As someone who has watched Chris develop as a player from 7yrs old, i think its great to see one of the Leyland Warrior players make it in the Wigan squad.
Good lad, with a good attitude (these days), but playing out of his natural position.
However.....As a pure cold-hearted Wigan fan, i'm not sure that he'll cut it long-term as a regular first-teamer.
Defensively, he's an animal. Always was.
Going forward though, i still have reservations unfortunately.
I think there's others in the squad more deserving of a regular first-team slot just at the minute.
Be more than happy to be proven wrong though!

Tusons stats are why he is in the team. His minutes are because he has played the supporting hooker role this season, only playing loose forward when tommy moves to 9, allowing lockers to move to 6.

For those old enough to remember mick cassidy and his work rate, see Chris Tuson in the current wigan team. He is a machine in his defensive work rate. The lad makes the bench on pure consitency alone and those who cannot see that need to open there eyes at the next few games and just observe what im trying to say.

Chris is good at the ugly, unoticable work. Every champion team needs a couple of this type in their squad.

^^^ very true

but.......


as has allready been mentioned , hughes gives us 3/4 cover

Tusons defensive work is great, will never stand out and get MOM the match awards etc

I wouldn't doubt any of that, but isn't that pretty similar to what you'd get from Farrell? Faz has a little bit more to offer in attack and is more likely to break the line and break through tackles. He's also less likely to miss a tackle too.

Even without Tuson there are 4 players in the back row who can play the full 80 minutes. The question is whether having a player who can cover the backs while also playing in the forwards is better for the team.

With the improvements in Hocks fitness the back rows needs less rotation during the game. The props are some of the fittest in SL. I would go for the extra versatility of Hughes for the bench.

That has nothing to do with it. Its professional sport.

I haven't said Tuson isn't good enough to be at Wigan and I agree every side needs a player who will do the ugly work etc however I just feel on current form other players deserve to be in the 17. Not saying every week, I'm just talking in general. With the greatest respect to Tuson, Mick Cassidy was in a different league in terms of that type of player. Hansen is the only backrower that I have seen who comes close to Cassidy and will eventually be a much better all round player in the next 2 years (although hes great now). I think "He doesn't make any errors and his work rate is good" isn't a reason to be kept in the 17 each week, that's a bare minimum you expect from a player in the modern day game. You need that something extra to give you the edge and sadly on current form I just can't see it

I do like Tuson as an option LF/SR/H cover........it is just a shame that we can't play them all week in week out.........but we have too many of top super league standard...at least competition for places keeps the forwards at the peak of their ability or they don't make the 17.......

A nice position to be in really

You're spot on. What a fantastic debate it is to have. The fact that we have too many good players to get in the squad is such a refreshing position to be in compared to other teams and our own team in past years. Add Hughes, Crosby, Spencer to our other forwards and we have a fantastic squad of forwards. It could be the difference between winning a GF and running out of gas. I haven't seen another team with such depth in their squad. It keeps all the players on their toes also as they know one bad game and they risk dropping out.

No team has anything like this strength in depth in the forwards, we are streets ahead of any British side. IL should be congratulated.