After that performance I'm not convinced we NEED a big experienced prop. Yes it would be nice but there are non available and we are not desperate. Would you sign MORLEY or CARVELL after that? NO because our younger players were all over them. As for an explosive back rower - H is to come back and Flower is growing into that role, he has massive thighs and low centre of gravity so difficult to stop when at pace as last night.
These young players are really making their mark can't wait to see Gil,Scotty, Greg grow with every game and we still have Moose,Preccy and Luaki with more 'experience' and Dom who will I'm sure get some game time. Experience good BUT we do not NEED it desperatly as we have Lockers the machine to bind them al together.
Only H is a certainty to get back in the 17 in my view.

Ryan McDonald?

Hill is 25? Dudson et al aren't. Hopefully by the time they are they will be as good, it's how they go all season long that concerns me.

Re your earlier examples there's no argument re graham but stu had some excellent back up at the bulls. I think these are the exceptions that prove the rule. Other good props coming through include kopczak but at 26 less than a year younger than Prescott but 4 yrs older than dudson.

What position did he play in 1998?

you are a much better team with Hansen sewing up the defence.

I'll just be honest, I have never really rated Paul Prescott - too injury prone and liable for silly mistakes, nor Luaki (sp?).

I have to agree with Brett on this one, that whilst I was very impressed with our forwards v Warrington, it is a concern for me that the youngsters in the squad won't be able to play out the year like that, with that intensity and that enthusiasm.

Lets face it, every game is a big game - because we are Wigan. Every man and his dog wants to beat us and other teams will bring it. So for me the argument that 'that intensity won't be there for all the season' is b*llocks.

I've been watchind old YouTube videos of our pack, Cowie/Skerret/Platt/Goodway/O'Connor/Hanley, I was probably too young at the time to fully appreciate them but my god, if only we had players of that ilk in our pack now. They just don't make 'em like they used to.