At the end of the day our props will be:

O'Meley
Lynch
Moa
Radford

Then we'll have O'Carroll pushing them and hopefully Bowden on a dual reg to cover injuries.
If O'Carroll has a good run without injuries I fully expect Radford to find himself left out.

Similar to the one we had with Longy no doubt

on the face of it that looks a good balance of experience and youth, I agree we should get Moa signed, but we have to be realistic, both Moa and O'Meley might want to go back to the NRL if there's some big money kicking around, that leaves us with Lynch (if he signs), Carroll and Bowden for 2013, which would be a concern, hope we're trying to sign Moa now.

Am I wrong in saying his longterm absence was due to a condition rather than an injury as such.

Fecking 'ell there would only be a handful of poster left on here!

Yeah, because it's exactly the same situation isn't it.

he had a groin injury that nobody could diagnose/fix, eventually it was found to be his pubic bone causing the issue (if I have remembered the article correctly)

The 3 year deal is a big risk, but hopefully there are the right sort of clauses regarding appearances/availability for selection etc. Could prove to be a mistake, or a good value signing because we may have got him tied up for 3 years at less than the going rate for his ability because of his injury record. Hope for the latter, fear the former.

Had he signed under Kath and Co I would also fear the former, but with AP rubber stamping things I am more confident in it being the latter, if he plays well for two seasons then he will be a "senior" player going into his third year, so I'd have no problems if his contract was weighted as such, set against performances.

Your far too brainwashed Wolfie if you expect fans to be dancing in the streets over a player who has been sidelined near on 2 yrs and hardly set SL on fire!...The evidence and facts remain, it is a risky signing.

Ahh ok. Still at 24 worth punt still I can understand peoples reservations.

Agreed. The balance of the 6 looks good, but when you look at the first choice 4 it's still a little old for comfort. Especially if Moa does go back (which I think is highly likely). If we bring in a backrower of a good age for next season it could help though, as then 2013's front row could be Lynch, O'Meley/replacement, O'Carroll, Bowden, Tickle.

When people are mentioning our front row for next year you're all ignoring Aldous. He's been training with the first-team squad for a season now, so he might get a go if we get a few injuries.

I think most worry he might be too small to play prop in SL.

well, I've just read the Wigan board on the subject and they seem, in the main, disappointed he is leaving, I guess it depends what our other options were, another year (or more) of Dowes?

If we sign Lynch then O'Carrol will be 5th in the pecking order, at 25 and learning from O'Meley I'm fairly confident he'll be a good addition.

No worries we'll put him in the 2nd row

Not big enough IMO.

Bowden has much more potential.

Based on what ?

Presumably on the reverse side of the "knowledge" that everyone slagging O'Carroll off have been basing their opinions on.

Please show me a post which any-one slags him off ?

Absolutely, Dowes has had his day for me and won't be retained. O'Carrol is young with SL experience at the most successful club in Rugby League.

based on how he was playing before his injury, [iwhat he is capable of[/i, what are you basing your low opinion of him on, having had a complex injury that took a lot of exploration and diagnosis? (which has now been successfully treated and he's had more than enough recovery time, at the age of 24, on a 3 year deal which will be weighted correctly to appearances and form (we hope), coming in to learn from O'Meley for at least a season, to play 5th choice.)

Yes, you're right, we should just have given Dowes another two years.

He's not Dowes

maybe not "slagging him off" but a negative to Standee's positive.

Even you were "not impressed".

Again not a slagging, but unnecessarily negative when the kid's only just signed.

I have not posted any where on this board that I have a low opinion of him!....I have posted that it is a risk to sign a player who has been sidelined for near on 2 yrs...
FC must think he is good to offer 3 yrs, yet he cannot even break into the Wigan team unless there is an injury and he is one of their own!