I guess I'm in the small minority who think that Gelling is a bigger loss than MM. For me, we have three decent (if not amazing) options to replace MM. And we've managed fine without him for lengthy periods in the past. We can't say the same for Gelling.

I agree with you Moto,Gelling was average at best last season but he was clearly playing injured for the most of it.I had him down for a big season.

At last, an announcement

Okay, thanks.

Perhaps it might have been better had a mod replied suggesting as much then locking it, at least I'd have known then.

No mischief intended, never thought I'd see the day McIlorum wore anything but a Wigan shirt at club level, I'm amazed.

If Phil Wilkinson is right then that destroys IL's reputation as some sort of financial wizard because he's reduced the club to having to offload one of its best players due to obviously paying far too many average players far too much money. Instead of being pleased with his return to form it's been used as a big "for sale" sign (though I know we let him leave for free, you get the point) and is left having to convince the fans to accept second best.



The way MM played for Ireland suggests the only reason he wasn't more creative at Wigan was he was told not to be. Wane will have Powell, Ganson and TL playing the same way.

How come wigan knew about Gelling and it would now appear Mcilorum quite sometime before Christmas yet decide to only publicise this once the season ticket deadline had passed. Yet again the fans are treated like fools.

Sad about Gelling, think he’s a better centre than Sarginson. But this is the risk you take with overseas players - 6 years has been a good stint.

Some may disagree but I feel the decision on McIlorum was correct.

Despite a good showing in the World Cup, his performance at Wigan was quite average. Only doing 20min stints.

His contract was up after this year, think the club had no interest in giving him a new deal at age 30. So out of respect let him go find a good 2 year deal.

Better let him go a season too soon that a season too late.

Going forward I like the look of this spine compared to last year

1.) Escare
6.) Williams
7.) STomkins
9.) Lealuai
13.) Lockers

14.) Powell

Back up - Mullen, Sharrocks, Gason


Great servant to Wigan though Micky, one of the toughest S.O.Bs to ever wear the shirt. His try in the 2013 grand final and his performance against Leeds at the Magic in 2014 will always be remembered by me.

NSW!!!!

Get with the program, you are ONLY suppose to post criticism, of absolutely anything that happens..

I would have shone at hooker in the World Cup against Wales , PNG and Italy

McIlorum has been at the club for so long that he's almost certainly one of our highest earners. His form over the last few years now probably hasn't been good enough to justify such a huge chunk of the salary cap going to him when we have several other options at hooker.

We played no better with McIlorum at hooker than with Powell. I know Powell has his issue but last year they were both inconsistent, rarely very good but when one played well the other didn't, and it often changed from week to week. I think Powell plays better when starting at hooker (as quite a few 9's do) rather than coming off the bench so I reckon we'll see more from him this year. Hopefully Leuluai does better at hooker than at scrum half. When he played hooker for us the last time round he was outstanding but it remains to be seen whether he's still good enough for Super League.

What I'm looking forward to more is the chance of Ganson breaking through. He's an exceptional hooker, did really well when he was given a chance in the first team and is such a clever player that he's exactly the sort of hooker we need. People say that McIlorum was stifled by Wigan's attacking play but Ganson was more effective in attack playing in the same system.

Powell should be more solid defensively. Last year must surely have busted the myth about McIlorum being so strong defensively. He missed tackles far too often and was exposed frequently as a result, both playing for Wigan and for Ireland in the world cup. Powell doesn't hit anywhere near as hard but his defence is more composed and disciplined.

Perhaps McIlorum will be a huge success at Catalans. It wouldn't surprise me but I just didn't see anything from him over the last few years to make me think he'd have been any better for us this year.

We've managed without him for half a game pretty much every game last season due to his lack of stamina. No point having a part-time hooker on big wages when we have two others who can do his job.

Hey, I'm not shedding any tears over MM! But as when any player leaves, you like to think he is being replaced with someone better. And the point about considering the opposition before praising him to the skies for the World Cup is a fair one. Ashton Sims looked good for Fiji in the World Cup; should we rush to sign him?