Made up for Prescott and Mossop. They've worked so hard these past couple of years to establish themselves in the side and they get a reward there. They're both going to be the cornerstone of our pack for a good number of years and should go on to be the same at international level as well.

As for the other numbers I wouldn't read too much in to Goulding getting the 3 shirt. They have to give it to somebody because if they left it free it would just make everyone go in to overdrive speculating about a signing that probably won;t happen.

The only number I have a problem with is Hock getting the 12 shirt. I'm not sure he warrents that tbh. I think he's a great player but he did let the club down 2 years back and again on his return with a moment of madness at Wire. He needs to put in a big pre season, keep his head down and prove himself on the field (which i think he will do by the way).

I'd have give Farrell the 12 shirt. He's going to have a huge season in 2012 imo. He suffered a touch of 2nd season syndrome last year but showed some positive signs near the end and will rip it up this time around.

Looks a significantly weaker squad than last year on paper, both in depth and quality.

Hasn't Goulding had the #3 shirt before?

With that in mind, I wouldn't read too much into it

Yeah he wore #3 in Nobby's last season in charge

goulding and hock not good enough for starting jerseys for mine. hope to be proved wrong.

Come off it, Hock's definitely good enough. I think he'll be 10x better than last season after getting a full pre-season with Wane, Bitcon etc behind him. Peope expected too much of him after he returned last year, and we only saw anywhere near his best in flashes.

I wouldnt read too much in to these squad nos either tbh, he had to name them and it was easier to leave 3 numbers out of the 1-17 slots empty rather than earmark it for a potential replacement who then doesnt turn up. Wane hasnt even got them all back yet, after a few weeks of training he might decide he likes the look of Charnley at 3 with Amos/Goulding outside him. I wonder if it would be better for us not to have squad numbers and just do it like the Aussies do?

I'd have given Lima a starting shirt over Prescott but it doesn't matter at the end of the day. They are both fantastic players and will get a lot of game time regardless of their numbers

I can`t believe some of the negative comments that have been posted already. Let`s give everyone a chance. We shouldn`t be crticising players 3 months before the SL starts!

In terms of which props will start the game, I am sure it will be the same as it has been in the past, that is selection may well be influenced by the starting props for the opposition.

i dont agree with sqaud numbers if some one is handed the 1-13 number at the beging of the season its basically telling the player you dont need to earn it week in week out. All the players should go to work on a monday as say right time to earn my place and put the graft in. i understand it as marketing benift for the fans shirts but if i wanted lima on the back of my shirt i would just get him with either 8 or 10.

I highly doubt any player would agree with you on that.

Some people have questioned the depth and talent of the squad in comparison to last year and I can understand that but I think it's a squad with more potential to get better. I think we'll see Fielden and Hock step in to the shoes of Coley and Hoffman and if both play as well as we know they can there isn't a great deal of difference. I think we'll see a variety of players starting with Leuluai and in time Mellor and Powell take Deacons place and whilst Deacon did an improtant job for us it wasn't the most challenging of tasks (basically just to feed Sam and the players outside of him). On top of that we'll have young guys like Tomkins, Charnley, Prescott, Mossop, McIlorum, Farrell etc a year further on in their development and that'll be key.

The only area i'm concerned with is that right centre berth. If at all possible we could do with a new signing but it looks unlikely. Anybody got any idea's whats happening with Martin Gleeson? I've not heard anything about him let alone any rumours but if only that lad could sort himself out and could build some bridges with the Wigan management.

Wishful thinking mind.

they probably would but i still think it will be in the back of the mind, and i think madge agrees and all of the nrl or why wouldn't they name the sqaud like us?

Its up to the NRL what they do, but It still doesnt mean a player will think they are guaranteed a spot simply because of a number. How do you Madge agrees? He gave the number 2 to Goulding yet 25 to Charnley, and who played more in that position. Finch had 17 but played 6, Hoffman often started yet had the number 16, Mossop had 21 but was consistantly in the 17. Squad numbers dont mean an awful lot these days.