Bloody Brilliant! Top of the league, in the cup semi. I'd have happily taken 3rd or 4th in the league at the start of the season. Tony P has been the best buy in SL this year and the academy players have made the transition to superleague better than we could have hoped for.

Like the man says, we're top of the league and in the cup semi - from that things coiuldn't be better, although the realists in us know that our depleted squad are really up against it to wrestle the title back.

Kyle doesn't look like he's going to have too much trouble taking the reigns next year and [ishould[/i turn out a real star for us - Wheeler's impressed in a slightly less audacious manner, mainly playing out of position but looking very asssured and taking his chances when they come - Lomax seems to have really sparked some peoples' imagination even with limited appearences - I reckon with Dixon and Ashurst we've at minimum got a couple of decent Mike Bennetts to fill in when the likes of Gilmour and Flannery leave - when the going gets tough, Paul Clough gets rough, a real stand out for me this year - Scott Moore's going well at Hudds and is in line for a return - we're lined up to have 2 top class centres playing next year.

Problems? We've hi-lighted the main one over and over again - Props.
Cayless's almost constant injury problems have hilighted our lack of depth, and if Jammer was ruled out we'd be right up ar5e gravy creek without a paddle.
We will surely sign a replacement for Cayless, and we'd be incredibly unlucky to have another squad member have as many injury problems as he'd had this year.
Most of us, me included, think we need another signing at prop which would push Bryn back to being a "squad man".
Two signings at prop (one big name, one modest but capable) combined with our very strong back row would shelter our young half backs and 3/4s and give them a real chance to shine.
Kite's been mentioned as a big name signing. Andy Coley as the more modest alternative. If we got these two combined with Jammer and Maurie, our pack would be the best in SL by a way IMO.

We do have Frodsham, Emmitt and apparently some other talent in the junior ranks. I cannot believe that, given the reports of his prowess at lower level, Frodsham won't turn into at least an adequate SL prop. It takes longer for props to mature to being able to make it in open age ranks, maybe next year's his year?

Coley has signed an extension of his contract at Wigan

We are not just in transition we are also cutting back spending. I challenge the club on this assertion its just natural wastage.

We are letting star players, international players leave and replacing them with very young players who cannot possibly command a similar salary level. The squad is also getting smaller in numbers too, not just senior personnel. Yet people suggest we're not signing anyone else for next season. It simply doesn't add up, unless the closure of the offshore payment loophole meant we had to cut back.

The post Scully/Long/KC era was always going to be challenging but I fear we are making things harder than they need to be by refusing to sign any senior players.

Obviously we are top and there despite not playing well consistently this season at all. I don't know if this is a reflection of how good our players are or how poor the rest of Super League is to be honest. If it weren't for the injuries we'd have one hand on the Challenge Cup again, so it's a healthy picture, even though I reckon we're unlikely to win anything this season, the Cup because of injuries and the GF because Leeds will be far fresher and stronger. I also feel the over reliance on the young players next season could ruin a career or two in the long run.

You won't be getting Coley for next season, he signed a 1 year extension with us for next season.

We'll swap you Fielden for St. Bernard though.

Whilst you'll be correct to a degree, you do have to take into account budgeting for our young stars' increased contracts. When our young players keep winning MOS awards and getting international call ups, you need to at least budget for when their contract negotiation comes round.

we are letting go Longy and Gilmour so far, and we seem to have cover for Longy in Eastmond, and Gilmour in Soliola, if KC leaves as well we have his replacement in Moore. so thats 3 x 30+yr old ex internationals out and 2x 21/23 yr old current internationals in. Not a bad deal. Eastmond has done better than i expected in all honesty and there is nothing to show that he wont go on to international level.

As has been said above and a thousand times our issue is with front rowers. The sort of names getting banded about are starting to worry me. In a year we have gone from nailed on signing Carvell to names of the like of Coley (signed for wigan now) and Griffin at Hudds, its a big step down in class. Griffin in a very big unit, but doesnt run his size he is 18st and 6'4"! If we could get more out from him then fine, but i remain unconvinced.
Frodsham will be class, but he is possibly 2 yrs off really making it in SL, but i said that about wheeler and eastmond last year so what do i know

Very well.

Eastmond looks like ther natural heir to Long.

Clough has become a cornerstone of the pack, whilst Dixon looks a real talent.

Throw in the promise of Wheeler and Ashurst and we genuinely have reason to belive that there is a batch of talented players to take the place of those who will leave.

They key question is whether they can step up to the heights of Long, Cunningham and Sculthorpe who dominated for such a long time.

That will be your problem. Wigan had a good group of young players who looked good alongside the experienced pros.

When the experienced players left however, the youngsters were shown up for what they were and well 2006 happened.

That's why we need to bulk up the front row, give us enough weight going forward and defending the middle to make sure the youngsters aren't in a fair fight before they're ready for it.

To be fair, the counter argument is that Graham, Roby and Eastmond look set to carry this mantle.

None of whom are particularly experienced though.

I thought the interview with Clough on Sporting Life was interesting, with him being told that he was now an experienced campaigner. He's only in his second season in the first team! It's that kind of talk that worries me.

In a playing capacity, what more experience do you want Graham and Roby to have?

Neither are in their prime yet, and at 24, are still in the stage where they are learning the game.

I think it's a dangerous tactic to expect players that young to have the burden of guiding younger players when they should be concentrating on improving their own games.