I haven't seen anything to make me think that Smith is a better player than Blake Green although they do have different roles. At his best Green should be a pretty good replacement for Finch, it's whether Smith can replace Leuluai that's the biggest worry.

As for Goulding/Hughes, perhaps it's worth thinking back to the home game against St Helens were Hughes filled in at right centre. We had the same defensive strength in that game but lacked the attacking ability that Goulding brings to the side.

There should be some healthy competition for places in the centres next year, particularly from Gelling if his under 20's performances are anything to go by, so Goulding would not be an automatic selection next year. However his performances this season have been excellent both in attack and defence. He's made a good number of clean breaks and a fair few of them have been off his own back and most of them have led to tries.

There are positives and negatives with all our centre options next year but from what I've seen Goulding is by far the most intelligent, his decision making is spot on and his handling is swift and accurate. It's quite possible that Gelling, Thornley and Hughes have more potential at centre in the long run but I don't think there are many issues with Goulding's game.

It's perhaps worth mentioning that he has more try assists than any other centre this season and that's despite Wigan attacking far more often down the left hand side.

Goulding has his strengths without question, however I think overtime Hughes will become more of a threat to defensive lines than Goulding. I have also seem Hughes fill in for Goulding (v Hull at the DW) where he looked such a handful.
Hughes is a few years younger, overtime I think he could be a future star at Centre.

I wouldn't disagree that Hughes, Gelling or Thornley could become better centres although I think Hughes' long term future is in the back row and he's the natural replacement for Gareth Hock.
Playing in the back row makes the most of his best ability, which in my opinion is his ability to run excellent lines. Against Hull in the under 20's at the weekend he was the best player on the pitch by far and was able to do exactly what comes naturally to him; breaking through the line and getting the pass away. His ability to break the line is reminiscent of Hock and Joel Tomkins.

I'm not against Hughes playing at centre of course, in fact I suggested he would make an excellent centre after last years 9's tournament and also when it was announced Joel Tomkins was leaving, however I think he's just got a little bit more to give in the back row.

It's not a huge issue though. I think he's a great prospect so for me the important thing is making sure he's in the team.

Hughes is a backrow forward, Goulding is a centre. But I do agree, JH will be an future international player as long as RU don't spirit him away!

I think Jack could be successful in the centres or backrow. Considering the amount of backrowers we have in comparison to quality centres I'd play him in the centres.

The size of the team alone with a 3/4 line of Charnley Hughes Gelling/Thornley Richards would be impressive, all of which are agile to boot. I'm not saying size makes the team, but they'll still be very imposing and have lots of strike. Especially with the likes of Hansen and Hock inside of them in the backrow.