Good professional, good character, Wigan born and a decent player.

I'm more than happy to have this type of player to have within the squad and club and to lend experience to our younger players.

The only query I'd have in regards to the signing would be how much of the cap he'd take up, but we'd have to aknowledge the signing would be much more than just a on-the-field perspective.

not sure where he fits in tommy, sam half back, tommy mclorum piggy hooker. you need your half backs to play the full 80 not swap them around.

that's the only issue i have.

I would have to look at it that way to see it positively.

Never really rated Deacon, goalkicking aside. But if they think he's an excellent coaching prospect and someone who can help our younger players plus giving us backup that we don't currently have then fair enough.

Can't help but wonder whether we should be in for Orford, but I guess he's just not an Ian Lenagan signing. 32, probably after a big paycheck, Australian. Undoubtedly a class act though, in a way I'm pleased that Bradford have got him - I'm hoping they can make some improvements next year, its never good to see a former top club decline so badly.

Another little side issue to this - there's a snippet in the Sun that Wakefield are desperately trying to get Huddersfield to pay a fee to sign Danny Brough because of their financial issues. Could never make my mind up as to whether Brough would be a good player for Wigan.

I'd hope his role at Wigan would primarily be in a coaching capacity. But I can see how he would be a useful player to add to the squad.

I would always play Tommy and Tomkins over Deacon but what if either pick up an injury? We don't have cover for 6 and 7 and would have to look to the reserves or think about moving the team around. To be able to draft someone in of Deacon's quality is a great fallback plan. Sure he's not going to set the team alight but he's got experience, a great kicking game, organisational and leadership qualities. A great replacement in times of injury.

Plus Deacon has the right type of mentality and will be a great influence on all the young players coming through. With him and Radlinski involved in the club the players have a couple of insiring role models to look to.

People want both Tomkins and Leuluai to start leading the team around the park, thats the major element lacking in both of their games. There's not many people better in super league in that respect to learn off. If he's also rated as a young coach then even better.

As for playing time, if he's backup I have no problem with that, he'd still get in a number of SL sides as first choice so to have him as backup can only be a good thing.

There's no way i'd sign the 2009 vintage Matt Orford he's been gash.

I think this would be a very good signing, last year we lacked somebody to organise us, I have a feeling that the new coach may see Tommy as a hooker and not a scrum half.

Had briers been in that team they'd still have won those trophies. Whereas long was a major catalyst for us, the likes of lowes and paul were more important to you than deacon was imo. I can see why wigan would sign him, a steady eddie who is better than leuluai, but to state that he was massively underrated is giving him too much credit.

In a coaching capacity yes I'm all for it.

In a playing capacity no I'm dead against it.

Simples.

Fits in with Radlinksi's wishes, according to his book anyway, of having specialist coaches for specific positions

Radders - outside backs
Deacon - halfbacks
Wane - forwards

Was MM a stand off in his day? If so he should be able to look after the middle backs, or delegate this between the existing staff

Deacons always been one of the players ive rated highly throughout his career and ive no doubt he can bring alot of quality to not just the coaching side but the playing side aswel.

Im sure he will work well with both half backs, mainly Sam to develop his kicking game in general play.

He's a good professional, who has had a good career so far and looked after himself well - so he should be in pretty good shape in terms of fitness.

Maybe we will see Sam or Tommy as our back up goal kicker aswel?

Is he going to be are equivalent of Andrew Duneman? In which I mean he'll be signed to bring through are younger halfbacks guiding them round the park.

Deacon has been remarkably unlucky - his two best 'big stage' performances, vs Saints at Old Trafford in 2002 and NZ at Huddersfield in 2005 were each tarnished by factors outside his control, namely an incorrect video ref decision that chalked off his Grand Final try and Nigel Vagana's thuggery that could have killed him in the test match.

Lowes and Paul were each brilliant, but hardly without patches of poor form and serious injury in the latter's case. No Deacs, no treble in 2003 I'm pretty confident to say.

If Sam or Tommy get injured we have no reserve half backs with any SL experience so I could see the logic in signing him as cover.

The main problem with this though is if his main job is to be junior coaching how will he stay match fit enough to be worthwhile cover?

Dave

If im not wrong, the academy team train later afternoon as most of them go to college in days.