[urlhttp://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=9317&type=news[/url

great news, means we will get a decent fee from Saints for him

Good news. Just need his half back partner so sign now

Not really powell signed a year longer contract than williams so still has 3 years left, Williams had 2 years left

Hampshire next

Top news.

Get Hampshire and Burgess tied down to similar deals now and we're laughing. Those three players are future internationals and we must keep them all here for a good few seasons at least.

I'd love to see Williams start on Saturday with Micky Mac at loose. He's really growing in to the side now and testing teams.

So, long term, where do they all fit in?

That's the million dollar question, particularly with Matty Smith in the mix also and the possibility of Green and Bowen staying on beyond this year. It all depends what positions the coaching staff ultimately see each of them playing.

Id guess

Hampshire: FB
Williams: SO
Smith: SH
Powell: HK

If both Green and Bowen stay next year I can see the possibility of Hampshire becoming unsettled through lack of game time. At present Wane can only see fullback for Hampshire with both Williams and Powell seeming to be Wanes preferred pair for any game time that comes up in the halfbacks.

I would think that if Leeds or Saints got any sniff of a problem they would be in like a flash, I hope not but it is a danger that Wigan have to be aware of.

Well, having had the good news, it's important to focus on hypothetical problems.
I suspect we will re-sign one of but not both of Bowen or Green.

Has there ever been a more perfect quote to sum up our fans these days?

The danger we have is are we throwing too many of these young kids in too soon? In the past 2 seasons we've replaced Carmont with a 21 year old academy product (Thornley), Richards with a 19 year old (Burgess), is it too much to look at replacing 2 more senior players in Bowen and Green with 2 of Hampshire/Powell/Williams? We obviously don't want to lose any of them and they may become unsettled as you suggest, but how many SL players are regular first choice starters by age 20, particularly in a key position such as halfback or fullback? There's also Sarginson to consider, whose long term position could well be at FB.

So that's Bowen, Green, Smith, McIlorum, Powell, Hampshire, Williams, Sarginson (and possibly Logan Tomkins) to cover a maximum of 5 positions (FB/SO/SH/H/bench).

I'm convinced green will go back to the NRL at the end of the year. Bowen to stay for one more.

If they re-sign it will be for very decent money. They would have re-signed for Wigan, why would they sign for Saints or Leeds?
These players know their ages and their experience, they will also know that at this stage in their career they can't do a 30+ game SL season as Matty Smith or Blake Green can do.
The long contracts and first team salaries will keep them happy, also in the full knowledge that they are very much a large part of the Wigan club's future!

Great news, top class young talent, future star.

I hate it when a player signs a 4 year deal.

I hate it when a player stands on one leg puts a flower behind his ear and sings Olly Murs songs.

Just be glad it wasn't a 5 year deal



More seriously: Great news!

It usually means we are about to sell the player.



Can't we have some stability in the team for just one season ? We have a massive clearout every year nowadays.

We didn't win the 8 by constantly selling our players.

(Cue the excuse; "oh those days are long gone !"icon_wink.gif

Very good news re Williams but I don't think losing Green is a big issue.

Mind you I think he has a rather over inflated view of his worth. He has said he doesn't rule out a return to the NRL but I don't see a queue of Oz clubs lining up.

In fact if we kept Bowen and lost Green it might make it more likely Hampshire got a go at 6.

By his half back partner I meant Hampshire given they have come through the junior ranks together

How long had Powell got left on his deal?

I have heard a whisper he may be coming to the right side of the Pennines next year.

This thread seems a bit strange, it talks about Williams getting a 4 year contract and also mentions that Powell still has a few years to go on his deal, but no mention of the length of Hampshire's contract (who is said to be the best Wigan prospect for years). I always was under the impression that Hampshire's contract ran side by side with Williams deal.

This season Hampshire has never been considered for first team halfback cover when it has been required for the first team, it as always been for the fullback position only.
There have been matches this year when Hampshire has not been in the 17 when Bowen as played even though Williams and Powell have.

Now I have read today on the Wigan Rugby League fans forum that Hampshire's contract is up at the end of the season and he is refusing to sign a new one.

Surely someone more informed than me can clarify the situation regarding the length of Hampshire's contract and if it is up this year there must be some hold up saying that Williams has been given a 4 year deal which has been accepted.

Not sure tbh but it wouldn't surprise me. I think he's the one of our current options the club may just about feel comfortable enough letting move on. Don't get me wrong I believe he could be very good but when you look at the options you could understand it. He's got to get past-

Green and Smith- a double winning pair of halves who took out the individual awards in both finals between them.

Williams- a new four year deal in the bag. A supremely talented youngster who's talked of as a future international. He's tough in defence and offers more threat with the ball then Powell.

Hampshire- Probably the brightest prospect at Wigan and in superleague right now. He can play halfback or fullback, he's rapid, a huge threat with the ball and can kick goals. He's that good many would sacrifice Green for him.

McIlorum- Powell can play hooker also but there isn't a hooker in superleague who's getting past Micky Mac with Wane in charge. He's his biggest fan and knows that he's the heartbeat of the team.

Powell may well just find himself in the right place at the wrong time at Wigan. He'd have waltzed a place in our team a few years back.