Absolutely spot on, Joel seems to have just got on with the job, despite centre not being his natural position and full credit to him, but Wigan do need to put him back in the second row if we can get a decent centre.

I'd love this to happen.

Never seen Ryan King play but seems some people have high hopes for him. How good is he in relation to Charnley and Goulding.

Some people suggest playing Charnley at centre but how much patience will fans have with him? It's quite likely that if Charnley was given the centre position he would struggle quite a lot defensively, basically because that's what happens to most young centres. Centre isn't his natural position, he's been a winger pretty much all of his career so he'll still have to learn the role just like Joel Tomkins has been doing. Sticking Charnley at centre and King on the wing just gives an inexperienced partnership and lots of adjusting to do.

I do think we miss Joel from the pack though. Hansen may have improved his attacking play by upping his work rate, but he is still lacking in that department and he's not a patch on Joel. All he does is cut back inside pretty much every single time he gets the ball and it starves the centre and winger of possession down that side.

Joel is being criticised for being weak defensively by the same people that are saying Josh should be givena go at centre

You're on your own in that thinking pal!

Seen him yesterday for only the 2nd time but he looked a real talent. He was my mom after scoring a try and setting one up with a stunning break to turn the game in our favour. He also made about 2 or 3 breaks in the 2nd half.

In terms of how he looks/plays he's a stocky-ish lad and isnt the tallest. He's taller then Ainscough and looked to have good power. He's faster then Goulding and I'd guess similar to Charnley. He looked a confident lad willing to back himself and I think he'd thrive playing first team.

Matty Russell was official mom and looked another gem. He is rapid and has sensational footwork. He is brave as well and I loved how he ran in to space full tilt and shirked nothing. He looked very special and given time could give us a great option at fullback allowing Sam to develop back at 6. I love Sam at fullback and unless somebody could offer that same attacking threat I wouldn't want to move him but I truly believe this lad could.

Exciting times.

lets wait and see.....i recall IL saying an off season training up Joel would turn him into the next Keith Senior...that'll do for me

He's been "training" all season with no change.He's just as raw as a centre now as he was when he first started,and I don't see it changing with an off season I'm afraid.He's done the job he was asked to do, but we need a specialist centre for next season

The big question is who?

Thanks lets hope he gets his chance as this season MM has not given any new player a real chance compared to what happend last year.

Didn't Josh play centre when on loan at HKR last season, and do very well?

I didn't say I had the answer Michael Jennings would do though

He did play centre and do very well, but not defensively from what I saw.

I will go so far as to say had Joel taken the pass of his brother we would be heading for the Grand Final.


He is a very talented player indeed, he just is not a centre.