Finishing just outside the play offs last year, maybe a "huge" difference was not required. I think his ability to lead a team around the park would have been enough to get us into the play offs last year and I still think he is better than any of our halves this year.

We finished 5 points off the play offs last year. Some of the games we won earlier in the year, Orford was the difference. I am pretty sure in my own mind that having Deacon there instead wouldn't have been the difference between the top 8.

It is working out well for Deacon at Wigan and I am pleased for the guy because he was a great servant.

WIsh Deacs wuz back here

Let's not forget who Deacon's replacement was, and that until he got injured we were in 4th place. The club were not to know, unfortunately, how that was to pan out.

Deacon has benefited hugely from having O'Loughlin, Finch and Tommy L on the fringes acting as a placebo or alternative attacking option. The depth of play and varying lines run by the Wigan forwards and backs have given him far more latitude which he simply didn't have herel in the last 2 years. Primarily due to lack of quality in the team and poor coaching by SM.

Underused, undervalued and overly criticised in his last 2 seasons at Odsal. Pity. Superb player and bloke.