No U turn mate. Tom was seen at a Salford game and someone put two and two together. We need to tie this lad down.

It was the very definition of Kendal having another "we're not getting to the end of this game without some Wiganer going to the bin" moment. But I still worried the Disciplinary might back him up if only to spare his blushes (not that he ever seems to have any).

The long term is interesting. Three hookers in to two positions doesn't go but we need the lad early next season without a doubt. If he smashes it then things become complicated but in a good way. Do we offer him a long term deal and make somebody like Leeming available? do we look to move Brad O'Neill in to loose forward and Ellis back to prop? Or do we let him walk away? Questions for another day and it may be that the lad doesn't make it here but it's good problems to have.

Ellis to prop covering coopers when he leaves, imagine another prop will be gone either this year or next. O’Neil to 13 hopefully have an out and out ball playing 13 which would be great and Leeming and Tom to interchange

I don’t see Ellis shifting from 13, however he could move to prop during games for a spell.

I think we will be expecting Eseh/Hill to be the long term replacement for Cooper.

A new 1 year deal probably suits Forber and Wigan, would be great if we could get him on a 1 year with a second year in clubs favour. Think we will all have a better idea of where all the pieces fit around the 9 shirt by the end of 2025.

Only position I think we need to recruit for in 2025 is secondrow, I actually think Walters may move into the middle again next year as I just don’t see him as dynamic enough to get the best out of him as a secondrow.

With Cooper and Isa gone 2025 then perhaps the club will be looking to get Sam Eseh up to speed along with Walters.
Eseh seems to have the same build as Nsemba but not the dynamism. Although when he played for Trinity against us he played a very forceful game. Translate that Wakey form into playing prop for us and he could be one heck of a player.

I reckon Walters will play second row making the three we need along with Faz and Junior.

I’ve got to agree with you Jon, from what I have seen of Walters this season I see him as a middle. Interestingly, he was our top tackler at Catalans with 42, if we can get more yardage out of him then he will be a very good prop. Maybe it is worth letting him have a stint at 13 when Ellis takes a breather?

If we can get a second rower for 2025, more in the mould of a Willie Isa than a Junior Nsemba/Sam Walters, I think the squad is looking really well balanced and has plenty of depth. Th experience guys like Eckersley, Farrimond and to a lesser extent, Jacob Douglas have got this year gives me confidence we don't need anything in the backs.

The link with Fulton at Bradford seems loose at the minute but is an interesting one. I had a look at some highlights and he certainly hits a good line and I believe is on about a try a game from 12 or 13 appearances at Bradford. You'd imagine Wigan will have seen plenty of him recently with Makin being on loan there and also Douglas spending time there earlier in the year.

Wonder were this leaves chan doesn’t seem to be favoured atm

I know he’s on a 3 year deal but I really don’t see him seeing it out personally.

Is Chan injured or can he just not get in the Hull team?

I'm not 100% currently but he's been fit and has been left out previously. That rings a few alarm bells in a side playing as poorly as Hull FC.

I doubt that’s true as we played without a hooker rather than giving him a go.

Not for me, Ellis is getting better and better and growing into the 13 role.

On the outside looking in, he’s just not big enough imo, he’s an impact forward who doesn’t have a massive amount of impact, he runs in hard but lacks the size to make the desired impact and he doesn’t seem to have the fitness and workrate of someone like Isa that can outweigh his lack of size and dig.