Hasn't he been extensively linked with Sai*ts?

we need to promote a full back from the kids, or search for a new one,
over the past few weeks sam has proven that him being in the line is the best place for him.

someone on facebook as said st george and a few other teams have been done for breach of salary cap.

cooper and boyd please IL

You've been watching different games to me and also all the people who have voted him miles ahead MOTM on Bilko's site in quite a few games this season. Sam has had less than 12 months as a FB and is still only 22. Utilising him as an Australian-style extra pivot type FB will be his best position for the next few years imo, hence why the bloke regarded by many as the best coach in the league hasnt even considered putting him back at 6 this season. The only times this season Sam has been ineffective from FB is when we were totally dominated in the forwards, Wire and Catalans at home. It's a myth that hes poor under the high ball and the criticism of his defence is unjust. Full back is a different position to what it used to be and if we want to keep up with the aussies we have to utilise players from the 1 position in the same way players like Hayne, Slater, Boyd etc play.

Only minor things breaches though, small fine and nothing too serious. Think St George got the smallest fine out of about 5 teams.

Props:

Fielden
Lima
Mossop
Prescott
O'Carrol
Davies
Crosby

Backrowers:

Lockers
Hock
Farrel
Hansen
Tuson
Hughes

It would be nice to keep Hoffman. Still whether he stays or leaves I doubt we'll recruit for the pack next year. And IMO we don't need to. While it may not be the flashiest pack in SL. All us Wigan fans know just how good these players are, no matter how underrated they are by opposition fans.

Even without making a single new signing for next year we could still put out the side below. That's still a strong side for mine.

Sam
Marsh/ King/ Goulding
Joel
Charnley
Pat
Finch
Tommy
Fielden
McIlorum
Prescott
Hock
Hansen
Lockers

Lima
Mossop
Farrel
Mellor

What we have to be mindful of is blocking the progression for the likes of Charnley etc. Whilst Cooper would be a great signing. He'd stop Josh from playing at centre forcing him out on the wing, intern stopping the chance for the likes of King from getting any game time next year.

As I've said previously I'll be surprised if we make more than one signing next year, I really will.

I'd give anything to keep the Hoff, and just go next year with what we already have.

Madge keeps mentioning how the youngsters are chomping at the bit to play first team. Well it's about time we gave the likes of Russell, King, Mellor and Crosby the chance. Imagine Russel coming into the first team and doing a fantastic job at FB, so much so that he displaces Sam. That would open are options up so much, and give us that little bit more cover for certain positions.

I think with Josh Charnley still only being 19, one or two more seasons on the wing outside a top quality centre could only benefit him rather than hold him back. Someone like Cooper would be a decent signing as a stop-gap between replacing Carmont and giving Charnley the no 4 jersey.

Cooper would be more than decent! Charnley has played very well on the wing and has been particularly effective at returning kicks IMO. He's got bags of enthusiasm plus he's a big, strong lad for his age and wing may well turn out to be his best position. He'll stay there for the rest of this season I imagine anyway

It's not a myth though. Tomkins lacks size - he can't challenge effectively for a contested high ball like say, Richards.

Any coach worth his salt will be telling his kicker to put bomb after bomb up against Sam.

He's the same height as Billy Slater !!!!

Do people honestly not think Sam is playing fantastic currently? He's playing as a FB. I don't understand this desire to play Sam at 6, we have plenty of good options to play in the halves no one else really to do a good job at FB.

Exactly, people are even mentioning him as an early candidate for Man of steel, yet most of our fans want to move him to a different position!

I would leave Hock in pencil just for now !

The ink hasn't quite "dried" on that contract yet !

I feel that for Sam to be more effective at FB, he really needs to add abit more size to himself without losing the speed. I have been on the pitch watching Billy at Melbourne, Sam may be the same height but Billys legs and shoulders are huge. Sam lacks the power at the moment to break though (with strong forwards) or defend a good high ball in traffic, don’t get me wrong his development at this stage is great..but for him to continue in the FB position especially at an England level (or the top few teams in Super league) he need to get more size and power..

Tomkins may not be the biggest but look at Hodgson and Patten. They are not man mountains and were very highly regarded in the NRL.

Its a bit unfair to compare him with Slater who is the best around. I know what you mean reagrding power; Slater and Hayne can burst through defenders anywhere on the pitch. Tomkins will get stronger and is the best option Wigan have at fullback just for the attacking threat he can pose.

but next season we dont.
finch is no good,
and wont be here next year,
deacs wont be here next year,
leaving just tommy, who we play as a sub hooker to,
im sure we have more wingers and full backs that are good enough to play in the first team than get an un-tested, or another aussie who really inst worth what we are paying him to come and play in the middle of the park because you lot want to keep our best attacking player out of the way at full back getting him smashed everytime a kick comes through.

indeed.

You don't give up easily you men do you



I've heard Maguires ink on his Souths contract hasn't dried yet aswell and he may do a u-turn and decide to work as an assistant to Richard Agar.

These are two very spurious points to hang an argument on.

IL said that Finch will see out his contract. And the conventional wisdom from down under is that Finch is a pretty good player (i.e. Origin standard).

I'll agree that he's had a slow start over here, but adaptating to a new club and systems etc can take time, as has been proved by some of the best - Pat Richards, Mark Riddell, Craig Smith and Gene Miles to name four off the top of my head.

Really makes me laugh how some can make a final opinion on a guy after just 7-8 games.

keep saying it, if he was as good as hes ment to be he wouldnt need to bed in,
trent didnt, kenny didnt, lam didnt,

Again, how many of those were injured for the best part of a year and had major surgery just before signing?

And not even half a pre season

Idiot