I think we will try hard to sign Shaun Briscoe in 2011. That will work with the Wigan theme and he is a great player.

I've heard that IL is a great admirer, but it may depend on Mike Maguire's team-building plans.

Same here, it all adds up. Phelps only given 1 year deal, as Cruncher said IL is a big admirer, the 'bringing wigan back to wigan set up' and the fact that Briscoe has said in an interview he would love to come back to Wigan.

I would hope with MM's connections and knowledge of the lad Widdop would be a target for us, he is off contract at the end of next season and does not look like replacing Slater as the Storm number 1.

There is a real buzz about the kid every time i read about him.

He is also young and British.

Tipped for International honours next year by many in Australia despite not playing a first grade game yet.

Regards Briscoe, i rate him and he is a quality Wigan player and lad but I am of the opinion you should not go back, especially at the stage he is in his career.

Phelps needs a huge season to justify a deal beyond 2010 in my opinion.

Widdop is british?

Yeah, from Halifax. He and his family emigrated to Australia when he was younger.

Indeed, not that long ago either as I understand it. Its not as if he has been brought up in Australia think he had been in the Fax Academy prior to the move to Australia.

Widdop would be a risk as he would be pricey for a player of his age, we would have to be certain he would make the cut at FB.
IMO he could be more worth while than Briscoe though as he would not cost as much on the cap.

Briscoe showed how average he was in the Four Nations, where he looked as slow as Wellens ever did but more ponderous.

If he wasn't from Wigan none of you would even mention him.

the truth has no place on here concerning Briscoe.

We have a fantastic looking prospect in the reserves in Vievers I don't understand all the fuss made about a decent-at-best FB just because he's from Wigan. This policy of Wigan and Wigan only will get us nowhere unless the Wiganers are of the right quality.

There will not be many people better placed to assess him than our current coach has worked so closley with him.

The sunny climes of New South Wales or Wigan........?

Vievers is a Wellens clone, a lot of heart but no pace. Marsh imo is a better fullback prospect.

I'd worry about how Briscoe will shape up as the years roll by tbh. He's not blessed with too much pace as it is and he's bound to lose a yard as he gets up towards 30. He'd be 27/28 if he came to Wigan for 2011 and we'd probably get a good couple of years out of him but i'd like to see us have a player in the position who'll nail it down long term.

I thought Phelps did enough last season to suggest he's got the potential to do that. He has things to learn in the position but he's got the basics of a very good fullback.

Re: Phelps, whilst likeable and solid I think that long term Wigan's overseas signings should be of a higher calibre.

What I mean by that is 3-4 Top Class Overseas players with rest made up of First Class English players (Wigan produced and elsewhere).

That was the winning formula for years.