A prop forward is an obvious area we need to strengthen but after that it gets a bit hazy.

Do we need a scrum half or do we resign Tommy?

Do we need a centre? Depends if Carmont accepts an extension and how well Pryce and Goulding can settle into the side.

Do we need a fullback? Depends how well Ainscough settles into the squad.

A centre and a prop is all that is really needed.

We can clear out some of the rubbish in the squad and the bulk of them can be replaced by what we already have or by players from our academy.

Squad next season:

Pat Richards
Amos Roberts
NEW CENTRE
George Carmont
Sean Ainscough
Sam Tomkins
Thomas Leuluai
Stuart Fielden
Mark Riddell
Feka Paleaasina
Gareth Hock
Joel Tomkins
Sean O'loughlin
NEW PROP
Harrison Hansen
Eamon O'carroll
Paul Prescott
Darrell Goulding
Karl Pryce
Michael McIlorum
Lee Mossop
Ben Davies
Liam Farrell
Chris Tuson
Ian Thornley

Would that squad be big enough?

I think so

Who would you have as the prop and centre though?

Should we go for Dobson when his contract runs out and if yes what will happen to Tommy?

If we can get world class players at prop and centre..I would say yes that squads very exciting.


I also personally believe we need a prop now..what would i give for a Pongia to come available

At prop forward there is a lot of quality available. We are almost spoilt for choice. According to the league express we are moving for Andy Lynch. I would be very happy with that. Andy Lynch for Andy Coley.

At centre I'm not as sure. Martin Gleeson is the only player in the UK of any quality at centre coming off contract. (I think)

From the NRL Lance Hohaia, Jerome Ropati and Iosia Soliola all have good reputations and would be good signings.

Yes we should go for Dobson when his contract runs out.

Pat Richards
Amos Roberts
Martin Gleeson
George Carmont
Sean Ainscough

Sam Tomkins
Thomas Leuluai

Stuart Fielden
Mark Riddell
Andy Lynch

Gareth Hock
Joel Tomkins

Sean O'loughlin

---------------------------------------------
Feka Paleaasina
Michael McIlorum
Eamon O'carroll/Paul Prescott
Harrison Hansen/Karl Pryce

Darrell Goulding
Lee Mossop
Ben Davies
Liam Farrell
Chris Tuson
Ian Thornley

Martin Gleeson is more than likely on his way to Melbourne next year.

True.

Keep Tommy on as a 9 or let him go?

I would have Scott Logan back easy.

He could drive the ball in really hard, gave away a few too many penalties though.

Scott Logan cut short his contract with us due to homesickness.
We won't see him playing for Wigan again.
Earlier this year it was rumoured Richard Moore was signed or about to do so. If that was true then IL & BN had plans to have four experienced props with Moore in addition to Feka, Fielden & Coley.
Not surprising they identified a need for a fourth prop as we are lacking power up front to an alarming degree.
If Coley goes then we'll need two props.
Only bringing in one to replace Coley won't take us any further forward than we are now.
One prop will give us a season in 2010 like we're having now.

Scott Logan as retire i thought

I think this opinion owes more to hope than reality. I simply can't see Wigan signing two new props when they already have four. Even if they did, one of the current four - probably either Prescott or O'Carroll - would almost certainly leave, and then we'd be back in the same boat.

The best we can hope for, IMO, is one new prop - preferably a really good one.

why lynch? hes good yeah but is getting on now.be better signing paul wood.

Paul Wood?

going back to the richard moore rumour, i always thought he would have been a decent signing for us at the right price, but ive just been to the gym and he was there with a couple of the wakey players, the lad has lost an unbelievable amount of weight and bulk. hope he gets well soon. i went to the brennan rooney charity launch with work and he was there and was a huge unit, such a shame to see a drastic change in someone, chin up richard, you'll get there.

Absolutely resign Tommy IMO. All his talk of Dobson actually puzzles me. Is it in any due to rose tinted sentimentality because IMO Tommy is the better of the 2?

Tommy is the better defender and broken play runner imo but looking at it from a purely who's the better SH i'd say Dobbo is more of a conventional SH and more like the type of player we need in our team. We have a few creative players but very few organisers. Dobbo at SH would be a good foil for Sam who will hopefully grow more into an attacking 6 who takes on defenders etc.

He just seems to do the basic rights e.g puts you in good field position with his kicks, marshals the team round the park and occasionally comes up with some spectacular plays e.g Hatrick against us and MOTM against Saints recently. A little bit like Burrow I guess who killed us on Friday by making the right decisions at the right times.

We play at our best imo when Tommy is running from DH when Riddell goes off as like I said before his broken field running could be the best in the league.

As harsh as it seems on Mcilorum my ideal team would be

6-Tomkins
7-Dobbo

9-Riddell
14-Tommy

Compare that to the likes of Saints and Leeds and it’s not that far off imo.

The bottom line for me is that although Leuluai is OK and has the respect of the fans for his effort, I don't think he's the scrum half of a potential championship winning side.

I think we need a better partner for Tomkins long term. Leuluai/Tomkins for me won't be good enough to take us where we want to go.

Who says Tomkins is going to make it? He's made a very promising start but so have many others.

The actual question was tommy v dobbo. Looking at it harshly, ones a regular international and the other is an NRL reject.

Andy Lynch is the most under-rated prop forward in England imo. He's strong, tough and plays plenty of minutes. He can also play abit and has a great offload.

The only downside to him is that he has more then his fair share of injury problems but then nothing in comparison to Paul Wood.

Richie Myler anyone?

Got sick of saying tonight "i'd love us to sign Myler to play alongside Tomkins".

2 awesome young halfbacks who will surely form a future England pairing.

Would be a good signing as long as he has a decent pack

Paul King could possibly be available on loan till the end of the season? I realise we need a world class prop and he is no where near it but how do you think he’d do till the end of the season?

Wouldn’t want O’Carroll or Prescott to miss out on anything tho