Nothing wrong with our work ethic, Burgess has made that the best it’s been for a long time. I think we need a bullocking second row, a classy centre (which we have), an impact prop and a kicking game. Wigan have all four of those things listed. Centre close to sorted….signings needed for the others which I’m not sure is on the cards.

I think we are quick to forget how Wigan fared when French was out injured. They got pummelled a few times, and scraped first place, after we all had expected them to blitz the league unchallenged at the start of this year.

We've had our own injury crisis during the course of this season, but never lost by more than 10 points, and have never been out of a game. We also finished as top scorers and top defenders. That isn't to take away anything from Wigan's achievements of course, but let's not brush over the fact that Burgess came into a totally broken system and turned it 180 degrees. Nothing to be sniffed at, and a reason to be far less worried going forward than if A.N.Other coach had let us limp out of the reckoning yet again. We also have some of the best developing talent coming through, tied up on long contracts.

I don't have a major issue with those comparisons. Philbin edges Byrne - more carries, more tackle busts, more metres, better discipline - so that would be one back for us.

What is clear is that we haven't had anyone making the sort of destructive runs Mago and Nsemba do, and Smith offers more of an attacking threat and a more telling kicking game than Drinkwater. Elsewhere I think you are dealing in pretty small margins.

I think it’s safe to say that if we improve, and that’s a biggish if, we should be Wigans main rival for silverware.

Your assessments of players certainly backs up your own views. Rather a unique method. The club seems to agree with you & has strengthened SH, SR & outside back.

Did I upset you in a former life?

Perfectly reasonable to assess two teams side by side. One the champion side the other the aspirant. Nothing unique about it.

Time will tell if we have indeed strengthened. e.g. Russell will have to be a hell of a player to improve on Nicholson.

It was French, Field, Smith and O'Neill missing. The whole spine. I would challenge any team to try and cope without that. It's obviously going to impact any team if your best players are missing. Also, through that period of just over half way you could clearly see an intensity drop off for about 5 or 6 weeks. Somebody on our board says that is a planned drop off every season and then towards the end of the season everything gets ramped up to where every player is at their optimum. Our Pre-season sessions are notoriously savage. I know a former player who went into detail that includes sprinting up steps at Rivington with loaded back packs on. He said most players are physically sick at the end of it.

Mago's first carry when he came on was pure destruction. I would love a player like that again.

we've recruited, strengthened is debatable.

Careful. Their family may be reading.

Totally right. We have lost Nicholson & Drinkwater. Only time will tell if Russell & Leyland can fill their boots.

And Bateman.

Again, the risk is in assuming that all the players we have retained provide the exact same performance in 2025 as they did in 2024. It assumes strengthening only happens through signings.

If Wrench or Tai, and Holroyd or Whitehead, improve by the same factor as Dufty and Currie did between 2023 and 2024, we will have strengthened. Obviously the challenge is on the coaching team to deliver that.

On the plus side Holroyd's improvement ought to continue. The concern will be how Fitzgibbon will recover.

Can only hope the surgeon and the club are confident with the recovery/rehab and that barring other injuries or suspension we can get a full season from him.