Are Wigan spending full cap? or near it? serious question

dont think so, Il said he always leaves a bit spare just in case

If we are I would be very concerned, as there would of been some serious mismanagement there and overvaluation of some player as some are simply not good enough for a top team

That's quite some statement. Who do you think is "simply not good enough"?

At present we are struggling, but the squad is made up of proven quality players who are just going through a run of poor form (eg. Josh, Faz) or youngsters who have the potential to be top players.

It is likely that some of our signings like Tony Clubb and Dan Sarginson for example are on really low wages.

The only player on top money who maybe isn't worth it, is Bowen. But he has proven his quality in the NRL. We have taken a punt on him but it hasn't worked out. These things happen. Personally I'm glad the club got him even though he has generally (though not always) been poor. His tries against Catalans and Cas will live in the memory.

That's the same for all clubs though and Wigan for all our faults have a fantastic junior set up, which is where the future lies. Last year the club spent 300k on junior development.

It's the downside of success. All those players who've won Grand Final's and Challenge Cup then cost more on their next contract because they're in higher demand from other clubs. It's why Leeds implement a strict pay structure dependent on such things like England call ups etc.
Personally I think your biggest recruitment issue has been the halves. Alleviated somewhat by the style of play but it's still a problem that you haven't had settled halves for a while. Plus you need another leader in your team. As much as Sinfield is "the leader" at Leeds and we miss him when he's not there, we then have Peacock, or McGuire, or Burrow to at least partially fill the leadership role.

In my opinion you need to get Matty Smith tied down to a long term contract and either sign another on long term deal or put your faith in a youngster and say you're going to be our halves for the next 4/5 years. Then an astute signing of a forward with leadership qualities and you'll be fine.

I don't see how - I wouldn't trade McIlorum for anyone in Super League.

We have problems in the Props and in the Halves (and at FB as Bowen is awful).

I wouldn't say hooker is the problem either. Wigan play a way that doesn't require the hooker to create havoc out of dummy half, McIlorum's role is to set the tone in defence and he does that brilliantly. I wouldn't swap him either. People are way overreacting with this start to the season. Let's see how we're doing in August/September and if people are still pointing out that Wigan are struggling in the halves, hooker, centre and props (I've seen them all suggested this week).

For me you can look no further than our pack. It's pi$$ poor compared to Warrington/Saints. Lack of recruitment there is having a major impact on they way we play under SW which is to bully teams from the front and kill them for speed on the outside.

I'd also send Gelling packing, I really really don't know what Wane see's in him, he's garbage and comes up with 3/4 errors every game! He should be nowhere near that Wigan shirt.

If Thornley ever gets fit then I would move Sarginson to full back.

Gelling is 3rd in the league for carries and 4th for metres made, all despite not playing full back or wing where you get easy metres with kick returns. He also gets either a try or an assist per game and seldom gives away penalties. His errors are a big problem but take them away and he would be the best centre in the league IMO. Plus he made 0 errors last night for a change

Just watching the Sarge interview on Wigan TV.

Taking away their chef? sounds a bit Mean Machine...

Gelling has actually got quite a good short kicking game - he's always trying to put Charnley through with it.

Anyone questioning Gelling's centre potential, watch Charnley's last second try vs Hull KR away last year. It was classic centre play that if Sarginson or Carmont had done, people would be talking about it for years.