Very good times! I would have worried about the amount of cover at 6, 7 and 9 without Deacon but if he signs on we should be sorted. I guess the numbers will be something like18. Fans
19. Deacon
20. Pryce
21. O'Carroll
22. Farrell
23. Mossop
24. Charnley
25. Tuson
26. Davies
27. Marsh
28. Mellor
29. Hughes
30. Powell
31. Logan
32. King
33. Crosby
34. Russell
[i35. Hock[/i

May aswell keep the cherry ribbons on the SL trophy and remove the primrose from the CC and replace as per the SL trophy

they only let mathers hold it on a trampoline (SP) so when the inevitable happened he at-least tried to catch it again

That is a very strong squad indeed, though the 18th man will have a job to do next season.

Expectation levels will (rightly) be massive and when things aren't quite going according to the Madge/Wane masterplan (as they will do from time to time) Wigan fans will need to get behind the team rather than sniping. Even with so much talent we aren't going to win every match (I hope I'm wrong! ).

But that is a minor worry - the rest of SL have the real worrying to do. You can argue about which side in SL history had the strongest 13 or 17 but I'm confident no club has ever had the strength in depth that Wigan will have in 2011. Bring it on!

Without doubt, that is the strongest Wigan squad that I've seen since the glory days. Hopefully some of the kids will go out on loan and get regular SL action - until we need them, of course.

It's a quality squad with a formidable pack. Other teams have quality back-rows but no club can match our depth there.

For example if Joel, Hansen and Lockers all got injured tomorroe we could still turn out a 2nd row partnership of Hoffman & Mossop play Faz at 13 and have Tuson on the bench. That's the sort of strength in depth which wins you titles IMO.

The only real worry I've got is Deacon starting at 7. I like the guy and he's good cover but his injury record isn't great and I don't think we can count on him for the full season. Let's hope Mellor can have a Tomkins esq break through season and I'd have zero worries about next season.

It's a great time to be a WRLFC.

I don't think Deacon will be first choice 7. I think Tomkins will go back into the halves the majority of the time as Roberts will be fullback.

At the start of the season we may use deacon there are Pat is injured but I think our strongest side would be Roberts at FB, Sam + Finch in the halves.

Agreed. When players of the quality of Paul Deacon are your strength in depth you know you're in a good position.

For the start of the season I see us looking something like this:

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Darrell Goulding
3. Martin Gleeson
4. George Carmont
5. Amos Roberts
6. Paul Deacon
7. Brett Finch
8. Stuart Fielden
9. Thomas Leuluai
10. Jeff Lima
11. Ryan Hoffman
12. Joel Tomkins
13. Sean O'loughlin

-----------------------------

14. Harrison Hansen
15. Andy Coley
16. Paul Prescott/Lee Mossop
17. Mike McIlorum

Lot's of options with that squad, very strong and the main thing for me is that we can look forward to who of the young players that have joined the 1st team for 2011 can break into the starting line up like Liam Farrell did last season.

I've heard he's seen the new shirt and decided to give next year a miss...