Right, now Wane has said he doesnt expect to sign anyone else and recruitment is finished for next season im interested to know what everyone thinks our strongest 17 will be for next season and if we need to strengthen anywhere. Im very happy with our recruitment and this is my strongest 17 if all players are fit and firing.

S. Tomkins
Manfredi
Gelling
Gildart
Burgess
Williams
Smith
O'Loughlin (Yes, at prop)
McIlorum
Flower
L. Farrell
J. Tomkins
Bateman

Leuluai
FPN
Crosby
Clubb

So some tough decisions but this is what I think Wane would got for and would be his strongest 17.

O'Loughlin at prop is clearly what Wane wanted to do at the start of this season however injuries and suspensions have prevented this but I think we will see this more next year with a fully fit team.

I was weighing up heavily whether to pick Willie Isa or Joel Tomkins. I think Willie has been a great signing who has bought into our clubs culture and been far better than Larne Patrick ever was. Joel Tomkins has been average when he has played this season but we've all been told he has been carrying an injury which has now sidelined him so I think he deserves to be in strongest 17 when fit.

Also quite unusual for us to have 3 props on bench unless a final as Wane tends to like a utility forward like Willie Isa but I just see with Lockers able to fit in at 13 and Bateman at backrow we will get away with 3 props and bench and no back row cover.

I think we will also see Leuluai on the bench to spell McIlorum at 9. This means one of Powell or Shorrocks will most likley be loaned out to another SL team. A lot will say Leuluai should play in the halves but this is nonsense and wane will 100% not change the half back pairing if Smith and Williams are fit.

Amazingly we look very strong at prop which is a position we've often looked weak. As well as Isa Tautai is a notable absentee and i suspect if O'Loughlin does successfully move to prop and FPN kicks on Tautai will be released at end of 2017 when his contract expires.

Bateman will move to 13 as it is the best way to keep Joel, Liam and OLoulighin and him on the pitch at same time. Bateman is also long term replacement for Lockers and as long as the reports him and Sam doent speak arent true I think he is a future club captain.


So, what do you all reckon?

I think there would be a few changes for me there tbh, it's time Smith was dropped in all honesty, he's not good enough and we've seen that time and time again, Also Powell deserves a spot on the bench I think because of how well he's done this season covering for Macca, this is how my 1-17 would look

Tomkins
Manfredi Gelling Gildart Burgess
Williams Leuluai
Flower McIlorum Nuuausala
Bateman Farrell
O'Loughlin

Clubb Crosby Tomkins Powell

I think with Powell being on the bench he can rotate with Mcilourm and if Macca was to get injured, Powell could play at 7 with Leuluai at 9, also O'Loughlin stays 13 because he's still got great passing and that can't go to waste, Farrell and Bateman start infront of Tomkins simply because I think their 10x Better

Good points.

However I cant see in a million years Leuluai replacing Smith unless theres an injury. Both are running halfbacks who take on the line and not organisers or long range kickers so Im fairly certain it will be Smith and Williams.

Dropping Powell is harsh I accept but we cant keep him ofr sentimental reasons and he will be behhind McIlorum and Leuluai and Shorrocks isnt ready to be loaned out yet I think so Powell will go.

I did this on what I thought was realistic and what Wane would do and he clearly said after the first game of season he saw Lockers as a prop in future so barring any injuuries I think he will start there when J. Tomkins is fit again and Bateman at 13.

I think you're loads more dangerous if you've got Bateman in the second row. He's one of the strongest runners in the league and he's reasonably pacey for a forward too. You stick him at loose and he's gonna beat defenders but the defence is so compressed that he still isn't gonna find too many gaps. Get him a bit wider and he's gonna really threaten to break the line and that in turn buys more space for your backs. As a Saints fan I'd rather Bateman spent all game running at Amor and Roby than at Luke Walsh or Theo Fages.

I'd go:

1 S.Tomkins
2 Manfredi
3 Gelling
4 Gildart
5 Burgess
6 Williams
7 Leuluai
8 Mossop
9 McIlorum
10 Flower
11 Bateman
12 Farrell
13 O'Loughlin

14 Clubb
15 Crosby (at LF)
16 Sutton (at SR)
17 Tautai

Lockers to stint at hooker at some point to give McIlorum a rest. Whilst Powell has done a good job in McIlorum's absence I still don't see a future for him at Wigan. Smith dropped because he's steady at best in attack and poor in defence. Leaving out FPN and J.Tomkins as they aren't worth a spot as it stands but obviously form could change that. I know this leaves no kicker but I'm sure S.Tomkins or Williams can pick it up

I like Grimmy's team. Surprised other posters seemed to overlook Tautai, one of our few success stories in recent weeks. TL for Smith, sure, why not? He's not the best 7 in the world, but he'll still a better attacker and a much better defender than Smith. Despite his age, he looks quicker than Smith, too (not hard, admittedly). And I'm sure we can find someone to kick goals.

Tomkins
Manfredi Gelling Gildart Burgess
Williams Leuluai
Flower McIlorum Nuuausala
Bateman Farrell Lockers

Clubb Tautai Sutton Tomkins

Not sure who's kicking goals but Friday night was a nail in Smith coffin for me. He was dreadful in a big game again and unlike in some if the others he had play makers around him.

How long has Smith got left on his contract? We need to be making other plans for the 7 shirt.

Never breaks the line, too slow.
Poor passing and kicking game.
Falls off too many tackles.

Shorrocks is the long term replacement for Smith.

He's got 8 assists all year which is frankly an embarrassment. If you're not assisting as a halfback then you ain't really a halfback. If you're assist output isn't that high then you have to be scoring trys and as we know he doesn't do that either.

He's got a simple job in this side as a link man but he's not doing that either. His passing is terrible.

As an outsider looking in I don't think Smith is, or ever will be, a "Wigan quality" half back, I would be disappointed if we had him at Widnes.

He offers no real attacking threat and often takes the wrong option where he is sticking to a structure, he doesn't look like a player that can play on instinct which is what you want from your half backs. Leuluai will make a huge difference next year for you.

Sarginson will be no real loss, just hope you get more games out of Gelling, he's the player in the league who I enjoy watching the most as you never know what you're going to get from him.

Good luck for the rest of the year, apart from when you play us obviously.

If we do not win anything again this year do you think that Wane will still be here next year.

Quote: Ashton Bears "If we do not win anything again this year do you think that Wane will still be here next year.'" He signed a three year deal in Feb 2014 with a clause in the contract to roll on (not sure if that means one year deals annually or another three years). www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... l-day.html

Quote: Ashton Bears "If we do not win anything again this year do you think that Wane will still be here next year.'" He signed a three year deal in Feb 2014 with a clause in the contract to roll on (not sure if that means one year deals annually or another three years). www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... l-day.html

Tomkins
Burgess Gildart Gelling Manfredi
Williams Smith
Flower McM Crosby
Faz Bateman
Lockers
---------------------
Tomkins Clubb Sutton Powell

Tomkins' pace shouldn't yet be judged. Give him until after a preseason next year.
Tommy should only be cover for injuries. Be very gutted for Powell if Wigan see Tommy as back up for Micky after the season Powell has had.
Jury has to still be out for FPN. Not fit and carrying the same silly mentality which saw him shown the door at Raiders
Joel needs to watch his performances. Hopefully when fit we'll see a return to form. Isa will be wanting his spot with other lads coming through.
Hopefully Shorrocks can seek a loan move, I see big things ahead in his future.
Bye bye Hampshire. Never got the hype.

Hopefully, as I don't see anyone better to come in as a replacement. He's done a brilliant job under tough circumstances regardless of trophies.