Would that be the same Ian Millward that thought signing Jordan James and Oliver Wilkes for Wigan would be a good idea?

I think Deacs has been doing fine for us so far this year. I suppose he'll just wait to see how he feels at the end of the season and see if he feels like he's got another year in his legs. It will be interesting to see what happens once McIlorum is fit again. I'm pretty sure he won't miss as many tackles as Deacon apparently has

Hes fitted in nicely like he's been here his whole career, dont know if its any coincidence but Leuluai's long kicking game has improved dramatically this year, maybe Pauls been giving him some tips

We've had periods where we've been rapid in attack with the likes of Leuluai and Tomkins flying at the defence but when things need calming & organizing, Deacon has slotted in perfectly. His passing is precision perfect and very quick giving the backs plenty of space to attack with depth and speed. I also like some of his old school passing styles and run-a-rounds. Also, his kicking is a good attacking weapon.

He's slotted in very well. I'm very happy with him.

He's only missed 6 tackles in 4 games according to the official stats which isn't great but it's by no means horrendous.

He is pretty obviously our weakest defender but then thats only to be expected really and when you consider the leading player in the missed tackle table(Ryan Esders) has missed 18 it makes Deacon look like a machine.

Probably the shrewdest aquisition of the off season.

Indeed, but still noticably improved this season nonetheless. I don't recall a single game last season where he controlled the game utilising an almost 'traditional' half-back's kicking and short passing game in the way he did against HKR. I think that's an extra string to his bow this year.

He's developing exactly how we'd hoped imo.

The worlds best halfbacks can do everything and not just act as a runner/support player and thats what Sam Tomkins is aiming to be(one of the worlds best).

I know he's not the most popular person around Wigan but Sean Long is a perfect example of a lad that started as a runner and just kept on improving his organisational skills as the years rolled by. Sam Tomkins reminds me alot of Long on the field(thankfully he's not as big a tit off it).

Deacon is a calming influence to the halfbacks and the team.

His experience alone is invaluable to us.

No worries so far, I think he must have been training Tomkins and Leuluai on their kicking because they're both kicking way better. On the field he's been alright, good enough that he won't lose us any games but not really good enough to win us games either. I don't think I'd want him to play another year but I'm glad we'll have him on the coaching staff.

It's a real luxury to have the option of keeping him on as a player next year 'if we want to'.

We should always be looking to improve the squad and if theres a better option available out there that Maguire is happy to sign then we really should go for it. If not Deacon stays on and we don't lose anything.

I've said it many times but my choice would be Brough.

Id go along with that.

If you watch Deacon he is constantly barking order to the players around him, against Catalans he had clearly been given instructions from the bench and then went on the field and delivered the message - he was pointing players into positions and organising the offense almost like an NFL quarterback.

He may no longer be a baby faced assasin but he is a player with a wealth of expierience and a brain.