Last night was superb and has been in super form all year
Is this guy ever going to get a run in the first team?
Fearful we may end up losing him

Man of match last night but I don't think he has the pace to play at stand off at top level. Competition in the back row is also fierce at the moment so it will be hard for him to get the run you are asking for.

I've just said the same thing on the Saints site. He completely overplayed Eastmond and was my m.o.m.

He deserves a shot at first team rugby, but in place of who? Wigans strength in depth is causing problems, but it is a nice problem to have.

Ben Davies was again superb last night.

could he nip in for joel at some point?
Although i appreciate joel has been playing well, he has time on his side to improve and learn more
I feel it is important to give him a couple of games this year to show him what he needs to become to make it

It's the first time we've had this problem for quite a while - suddenly we seem to have decent lads queueing up for every position.

Those still fuming about Ainscough's absence ought to consider that having a strong and sizeable squad is the only way to progress in modern RL. The downside of that, however, is that there are always going to be casualties.

No-one worried about this in the glory days, when entire teams of very talented youngsters had to wait patiently for opportunities. In fact, it was seen as the natural order of things.

One real concern I have is that too many people are crowding around these young lads, massaging their egos and telling them they should be p122ed off if they aren't selected every week. That will do the club a lot more harm than good. It won't help the players either. I can think of one promising Wigan youngster who apparently listened to this kind of rubbish, stuck in a transfer request and now isn't even playing in Super League.

From what everyone is saying about the lad I think a loan move should be arranged for him.

Coyle?

I do agree though it does naff me off when Riddell can casually stroll back into the first team after an injury.

No, sod that. Let the club work on him for a few weeks then get him back in, I want his hat-tricks/brace of tries to be in Wigan colours, not someone else's (certainly not another SL club's).

If he's good enough to play first team sign him up ona new contract and loan him out to a superleague side until theres room somewhere here for him.

He could be a very handy player for us if he ever does break through because he can play in a varity of positions and even played at hooker at Leigh in the friendly.

I wonder if he's the player the Leigh fan was talking about who's signing for them on loan?

He was very good last night. Tackles well and even though he played at 6, he's more suited to 13. Runs good lines, draws men towards him, breaks tackles and has good hands.

Seems like Nobby's decisions with regards young players is bearing fruit. When Flanagan 1st came here he didn't exactly get good raps from the speccies, seems like the faith put in him is startig to be repaid. Same with Ainscough, once again Nobby was right to leave him out of the 1st team when he did and for the right reasons. Some of Nobby's decisions have been mystifying early on but fair dues to the bloke he is bang on with these two.

Had a blinder last night. His solo try was nothing short of spectacular. I would like to see him getting his first team shot next year along with Liam Farrell & Lee Mossop. We do have such a high abundance aof decent backrowers at moment at Wigan!

We had both Coyle and Flannigan at Fax last year - Coyle was poor - Flannigan on the other hand was fantastic strong runner, good hands and puts his shoulder in on defence - if you cant find a place for him we will take him back!

I think John Kear at Wakefield has made a tentative enquiry about Flanagan

A loan deal or to sign him?

Not sure but I doubt it would be a loan.

We are going to need a replacement LF for Demitriou in the next 12 months and with JKs preference being for English signings then I suspect it would have been a permanent deal.

you would nt get him permanent i think nobby like s him an we paid a decent sum for him at the same time we got fielden ,i watched him last year for fax an he was awsome scoring 2 tries in in some important game s so hands off lol

I know that Flanagan is a SR, but could he play at Stand Off next year if Smith is to return to Aus and have him and Sam in the halves. I havent seen enough of him to judge and just wondered if this was a possibility and if it would work.

Would be a huge risk that. Cant see it happenning.

You have and so have Hull and Salford.

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Yet again another case of over eager criticism of Noble.

Yep.

With that headguard it looked like Thurston in the halves



Very talented young lad, but is there an opening for him at Wigan? Who knows.

Sadly i do not think he has one.

No it wasn't him. He was brill though on Friday night and he did well when he was on loan at Fax. Showed up very well at 6.