Nice one.



So 6'3'' and 17.3 stones. Big lad!

Not as big as Pryce.

my goldfish has a bigger heart than that waste of space

On the contract i'd guess we'd offer Dudson he'd be well worth the risk.

He's as raw as they come but long term he has the physcial tools to be a real handful. I remember watching him against us at Wrexham this season and he's a monster.

virtual terrace board says ben fisher from hull kr is ooc - always thought he was a decent player in much the same mould as shane millard who did a good job for wigan, a 1 year deal possibly? i know a a club we have moved on from those days but i think we will need a creative addition next year, whether it be a 9, 6 or 7.

has said all that needs to be said.

I'd be happy with Dudson as 5th prop battling it out with O'Carroll, Crosby and Spencer for some games.

After that I'd want us to sign a centre with Hoffs money and if Deacon did retire we'd need to look for a halfback or hooker.

Agreed!
Fielden, Mossop, Lima and Prescott, with Dudson, O'Carrol, Crosby and Spencer in reserve is good enough for me. Certainly on a par with anything else any other SL club has to offer.



Totally agree in regards to a centre, but finding one's another matter, slim pickings to say the least. As for a HB or HK, I'd like to see Mellor and Powell get a shot next year, with Leuluai and McIlorm continuing at 9.

In an ideal world Deacs will continue and we can just ease Mellor and Powell in next season bit by bit. Id rest Deacon pretty often and give them a shot and both look to have the talent to possibly take Deacons spot off him before long as he winds down.

I've only just got back off holiday but I believe Mellor was very impressive on Thursday for Widnes ands that's encouraging.

Amos Roberts to Hull KR?

He's Australian. So it's a perfect fit.

Gill Dudson is certainly taking preparation for joining us seriously.

Obviously he is trying to get up to speed with Wigan's tackling technique straight away

[urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/disciplinary/item?3090[/url

Good lad!

He's started his pre season early by the sounds of it.

Would be a good signing for them though - devastating runner with the ball on form.

If roberts to Hull KR is true we must be due a big name signing some time soon!

Hoffman out Hock in
Davies out Dudson in

Gleeson
Roberts
Cross
Coley
Deacon

All leaving space on the salary cap...

Benji Marshall has agreed to join Wigan for minimum wage and a season ticket for his family at Taybarns.

Davies aside, that is a fair amount of experience to lose. I'd rather we have kept Ben Davies, but I'm happy to see how this Dudson chap develops if we have signed him. I do only see him as a replacement for Ben Davies and not for Andy Coley/Ben Cross. I still think we need to sign an experienced prop to take us back up to five. Just having four experienced props - one who hasn't played all year - is leaving us a bit thin. We've seen the need to have good depth in the forwards this season and have reaped the rewards of having six top quality props on our books when injuries have inevitably occurred.

3 stand out props
Lima
Prescott
Mossop

Fielden must be a bit of a concern as being injured all season

then we have O'Carroll, again returning from injury but is young so should be able to get back to some sort of fitness/form

Hock, where do we see his future, 20 minutes impact bursts on attack/defence at prop or will he get the stamina need to play 80% plus of the game at second row....

If Fielden /O'Carroll/Hock step up to the plate at prop then we have 6 fighting for 4/5 places week in week out and some young lads coming through to drop in when we can against so called weaker teams

If we have the cap space available then it would help if we could get a decent international class S/R and centre and we have to think about a half back sometime...

Would love to see roberts back as he now looks like he is getting back to full fitness and the latest knee operation looks like it has given him confidence that it will stand up to the rigors of a game and has given him back his speed and sidestep..

Still think he is one of the quickest we have on the books and pace is a damn good attribute to have if you are playing wing/fullback

Fielden is a concern after 12 months out with injury. Although this is his first major injury whilst at Wigan. I'm confident that he [ishould[/i return with no problems. But it is something to consider.
O'carroll hasn't played SL rugby in nearly a year and a half. We've no idea how well he will return. You can't put him in the same bracket as Fielden with regards to his injury.
Davies was a promising lad and a mistake for us to let him go IMO, but I trust the management and look forward to seeing (if we do sign him) this Gil Dudson lad.
Hock for me will stay in the back row. Not as an 80 minute back row forward at all. He will be spelled during the game.
This year we've had Fielden, Coley, Prescott, Lima and Mossop going into the season with Davies and Crosby as cover. That's the ideal scenario with props. We've been lucky to sign someone like Ben Cross on the cheap. That wont happen too often. Next year we're losing Andy Coley who needs replacing IMO. You could promote from within with Dudson/Crosby or Spencer, but it does leave us going into next season a little lighter in the front row. Eventually we'll have to see someone step up because Fielden's contract is also up. This underlines for me the value of having young quality British props like Paul Prescott and Lee Mossop on the books on long contracts. So much stability. That's one of the reasons I would have stuck with Ben Davies.

it's just a pity we couldn't have let Ben go on a season long loan so he got regular 1st team action in super league, let him mature and develop his skills week in week out and then he would be cover for the future. Fully understand the lad wanting to play at the highest level week in week out and wish him all the best

Agreed. Bar one stupid mistake in the CC game v Leeds, he's looked impressive for Castleford. Wish the lad all the best as you say.

Hope it is true, Roberts was absolutely devestating in his spell at full back for you, and we are in the market for an attacking full back. What is his quota position?

talking of Roberts, after his showing for the under 20's last week it would be an ideal time to drop him back in 1st team this week at full back and give Sam a week off ( wouldn't want to be Madge or Waney telling Sam you aint playing though) lol..!!!!

I'd play Roberts, Goulding, Marsh, Mellor and Crosby on Friday and bring Lima and Prescott in and give loads of lads the night off.

We have 2 huge games after this not just 1.

In Madge we trust!