Hampshire has performed creditably as a full back since he made his debut despite basically never playing there as a junior.But Wigan signed him as a stand off..that's where he achieved u16/u18 international honours.
He has started twice as a S/off..once against Hull the week after Wembley when he was Wigan MOM and once this season against Huddersfield when he came into the side a couple of mins before the team ran out.
Surely after 3 seasons in the 1st team squad this sums up how much Wane doesn't rate him as a S/Off.
In that case let the lad leave.I understand Leeds and Saints are interested in signing him as a S/Off (he had some great games against those for the Wigan academy)and also the Hull clubs and Huddersfield.
After all what has Wigan to fear if he plays S/Off for another club when he's not even deemed good enough to get a decent prolonged chance in that role for Wigan.

Good post that puts the 'Hampshire has been given his shot and not taken it' argument to bed.

Simply put he's been set up for a massive fail by our neanderthal coach and the usual pro Wane mob on here have been hooked.

Staggering to think we are deep into a stuttering season which has seen us suffer from a lack of attacking threat in the halves but we still haven't given our academy international 6 a fair shot.

It sums up how poor of a coach Wane is imo. I'm seriously worried that if we give him till October he'll have caused Milward style damage to the side.

Ironic that our pack lack consistently physicality yet our most talented half isn't getting a shot because he in our coaches opinion isn't strong enough in the tackle.

You couldn't make it up.

Whats so special with Powell never seems to get dropped, the game looses momentum when he comes on for Mac, and not good enough to play in the half's.
Let Mac play for 70 minuets and let Lockers are Matty spell him over for the other ten.

Both Hampshire and Powell are both suffering from being played out of position. I remember Powell v NZW as a 7, picked up the MOM and looked outstanding. With a run of games as a 7 who knows what he could achieve. Can't just drop a player after one game, especially a young player in need of game time.

Who's to say we shouldn't be playing Hampshire at 6 and Powell at 7, after all Smith and Williams have had a lengthy run in their positions and hardly set the world on fire.

Is it fair to say that if Hampshire was a 'Wigan lad' he'd get picked every week?

What does Hampshire have to do to get a chance! Has he even played 80 at stand off for us yet?

You sir are Mr Hampshire senior and I claim my five pounds.
I couldn't agree more with your comments and we will drive him into the arms of Leeds.
We have zero zip at the moment and even with a beaten pack he offers far more than Smith at half back.

It seems that Wane just does not rate him which personally I find hard to accept as the lad has never been given a chance to play his natural game.
A great prospect who must be close to throwing the towel in at Wigan

He should be on the phone to his agent ASAP. Needs to start thinking about himself and his own career because he has incredible potential and we are wasting it.

According to the club's Twitter feed at this morning's press conference, Williams has to pass a fitness test tomorrow to play

""We'll check on George Williams tomorrow, his neck and shoulders are sore after a crusher tackle last week against Warrington." SW

And according to Phil Wilkinson, also from Twitter:

"If George Williams misses Thursday's game v Leeds, Sam Powell will play no.6 & Ryan Hampshire likely to take a bench spot and cover hooker."

But, surely Hampshire should play at 6 and Powell to hooker where he normally covers?

Underlining, then, that Hampshire is very much a distant third in the pecking order amongst them. I'm generally in favour of persisting with Williams;I think the lad has a lot of ability, but Powell has offered very little this season.

Interesting stat from Bilko in that matches in which Hampshire plays we score 30.6 points.
Games in which he doesn't we manage 17.

We should have been rotating all four half backs throughout the season to give them game time, SL experience, competition for places and match fit replacements should injuries occur. Will never understand why we didn't do that.

At home we have been very good overall and should be up for this game.
Leeds have men missing with JJB, Achurch, Ward & Hardaker.
Wigan win 28 - 12.

Powell's still dining out on a good performance in a friendly in New Zealand.

Time to step up if he does start.