He played nearly every game last season for them! Although the fans aren't overly impressed with him. They're also giving smithies a hard time at canberra. Hope Nicholson knows what he's let himself in for. They obviously expect a LOT from English players going over there these days.

He was up their with their best players and is going to the open market out of choice as he’s expected to get an upgrade to around $750k a year on his next deal so is testing the market.

Love to see where Wigan overhyped him though, or any other player in their system for that matter.

Plenty of your mob were waxing lyrical about Kibula when he was thought to be on his way through ffs! Partington and Byrne were lauded over when they burst on the scene - both average at best.

Plenty of Wigan players (Saints too) get overhyped - albeit mainly by Sky. Robertson and Eckersley may well both end up being excellent players but Lindop and Taylor-Wray are getting half that hype which is good as they both look better atm.

I've said this before ,clubs need their best coaches involved at junior levels to spot & nurture young rugby talent & get them on the path to development to first team standard. In terms of homegrown talent, professionalism & the need to win trophies within a limited timeframe hampers youth development ,& that happens in all sports . All that is left then is to throw money at imports to buy success, hopefully.

Squad numbers are out. Tai gets the no 4 shirt. Also Hayes gets 7.

Full details of all our 1st Team Squad Numbers. https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2024/ ... confirmed/

Full details of all our 1st Team Squad Numbers. https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2024/ ... confirmed/

So you are saying fans and the media overhype players?

That’s not what was said, it was said Wigan overhype players.

Just wondered when Wigan overhyped players.

I know it’s often said the numbers don’t mean anything but surprised Currie is not given 13. I’m going to assume he will still play in that position I mean why wouldn’t he.

Maybe says more about Russell than Currie. I think our strongest back row is as numbered 11-13.

Quite like the look of the squad with lots of young players who have played for the First Team & done OK. It would be good if our reserve team could actually be made up of mainly players from the squad. In the past few years our reserve team has seemed very young & not a true reserve team.

And we've wasted a quota spot on a guy given the 26 shirt.

The fringe players look good, it's our 1-13 I'm worried about. Two slow centres, an unproven 7, props that we all agree need improving on and our best second rower is injury prone. If burgess gets that squad to win a grand final he is an absolute genius!!

The current meagre Salary Cap and club finances, are a major deterrent to clubs having a proper reserve team competition.

ALL clubs just play their fringe squad players combined with their best/older Academy players in the reserve team.

Players are then loaned-out to Championship clubs to expose them to better/tougher games for their development.

The fact that the Reserve and Academy games are scheduled on alternate weekends so that they don`t clash, facilitates clubs` playing their Academy players in the Reserve League and is deliberately designed that way.

I agree that we need a much better reserve league on a similar level to the Queensland/NSW Cup competitions, but it`s not going to happen here for a while, if ever?

Totally agree. I would hope that Lindop becomes a first choice centre at some point this next season. In order for the pack to compete we need a genuine break out season (not just a bit of promise) from one, or preferably two, from Wood, Thomas & Okoro.

Having watched PNG v Cook islands I'm even more baffled by the signing of Russell. I'm just hoping he's carrying an injury, because if his last 2 games for them are a true reflection of his ability he's getting nowhere near our first 17.

It’s why I like to hope the coaches see something us fans have not. But given what some have seen and what a lot of us have read of his record it is a worry and more so because it’s a quota spot.

The operational loss won't stop us spending the spare money we have on the cap. And we have spare money available to bring another player in. 2 seperate things.

We "fans" do tend to be a bit miserable & cynical. I can't remember any signing that got everyone jumping in the air with glee. Too old, journeyman, chasing money, not played at any level, dropped a ball once, missed a tackle in a game 8 years ago.
We'll see.
I think we have much more ability below our 1-13 than we have had for some time.
Unfortunately ... I'd back Wigan ... but we'll be there or thereabouts.

That's where I am. I'd be very, very disappointed if we weren't in top 4 at the end of the season and fairly disappointed if we weren't top 2. In those cases, it just comes down to winning a couple of games (at most) and then it's 5th time lucky for the big one.

And before I forget, we also need Musgrove to consistently play to his weight for decent minutes. If he can do that I think our pack is ok.

Regarding Musgrove Burgess was quick enough to ship Bullock out so how is it that Musgrove has got away with many lack lustre performances.

Musgrove is better than Bullock. Mind you he ought to be able to do more minutes.

I don’t disagree with that but aside from needing to do more minutes he does not do enough after contact. He is bigger than Philbin but Philbin makes more impact.

Just watched the PNG game and i hope to god Dan Russell is just well behind his fitness at the minute.
His Tackling is very amateurish, and the fact he had his hands on his knees getting his breath after just 15 mins after making a whopping 5 tackles and 1 attacking run is very concerning.
But he seems more of a project with potential signing rather than an established signing.
If the team numbers are actually followed it's Currie back to 2nd row with Fitz and Yates at 13, I know shirt numbers don't actually mean that much but wouldn't complain with that, with Holroyd and Crowther as back up.

You may well be right, but a project signing would be one hell of a waste of a quota spot.