Lots of players appear to be mentioning the positive affect signing Deacon is having on the squad. Riddell does it again in this weeks Wigan Reporter.

Rumour also has it that Tommy is training with the forwards and not the backs.

So what are your thoughts. Mine are (apart from having to wait and see) that deacon will play a big part this year and may even become our first choice 7 with Sam at 6 and Tommy / Riddell sharing the hooking role. ( Or Micky Mac for that matter)

I like Deacon as a player and would note that last season it was the recovery of Deacon from injury that suddenly coincided with the bulls late push for thge play off's.

Do you think he could hold the missing dimension when paired with playing behind a Shaun Wane fired up pack playing with renewed enthusiasm.

I think the signing of Decon is one of the best for a while. Hes a clever player with a really good kicking game, he will be a big help to Sam Tomkins development, he adds more competition for places not to mention his goal kicking. We lost games last year because Pat wasent on his best kicking form.

Deacon will provide the missing link from last year. A geniune kicking game that will put the opposition on the back foot. That's never been Tommy's game and it's wise to not give Sam that responsibility yet.

I'm not expecting big things from Deacon, but I know he'll do a solid professional job and every club needs players like that, sometimes more than a classy big egoed signing who thinks me me me rather than about the team.

And the goal kicking will be good as well. Pat's kicking was down from 80% in 2008 to 69% in 2009 and who knows that extra 11% could have been the difference between making two finals and just missing out like we did.

Deacon can organise a team and "take them round the park".
That's something we really do need.
If he can stay fit he will be a very good signing and could well play into the 2011 season helping both Sam and Joe Mellor in developing their games both on and off the field.
I'm not expecting 80 mins every game but he could do 80 in the big matches.

Didn't he sign a one year playing contract with a two year coaching role following? Is it a bit early for him to take charge of one of the younger age groups?? With Pendlebury gone I was staring to wonder if he was going to be taking charge? Or is that to much?? But I have heard he is well liked.

He'll give us the organisation neither Sam or Tommy can give.

I'm excited at seeing Tommy switch to 9 for a good run of games as I really wanna see how this works out as well.

If deacs does go well this season then I wonder what will happen the season after? Do we stick with him even when age is against him? Do we promote Mellor even tho some say he's got the same style as Sam? Or do we recruit a player with the same skill set as deacs but a few years younger?

Well I wasn't sure at first, but I think it's now looking like a good signing.


I have always said that Tommy is a 9, and a 7 with a bit of experience can take the pressure off Tomkins.

I, like many, when we signed Deacon thought "I thought we'd stopped signing over-the-hill players?" but it's blatently clear he isn't here for a boost in the retirement fund - I think he'll turn out to be one of Wigan's 2010 star's. He won't stand out, but what will divide him from the rest is the little things he will do.

Passing down his experience onto Sam etc will do him the world of good. I can't wait to see him trotting out in a Wigan shirt.

I dont know what other people think but I for one am not a favourite of swapping halves during a game. Nor am I a favourite of playing effectively with two players the same, one down each side of the field.

I like to have consistency at half back with the traditional scrum half playing 1st receiver and the stand off out at 2nd receiver playing as a partnership rather than two individuals, one down the left and one down the right.

I do think deacon will start on the bench a lot this year but that would not be my preferred option. I would prefer the hookers to be spelled and the half backs to be consistent.

It will be very interesting to see how he gets on at Wigan. Things went a bit stale at the Bulls and we definitely needed to recruit some class in this area. He probably won't be an ever present given his recent injury record but if Wigan can get 20 or so games out of him he may well do a pretty good job for you guys.

I was always a fan of Deacon and despite the last couple of years he will remain one of our better players of the SL era. I hope he goes well, he's a real professional and deserves a bit of luck in his final couple of years.

Sometimes swapping the halves can change the dimension of the game for the good (aKa Sam V Hull KR in 2009). I can see where your coming from with consistency, but I have the feeling Sam/Deacs will be our starting halves for most of the season - but putting Tommy in there sometimes during a match, could and probably will, shake things up a little.

I guess it one of the problems of having what I'd call limited HB's.

Neither Deacs or Tommy are a complete HB- Tommy can't control a game and Deacs can't spot a gap and dart through it. Which ever one you start with your always gonna have 2 mix things up if it's not working.

I just wish Maguire knew of a 21yr old Trent Barrett clone sitting in the Toyota cup lol

I think that is wishfull thinking but you never know, competition for places seems to be good this year

Agreed regards Deacon was not too fussed and am still to be convinced but to be fair it does seem from the news coming from the camp he is being a positive influence on the team, and I hope he can turn it into on field performance, but still not fully convinced.

Personally i am happy to run with TL in the halves i see no need to move him to hooker as I think he is coming along nicely as a 7, but if the team has more balance with him there than fair do's.

Tommy leaves a lot to be desired at times as a 7. Our inability to open up defences at times last season despite having sustained periods of pressure in opposition teritory cost us dear. Tommy is not a creative 7 and this is what we have desperately needed. Deacon will move the side around the park and dictate the direction of the game, something i very rarely seen Tommy do.

Also our kicking game at times last year was non existant. Deacon has the track record to fix that.