The with regards kicking, I think that one of the best things brown has brought is a much improved kicking game. Turner, and in particular Wilkin have improved drastically throughout the course of last season, and whilst neither are potentially good enough for the "kicker" tag, both make great back up options if Walsh is shut down. Also, I'd imagine they'll be playing on different sides of the pitch so there are options on both sides for the kick.

I'm all for lance to play as our replacement 9, unfortunately unless someone comes in sharpish (and this years transfers season seems to have gone on much longer than usual, and a few well placed loans could see someone else in - though who I don't know) well see lance at 6.

I'm surprised and happy to hear wheeler is training - though I'm slightly confused as to why at centre

Regardless of what anyone says, Last year wont have done you any harm!!, yeah it hurt the fans not winning anything, but you'll be a better side for it in the long run... besides which you made the play offs and gained valuable experience into your young kids and that's priceless. im genuinally not trolling,!!!! I am a wigan fan but not a blinkered one. You've made some decent signings in the off season to add to the core that went through last season, I will watch with no surprise if your in the top 3 next year.

The problems with him being out for 4 month could be a massive set back to him and for the club.

He's a big big guy, he will struggle to gain full fitness quickly due to his size and the fact he will he unable to get much game time when he's back as he will only be able to be used in small bursts. Penrith was only playing him 25 mins per game when he first Returned from injury for them.

A ankle injury isn't great for a 19st man to be putting weight on.

My biggest concern is him not being able to settle. Players say it's a long hard LONLEY road back to fitness and how they miss not being with the lads. It will be tough for a new guy, from another country trying to settle.

Sia was out for nearly his first full season with an ankle injury look at him now! Plus He'll have his mate Sia here as well

Sia just loves it here and fitted in. Not many players settle in like he did, let's hope Mose is one of them that fit in like he did.

I had high hopes for last year, so I'm trying to keep my optimism in a reasonable check.

We've recruited well, but we still have a fragile squad in some areas and I think the key to our success will actually hinge on how some of our current squad members perform and are used -

LMS - Showed wonderful form at the end of the season after a pathetic start. He is actually a very influential player for us. When he gears up and plays like he should, Saints as a whole are lifted.

Hohaia - Will all the good work by our new 1st receiver be wasted by Lance slowing everything down at 2nd? Will he continue to panic outwide in defence?

Wilkin - Is he realistically good enough to be selected in the backrow infornt of other, physically more capable players? Any game where Brown went with 3 pivots (+ fullback) last year was a disaster. IMO should be playing 6 (if not sold to Salford for some nice reddies).

Wellens - Not as good a fullback as Lomax, not as good a forward as a whole bunch of Saints players, not as good a half back as, well.....
If Brown insists on shoehorning him in somewhere, it will 4/5 times weaken our 17.

Boof - Time to step up, kangaroo.

Finishing inside the top 4 and a decent show in the cup is the minimum this squad should be achieving.

Brown probably doesn't trust him to stay fit. If Lance is our other option at 6, then he needs all the training park time he can get. There's no point in letting Wheeler run there, only to drop out injured and leave Lance undercooked.
We've more genuine depth at centre, so he perhaps thinks its less of a problem if Wheeler crocks out again.

If wheeler can't last a game at centre, then he's no chance at stand off where he's more involved.

Shame really as he's got good potential, he's a natural attacking player what we need at 6 and he's a top lad.

This Masoe situation got Josh Perry written a over it. Big guy, big rep, no pre season and will prob pick little niggles up when he gets back

Only thing in our favour is his age. Perry was nearing the end of his career but Mose not hit his peak yet.

Fingers crossed it's not as bad.

Injuries happen. Can't blame the club or the big fella for that. How you shape up afterwards is attitude. Fitness is these guys job. Pay me to go to gym everyday. I'll be whatever shape you want.

I believe he put a stone and half on from the end of the season with the panthers until the kiwi game in the World Cup. Apparently he was tipping the scales at 20st!

Just think what 4 month sat on his backside could do! We could have the heaviest super league player if all time!

Calories in; Calories out.

It's an ankle injury. Nothing to stop arm exercises, till he can walk on it. Plenty of arm bicycles at the gym I go to, will work cardio as well.

Plenty of athletic Wheelchair sports men and women.

Nothing against the guy being big, that's why we bought him.

I'm sure as a pro with the Saints conditioning team they will have already done all this. It's about managing yourself to your conditions. I would not expect him to be doing sprints in 4 weeks, but neither would I expect his fitness to be less than what it needs to be. You do what you can to keep in as best condition as you can. If that means eating less and spending longer doing other types of Cardio for the same result then that's what has to be done.

I'm not saying it's easy, but then neither are plenty of peoples jobs and they get paid a lot less doing things a lot nastier.

I'm not assuming anything about the man himself, but there should be no excuses either, we are not talking a completely incapacitating injury. And even then diet can be controlled.

My point is, why did he turn up at the World Cup so heavy and out of shape?

Doesn't seem the type to watch what he eats and to train. If he can't keep in shape when he's not injured, I can't see him staying in shape when he can't walk.

I'll know more on his injury later today.

Quite possibly his pre-season cycle - he judged being ready for pre season at his new club more important than maintaining peak fitness for the World Cup? Only problem is it backfired and he picked up an injury ...

Not sure you can make judgements about a guy like he doesn't seem to watch what he eats when at best you've just met the guy ... He's a professional, until I hear/ see otherwise, I will assume himself and the conditioning team know what they're doing ...

I'm just presenting the facts he puts a hell of a lot of weight on during pre-season and when he's out injured. That suggests he's not the greatest pro but I don't care what he does off the field as long as he can perform every week.

I personally think pro players in any sport should maintain weight and keep a relatively high standard of fitness.