IF Fielden stays at Wigan as now appears most likely than giving Dowes a year one deal wouldn't be the end of the world however if we give him a 2 year deal we won't be able to push on IMO.

I'd rather go without Dowes then him be signed on a two year deal.

Signing him on a two year deal would restrict our recruitment moving forward.

Sign a NL1 or NL2 prop on a one year low wage deal as 5th choice prop, who knows he could prove himself and were onto a winner, if not he'll prob do an OK job, but nothing startling on a lot less than Dowes.

Resigning both Dowes and Radford would be a mistake, yes we have ok in the forwards this season but we would be standing still while others strengthen, and with our halfback options and three quarter line weak already with no majors additions we will fall further behind.

But surely Paul any team with ambition will try to impove itself. Wigan have finished top of the league but have still gone out and signed 3 top quality players for next season. Other teams are doing the same. We seem happy to have made an improvement this year, but the squad isn't good enough to push for honours IMO. In fact I beleive we will slip backwards next season if we just go with the same old faces without adding any quality. Beating Rovers and St's twice this season seems to have been successful season in the boards eyes.

Compared to

Graham/Perry
Puletua/LMS

It looks poor.

just let dowes go, do all we can to bring stu fielden in then our front row would be alot better. even if a good quality prop cant be brought in then me i would put fitzy in at prop so we could have omeley/radders and fitzgibbon/sam moa for me that looks good but would prefer a good quality prop like fielden to come in

LMS signs for news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 961108.stm

LMS signs for news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 961108.stm

i honestly beleive there are better props who are younger and more importantly CHEAPER than dowes somewhere, wetehr it be superleague or NL...so i say we should look to maybe develop a prop.. with the experainced ones weve already got we should be ok...

toatally agree we should let dowes go no matter what, even if fielden dosent come off then theres the option of moving fitzy in at prop or look for a young prop or promote from with in the academy any good prospects that could step up?

I would have done it the other way around. If we had to keep one of Dowes or Radford, lee Radford can use the exit door yesterday

Chris Hill from Leigh is getting a load of interest from Super League sides, don't know if we are 1 of them though.

Cant see Fielden leaving Wigan myself.

Any ideas on a half back signing?

NO CHANCE!!

Radford is a far superior player and IMO has been the best this year than any other year while at the club!!
I'm a little concerned at the 2yr deal but if he performs anywhere near like he has this year than i'm happy.

Dowes i'd be willing to take on for one more year and see who comes available next year, but he aint a patch on Radford!!

I agree we ned to improve as we are not good enough but if we sign another back to compliment Sharp and a forward to replace Yak then we will have made some improvements and if we can get our halves fit (I know) then that would also improve us. I just don't think our pack has been the problem this year. I believe the club have already started looking at next off season and have been looking at props and halves as we will have at least two spaces if Fitz and Berro both leave but a shed load of dough to spend.

Would just be a very, very average plodder in SL!

That four is probably the best in the comp on paper.

I can't see it this season unless it's a young NL player or a youngster from another SL club. We don't have the cap space, quota space to sign a quality half. Maybe someone like McNally might be an option on a loan for a year?

Then you're very easily pleased/ Radford as a second rower is at the bottom of the pecking order, and as a prop he's just the same, no engine, rediculous offloads and no leadership skills

I think Graham is due a major injury next year. Just unsure how much more his body can really take!!

Is McNally still contracted to HUdds for this coming season? I think he might be but not 100%sure.
Not seen anything of him this season.

Hence the fact they have signed two props and can now use him more sparringly.

Think so but can't see him getting a look in with Brown, Robinson and Brough all there.

Your right, plus I cant see any reason why Hudds shouldn't loan him out to another SL club.

Not at all.

I class Fitzy as a leader, O'Meley also but not Radders and certainly not Dowes.

Yes, sometimes Radford's offloads don't come off but when they do they can be devastating to the opposition. Dowes doesn't even have off loads in his locker!!

I geniunely don't see, in any of your points, that Dowes is a better option than Radford. For example, would Dowes have scored that try against Warrington last week?? Radford has an excellent rugby brain which can make up for this lack of engine you talk about... Dowes would have seen the ball hit the deck, then either stop and look at the referee or just jump on the ball!!

That's the difference, one's a thinker.

Saints, Wigan and Warrington will all have a better front row of 4 than Dowes/O'Meley/Radford/Moa as will Huddersfield and Leeds. It's also arguable that Rovers would have if they signed Mason and played him in the front row.