I was just thinking today that a 1-2 year deal for an established prop would be perfect to give Oledzki, Dupree, Holroyd some more development time. Long-term I think we have some talent at prop. A 1 year deal for Taupau would be awesome balls.

Even with a new prop or even two forwards as well as Merrin, we need the other forwards to stand up. I hear what people say about playing busted etc etc but its time for the excuses to stop and the likes of Singleton, Cuthbertson and Peteru to step up as well, otherwise we may as well not bother signing anyone.

This is spot on.

I really pleased and impressed by the signings we have made and the team will be better for them but 4/5 players do not make up a squad.

This is where Furner actually becomes our most important bit of business as he needs to get the best out of all 20 or so players in the squad.

Yep, a poster on the VT commented that he didn't see too many top 4 players once he looked past Merrin, Hurrell and Watkins. He wasn't trolling. And while I can give reasons why he might be wrong it's hard to ignore the standard most were playing to last year.

I would say Briscoe, Watkins, Hurrell, Lolohea, Parcell, Merrin, Ward, and Cuthbertson were top four players, and would get into other sides in the top four. They are right on rest, they are in the main just your average squad fillers to make the team a team. However, there is some quality younger ones who could hit that star player. But the standard of the game means you can possibly get away with that. But when you see predicted teams labelled out and a player like Singleton consistently starting prop, that does highlight a weakness.

See, i’d tend to agree however I think we also need to remember the fact we have a new coach who might implement some structure. Wigan over the past few years have had some very average players look international class because of how they have fitted into their system. It will be very interesting to see how some of our players we now think of average fair with more structure and a place in an overall system with better defined duties.

If Furner manages to get the likes of Ferres, Ablett and Cuthbertson back to anywhere near their best suddenly the pack doesn’t look as weak. I’m excited to see what he can get out of our existing squad as much as our new star players.

We basically need Furner to be the Marcelo Bielsa of Super League, squeezing every drop of nutrient from a greasy kebab. With the help of a small side plate of vegetables from Australia. Easy.

Unfortunately, was advised last night that although top player lined up to replace Garbutt we first need to offload some players, players like Mullaly, Walters, Ormonroyd, Golding plus others etc. (even with these 4 players they will be a overall salary of at least £160k pa) Its a shame but we have had Quantity over quality these last three years and the old saying you can only polish a turd so much started to ring true.
Still cannot understand why Ablett and JJB was handed new contracts, I understand they are work horses and will be second choice this new season but giving both of them contracts doesn't seem right, maybe Sinners has faith in these two and knowing them both he may think it buys time for some of the youngsters to develop.

Reading between the lines a bit here, but maybe it was expected that Parcell would move on. Big earner, I suspect, and certainly there were times last year when his mind seemed to be elsewhere. That would have made matters so much easier than trying to shift tall 4 you've mentioned.

I think Ablett and JJBs contracts aren’t just about on field capabilities, they are probably the only two left who are from the side that won everything going and I think Furner and Sinfield want people with that mentality in the squad

Not really as we would have needed a replacement for him

Sinfield & JJB are best mates. I think Sinfield appreciates JJB's morality, & I don't say that flippantly.