Now that'd be fantastic!



But unlikely

Don’t think it can be understated how important the Gleeson signing is for us. Getting a centre of his calibre so early on means hopefully we can concentrate all our efforts on new prop and SH.

We’ve got plenty of positives now with the squad almost complete especially in the backs. We’ve got the best centre pairing in SL, two quality youngsters in Ainscough and Tomkins who are already holding their own and are only gonna get better and a defensively solid FB who is not only good under the high ball but he’s getting better as well with every game. All we need now is a good HB to make sure we take the right decisions at the right time whether that be getting the ball to Carmont & Gleeson in space or gaining field position and territory.

It’s also time to build a pack that can outmuscle opposition teams when it’s needed. We’ve again got the potential with Tomkins, Lockers and Hock to have the best back row in the country and currently only Leeds are better for me. Add to that a potential hooking pair in Riddell and Tommy and we’ve got the differing styles you need in the modern game. All we are lacking is in the front row. Fielden isn’t doing the job he should be doing & Coley isn’t a role up the sleeves type prop that will make the hard yards when you need it. Feka is the best impact prop in the league but until we get a pair like Graham & Cayless/Peacock & Leuleui around him he’s not the benefit to the team that he should be.

We desperately need to get Petro/Bailey in for Coley next season and then LMS in for Fielden the season after giving us Petro/Bailey, LMS, Feka & Prescott as our four which is very strong. Petro/Bailey & LMS means we will have an enforcer and a work horse hard yards prop which is what Saints and Leeds both have which are the benchmarks we need to aim for.

I keep going on about it but we are nearly there and a lot of the pieces of the jigsaw are already in place and with Bailey, Phelps & Coley off contract we should be able to get a SH and Prop in this season no probs. Then with Fieldens wage the year after we can have another big recruitment with plenty of money to play with.

Sorry for the long post btw but that’s just the way I see it

Wouldn't he just be another stop gap signing?

The key to Saints and Leeds success has been stability in key positions and if go signing an Aussie who will be gone after 2 years won't that leave us back at sqaure one again

We need somebody younger who can develop a long term partnership with Sam and be the foundation of our side for years to come

The chances of us winning anything with Orford are unlikely and once he ups sticks and goes home we would be at the point we are now.

My thinking exactly

Orford great player that he is will be gone after 2 season..We need to build a team thats why i would love myler.

Tomkins and Myler would struggle for a couple of seasons but I think they would end up as good as if not better than McGuire and Burrow. They would definitely be worth the wait

Dobson would be ideal, a proper organising SH that would allow Sam to do his own thing

The problem with Myler is that he’s currently at the same level as Tomkins and tho hopefully both will be very good players it will hinder their development if they don’t have someone who is currently better than them to take the lead and pressure off.

Dobbo fits both roles in terms of he’s young enough to still be around for ages but he’s been around for a few seasons now and is already a good player in his own right. He’s not the complete article but when he full fills his potential he’s gonna be a great SL player. Hopefully him and Tomkins will both full fill their potential together in Cherry and White as we’ll be better off for it.

Fair enough with Dobson

I would have no problem with that if we got him on a long term deal

Dobon would be looking to get back home..Myler could be at wigan for the rest of his playing days.

I also understand the tomkins/mylers age worry..but IMO they would work great together

Welcome Martin Gleeson, hope you have a long and successful career with Wigan

Had you posted six hours ago then yes

Tomkins and Myler would struggle, after three games we would be calling for their heads, after 10 games their confidence would be gone and after a season they prob wouldnt want to play rugby again.

If we were to sign Myler we would need an old head to nurture them e.g. Orford/ Kimmorley not just think 'ooooh two promising halfbacks, put them together and they will be ace for 10 years'.

It doesn't work like that, as much as I would like it to it wouldn't.

We need an old head to take any pressure off Sam whether it be a 6 or 7.

Burrow and McGuire had Dunneman for a couple of years before anyone chirps up.

