Mago looked generally effective for Souths last year, It's a little odd that one of his weaker performances (although I don't think terrible by any means) seems to have got the most attention here, for some reason. Cust has been good for Manly, and although not a regular starter, was a fan favourite who often seemed to come on as a sub and 'make things happen'.

For me the NRL lads will have a major influence on how we go next year.

I appreciate they have NRL experience but they are all to a certain extent a little unknown in regards potential and how they will adapt to life in SL.

That for me is what I’m most excited about regards next years comp and all the relative unknowns including from a coaching point of view at Wigan.

Agreed! I think we need 2 our of 3 of the NRL guys to come good to give us a chance. The new coach effect can impact players you think you know as well. I remember quite a few making a jump under Maguire after years treading water.

Cade Cust is an absolute unit isn’t he? Really looking forward to seeing him play.

Quote: 100% Warrior "Cade Cust is an absolute unit isn’t he? Really looking forward to seeing him play.'" He has decent speed and a nice step on him too. highlights from one of his games i watched with him playing at 6 if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5WtF8e ... ugbyLeague

Quote: 100% Warrior "Cade Cust is an absolute unit isn’t he? Really looking forward to seeing him play.'" He has decent speed and a nice step on him too. highlights from one of his games i watched with him playing at 6 if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5WtF8e ... ugbyLeague

Wouldn’t describe him as a unit. He’s not like Hastings was in regards size.

He’s more a hooker/half back build than a loose/half back build from what I’ve seen, which is only very limited I admit.

Sadly, I do! I wish I aspired a bit higher!

Now that you mention it, i think your right he does have flashes of george williams about him.

I like how vocal he seems when he is on the pitch, even as a junior halfback with little first team experience. He doesn't seem timid to bark the orders. This coupled with the interview coming out of the wigan club where he states he wants to lead a team around the park gets me excited, he comes across as confident. Hopefully he will step up and give direction if harry smith fails to do so, but i would like to see smith kick on this season aswell and shows the leadership qualities that were talked about in his come up.

Our direction is going to need to come from somewhere this season with Hastings leaving as most has come through him the last couple of seasons, will be interesting to see which halfback steps up to that role and which pairing gels best.

I’ve been hugely unimpressed with Smith ever since the York friendly last year. The mistakes he made that day were excusable but he continued to replicate them throughout the season.

He really needs to find his voice and place in the team in ‘22 and if he doesn’t kick on this year I don’t see a future for him at Wigan.

One opportunity I see for him to kick on is the departure of Hastings. Hastings was the leader and go to man and playing in a free role as he was allowed to under Lam, Smith either chose to or was forced into taking a back seat and junior role. Smith cannot let Cust come in and dominate in the same way Hastings did.

I’ve no doubt the potential is there with Smith but I do wonder if he is robust enough physically and the desire is there for him to establish himself as a long term Wigan 7. The coming season will certainly answer those questions as far as I’m concerned.

This is the frustrating bit with smith, he has these flashes of brilliance and great play it's just getting him to do it on a more consistent basis. Hopefully as you say, it's more he was forced to take a back seat rather then a timidness to take control.

Regards Smith, let's not forget it turned out, certainly unknown to me and I dare say the majority of Wigan supporters, he was playing with a busted shoulder, hopefully next season he finds his feet as a first choice half with a pack that's going forward and not getting battered most weeks

Smith was far from the only one last season who's form dropped off a cliff, there were many amongst even the senior players who look a shadow of what we know they can be so I think that and the reported injury given him some slack for me.

If (and it is a big unknown at the moment) the new recruits can give us a more consistent go forward then it will make it easier for Smith to show what he can do and having a more traditional type half-back alongside him would I think help as well as Hastings was so often out of position on the last tackle that Smith was left trying to do too much at times.

A good start to the season for a few of the players will be essential to get tham back to something like the better form.

By the sounds of it Cust and Tommy will be the starting halves but with Tommy playing reduced games and Smith stepping in.

Isn't Hardaker out for the start of the season?
If that's the case Im pretty sure Smith & Cust will start unless Cust can kick goals.