surprised if the Quinn story was real. We already have plenty of three-quarters.

For me, we need to strengthen in the front row as a priority, and we also need a midfield general. For these reasons, I'm inclined to believe that we're chasing Hoffman and Lima, while the fact that Maguire has been trialing Sam at full-back indictes to me that a move for a halfback might also be on. I don't mean that Sam will be moving position permanently, but to have two quality halfbacks - Sam and Tommy - who are versatile enough to play effectively in other positions would be ideal if you could then bring in a specialist like Finch to dictate play.

I don't see where Quinn would fit in, however (and I don't for one minute believe that Wigan could actually afford four Melbourne stars, or would want so many).

The point I've been making all along which you still seem to be ignoring or still not getting is that neither you, I or anybody else on this thread have a clue about who and how many players we can afford next season. Anyone who starts listing made-up player salaries as a way to show who we can and can't afford deserve all the ridicule coming their way.

There are a lot of players likely to leave at the end of the season, and some of them on contracts given to them by Lindsay, so we should have a lot of space to play with, but how much nobody knows.

Surely if Quinn comes in we will go with

Roberts
Quinn
Gleeson
Carmont
Richards

It's a tough one but if IL and Madge think it's for the best then we shall have to trust them.

Of the names mentioned I am just glad they are all top class and will really make a difference.

Signing players is about improving the squad and all of these signings WOULD improve the team regardless of whether they are a young player or Wigan lad.

If the 4 players mentioned signed we currently have

Hoffman for Bailey
Lima for Feka
Finch for Deacon
Quinn for Goulding

Each player on the left is better than the one on the right, therefore they could be some great signings. Whether or not we sign all of them or not is not the point, we are aiming to improve and that is the main thing. Personally I think we should aim for Finch and Lima. Hoffman would be a massive bonus replacing Bailey IMO, top player for an average one, probably on similar wages. Lima would also be great as Feka doesn't play atm.

Add this to Hock and you can see we are trying to improve the forwards as our backs are scoring for fun.

Any talk of Slater, Inglis, Smith or Cronk is just silly for me unless they are willing to be payed the wages of the player who makes way for them.

Can't help but think it would be a very poor judgement on Wigan’s part if we signed 4 overseas players next season.

I like the idea of signing Hoffman & Lima as they are world class players who will play alongside the youngsters like Joel, Prescott, Mossop & Farrell. Playing WITH guys like Hoffman and Lima will develop everyone’s games. It will give us a better forward pack than we have now and it will also take some pressure off guys like Joel to perform. Ok we might not be able to play everyone at the same time but there is room in the 2nd row and prop positions for a little bit of movement.

Finch is slightly different in that he fills the hole Piggy leaves and that’s ok by me as he’s not only the right side of 30 but his kicking game will again complement the quality Wigan produced players we’ve got. I’d also argue having a guy like Finch in the squad would make it easier for guys like Mellor to get a chance should injuries occur to guys like Tommy or Sam. Being able to bring a kid like Mellor in knowing Finch will do the majority of the difficult stuff is a great plus. Finch would not only replace Piggy but he’d also replace Deacon as well.

Signing Quinn is the one I’ve got a real problem with however. For me all the above signings are there to complement the guys we’ve already got. They will play alongside the youngsters in the side and bring their games on. Signing Quinn would be different in that he’d directly replace either Goulding or Pryce. This isn’t good enough for Wigan when guys like Goulding are proven SL quality players.

I’d rather have a weaker team with Goulding in there knowing he’s a club produced player and GB eligbale than having a stronger team with Quinn in there.

i've been told that the 3 names mentioned are signed, riddell is definately going home, bailey and phelps are leaving the club, feka is going to bradford, and there is still a possibility carmont may finish. not sure about deacon, coley 1 more year and fielden either 1 or 2 years.

I'm hoping Wigan are thinking the same way. Unless the new running back was going to be someone like Inglis or Slater (I know it isn't, I'm just using those names to illustrate the point), then I too would rather we went for Hoffman, Lima and Finch rather than those three AND a threequarter.

If we do sign those three, we will again be subjected to taunts about trying to buy success, sidelining the kids etc. It would be a pack of lies, but if we were to bring in Quinn as well it would be slightly more difficult convincing the world of that.

If Roberts goes then we need Quinn and It will again be replacing like with like in terms of overseas.
For me Lima and Finch are needed Quinn if Roberts goes! Hoffman isnt necessarily needed but is class and it is easy to argue he would improve us! I just hope not at the expense of one of the young lads!

If we do sign Quinn, then surely it's because Amos is returning to Australia and so would be a like for like swap. The other 3 are also directly or indirectly replacing other players who are leaving ( ie their salaries will be covered by the departing stars' salaries, Feka, Bailey, Piggy, Phelps, Deacon etc).

What is so exciting is that apart from Piggy (and to a less extent Bailey), none of the above have been major contributors to the Wigan success story this season. Hence the reason for joy/optimism expressed already by so many! How good could we be next year with 3 new proven stars plus Hock?!!

If Roberts leaves then we need a FB and not another winger imo.

Although everyone would prefer not to let any youngsters leave I can handle it if it’s for a guy like Hoffman who is simply class and about to hit his prime.

What makes people think Roberts would want to leave?

You missed it mate. Resolved with crunchers realistic view of the situation yesterday!

Has this being made offical by Wigan yet or is it just paper talk?

paper talk mostly

I didn't miss you making up salaries with zero information and then using that to tell us who we can and can't afford.

I'm still more confused by this:- www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 5892366194

I'm still more confused by this:- www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 5892366194