Just been released from his contract at end of 2016

Surely it's got to be Wigan he's coming to? Expect an announcement today/tomorrow

I heard a 2 year playing deal and a 2 year coaching role after that with Smith heading off to Stains. Good business until Shorrocks fulfills his obvious potential.

That would be good business. Tommy is better than Smith and if he picks up injuries then Shorrocks will be bloodied in nicely.

Just had the members exclusive email. Tommy returns to Wigan playing for 'the next few years' before taking up the assistant coaching role. Happy with this. Hope Smith does go to Saints, he's done a good enough job for us but I don't see his future here. Wonder who's going to kick our goals next year?!

Sam?

The only one I can think of too. If he practices in the off season he would probably be very good at it.

Really pleased with the re-signing, especially on the coaching side, it's no coincidence that our attack picked up when he was over for a few months last year.

Tommy will definitely be signing for Wigan

Couldnt really have recruited any better for next year when you consider what is realistic.

Leuluai is a winner, a leader and a very intelligent rugby player.

Mixed feelings about him possibly replacing Smith. When Matty is on form like yesterday you realise what his kicking game offers to the team. On the flip side at times his passing game has been dreadful this year.

Would prefer both to be in the squad next year but it seems certain there will be one or two additional high profile departures along with Charnley and Sarginson.

It has been announced.

www.rugby-league.com/article/378 ... gn-leuluai?

www.rugby-league.com/article/378 ... gn-leuluai?

If Smith does leave I worry about our long kicking game. I'm not a Smith fan but that's the big positive that he brings and I don't know who could replace that. We have options though. Leuluai could easily slip into our right hand side and I think his passing is marginally better than Smith's.
There's also the option of Leuluai as back up hooker and Powell slipping into the halves. I don't think we should ignore that possibility as Powell has an excellent passing game, but hasn't really had the chance to demonstrate it on the right side which, in my opinion, is where he plays best.

Glad to see him coming back. I worry about his injuries but it would have been disgusting to see him run out in a Saints shirt!

His experience will be invaluable to young halves like Williams and Shorrocks and he offers us a good option with him being able to play both at 7 or 9.

You do have to wonder who's leaving to accomdate this though.

My guess would be Hampshire. The club are saying it mirrors the Paul Deacon move. When we had deacon he wasn't given a starting shirt and at the start of the season was purely backup.

With the coaching deal added on, could he be on a very low salary as a player then very highly paid coach?!

His whole salary counts on the cap regardless of how its split between player and coach so there wouldn't be any great benefit in doing so

YEP as long as it's the same season, but Tommy has signed a 2 year deal as player (maybe on a lower salary) because he is then going to move over to coaching after finishing playing (and this may well be very well paid and wouldn't count towards his playing salary cap of the previous 2 years)

more than one way to skin a cat

Tommy as a Deacon-type signing would work nicely.