Sorry I just cannot see the above combination at 6 & 7, next year, unless you are going to tell me that Finch is going to turn into a fantastic player by the end of the season. I know he is improving but I cannot see him tutoring an inexperienced Mellor alongside him. Tommy for me has always been a better 9 than a 7 so I agree with the hooking roles with Micky Mac. We will miss Deacon next year and if Finch does not continue to improve (or decides its all been too much for him and he he wants to go back to Australia) I think 6 & 7 is a potential conundrum for us next year. What are the options? For me Ratchford is a no - he is just not good enough in my opinion. Chase looks very good. Maybe he is the better option to tutor Mellor as he will have been in SL for 2 years and wont need "bedding in " to the UK? Maybe though we need a 6 & 7 as I have no real idea how good Mellor is although I am sure that contributors will enlighten me.

Creative hooker and a strike centre are what we need for next season. Even if Richards and Hoffman leave on top of Coley and Carmont, I'd be happy that our current squad could compensate.

I think Finch will come good. He's been showing gradual improvement week in week out, and he's becoming a more influential figure on the team as the week's pass. Brett's for me the prefect person to mentor a young halfback. He's pretty much done all there is to do in the game, and his style in comparison to Mellor's would make the perfect combination for mine. As for all this about him leaving. As far as I'm concerned he's contracted for 2 year's and unless we hear otherwise he'll be a Wigan player in 2012.

I hope you are right and he does turn into a terrific player by the end of the season. In my mind he has a couple of games coming up where he really needs to put his foot on the gas and show us his real credentials. If he does then great, we can all rest a bit easier.

Hooker with the vision to steer the team around the pitch (a la Riddell)

I agree. Once he develops the same understanding with his other support players as he already has with Hoffman, he'll be a real threat. We're seeing improvements week on week, to the point where he's already getting some picks in the MoM 123 voting on here.

Finch is a top class half, let not pretend he is anything other you do not do what he has in the game if you are an average player.

The man will be a great asset to us although i have to say i prefer more strike and pace in the halves when he is partnered with Deacon.

If everythings working out the way we all hope and pray it is for his mother.

Maybe we could see Riddell back at wigan next season. long shot i know

That's why I like the idea of partnering Mellor with Finch. On one hand you'd have the experience, kicking game and knowledge of how to control a game provided by Finch. Coupled with the running game that Mellor would bring to the table. I've always liked to see contrast in the halves, and with Finch and Mellor I think we'd see the correct combination of that.

I still have some concerns with Mellors recovery, he lacks the zip he had prior to his injury and it may take another year or so at least to see it return, much in the same way Locky did.

Tommy for me has that zip and I would not be adverse to seeing Mellor be the long term replacement for Finch once he fully (hopefully) recovers.

Well that's the great thing about having him on dual reg at Widnes. He's getting the game time against tougher opposition that will allow us to see where he's at.



He's got excellent acceleration Tommy over short distances, but I wouldn't back him over a long distance, as I would Joe (pre injury). It's that "zip" you speak of that makes Tommy so dangerous at 9.