IL mentioned some time ago that our next signing would be quality.
That has been proved right.
He also said some young players would go on loan, none have yet. Perhaps that's the next move to free up space under the cap and bring another quality player in for later this season.
At present we need another prop in addition to Feka, Fielden & Coley and using Prescott as back up. If Coley were to go at the end of 2009 then we'll need two.
I also think we need props who will make a bigger impact than Lynch, and he is good, or Kylie Leuluai. We need men who are bigger and will make a greater impact than those two do.
We also need a playmaker half back to compliment Sam T.
I just feel that there will be quite a few departures end of this season and a lot of salary cap money freed up.
If Gleeson is the type of quality player we are now looking to sign then it may well be the big money needed will be available.

Now we need..

Richards
Roberts Gleseson Carmont Ainscough
Tomkins NEW 7
NEW 8 Riddell NEW 10
Hock Lockers
Tomkins
----------------
Prescott Tommy Feka Hansen

-----------
SELL

Smith
Fielden
Coley
Bailey
Goulding-on loan
Phelps

We need a prop and a 7.

Out - Bailey, Coley, Smith & Tommy.

With those four, especially Bailey & LuLu, we should have the cash to do it.

So you don't rarte TL then and would not have him as a no 9 (which given Riddell's thre year deal may well spell the end for McIllorum if TL became a 9)?

Dave

You'd keep Fielden? and Phelps?

I don't care if Fielden would play for free, the fact he's even up for selection means, with Noble as coach, he'll always be first choice. Therefore, the forward pack suffers.

I was told by a player from Wakefield that there has been an approach from Wigan to trade Tim Smith for Danny Brough!

I dont think Kear will allow that trade though!

How does getting rid of a 23yr old international help to bolster the squad?

*World Cup Winner.

I agree. I feel we need to hang onto Tommy. He's not the smartest half-back, but his speed and broken-field running make him a superb hooker. The one who may be worrying about getting a renewed contract is surely McIlorum. I know it's tantamount to a mortal sin to release young, home-grown players these days, but Mac hasn't done a great deal recently and anyway you cut it - rightly or wrongly - we aren't going to release Riddell.

Neither do I, and I have my concerns with Danny Brough. Very injury prone and could be a Danny Orr no2.

And we have now found our new rumour. All is well again.

Matt Orford would not be a stop gap signing. We actually need a new scrum half long term whereras I would say a stop gap signing is for a season or after unforseen circumstances. Both Tim Smith and Cameron Phelps spring to mind.

Orford would be 31 coming over so we would most likely get two years out of him. Maybe the experience and leadership for them two years will be valuable for us to develop Leuluai and Tomkins and when he leaves hopefully McIlorum will be ready to step up to a higher level. There is plenty of quality available in terms of both prop forward and scrum half and we have a lot of players OOC so we have no excuses really.

Myler and Tomkins would be daft and the progress we are making in terms of recruitment would be wasted. Both are at the same stage and both haven't established themselves as super league players yet and both might not do. It would be a daft risk to take. We have a young halfback in Sam Tomkins we don't need another. We need an experienced scrum half alongside him to take some of the pressure off him that is why I suggested Matt Orford.

Yes Orford would most likely be good for the 2 years he would be with us and would provide good experience for Sam etc

But I think the best thing for Sam would be a long term half back partner because this is the only way we will see the best of him IMO changing our halves every 2 years is NOT the way to be successful, Saints and Leeds have proven this.

I have little doubt that Tomkins and Myler will be England's future half back combination

I think after a few seasons they would be a top half back combination but yes they would struggle for 2/3 seasons but if we had experience and leadership in other area's of the pitch I think they could work. McGuire and Burrow struggled to start off with but look at them now. I'm not saying they would definitely work but give them a half decent pack and a hooker and loose forward (I think Riddell/Tommy and Lockers are good enough) who can take some of their burden when it is needed I think they would come good

I don't think anyone can argue that stability is the key to being successful but signing a 31 year old Aussie for 2 seasons is the completely wrong way to get this stability