What does the future hold for Hampshire? Are we going to sign him up to a better deal with more game time, or let him go to another club?

No way we would let him go to another club, I reckon he will replace green next year.

Agreed he'll be starting next year

With the news of Bowen wanting to stay another season I would think 6 is nailed on for him!

Signed a 5 year contract with Saints.

He would get plenty game time at Workington.

He needs to be patient this year and Wigan need to ensure they make room for him next by offloading one of Bowen or Green.

He's too good to be sat in the stands.

don't worry he is contracted until the end of 2016 anyway, and he will get more and more game time as the season goes on. We are spoilt at the moment with having Hampshire, Williams and Powell in the wings as back up options for the pivots

We should be aiming at Hampshire and Williams being our half back partnership for many years to come, as simple as that really. Its not often you get two players of such high quality playing together throughout the junior ranks at all representative levels. That combination needs to start being worked on in a first team enviroment as soon as fixtures allow over the next season or 2.

What about Matty Smith? He's only young himself and already a very integral part of the set up.

Now here is an idea for 2016 onwards-

1. Rocky
6. Williams
7. Smith

Williams like Rocky looks like a player that could play 2-3 positions.

This topic and the Bowen keen to stay are quite closely linked.

My thoughts.

I expect Hampshire to get 10 - 15 first team games this season. Next season I would expect 15 - 20, and then for 2016 he should be in the starting XIII weekly.

If you look throughout the game both here and in Australia it's very rare to have a player so young playing week in week out particularly in the pivotal positions. I would apply the same rationale to George Williams. Along with Joe Burgess they are the most exciting players Wigan have produced from one group in many a year.
We have to be careful with them and it will hopefully reap dividends for year to come.

Is Hampshire a #6 or a #1? I've had this conversation with so many people.
Does it matter?

He's a talented player in either position and I think the modern day #1 is very much the old #6 anyway, but I will say that Hampshires performance at #6 v Saints U19's has only been equalled or bettered by two players that I have seen at academy/colts level. They were Shaun Edwards and Sam Tomkins. I would also put George Williams outstanding game v Leeds in last years U19 Grand Final very close to those.

I expect either Bowen or Green to go at the end of the season. Could we afford to lose both, I'm not sure. If we could keep one and still give Hampshire and Williams those 15 - 20 games each next season that would be better option IMO.

However they are both talented and no doubt ambitious young players who want a first team shirt and they may be disappointed not to get a starting shirt.

It's a difficult decision for the club to make, but I'm certain Wane, Bitcom and Radlinski will sit down and explain the rationale behind what they do.

At present I would like to see Williams given a couple of games off or back in the 19's and when Charnley returns maybe the same with Burgess.

As young players they won't like it but they wouldn't be dropped, they would be rested and looked after for their own long term good.

and we still have Sam Powell..............

What about Jake Shorrocks the year below Williams and Hampshire as well? Seems a talented player but may have to miss his shot because of the volume of quality youngsters you have coming through your ranks. Hats off to your academy, you seem to produce youngsters can take the step up from academy level to super league level with relative ease, something that we at Warrington are struggling with at the moment.