Definitely.

I'd still carry Shorrocks on the bench but mainly to cover injury. That second spell of Powell's really was something.

Next year will be interesting! Who to play 9? I think Micky Mac be be looking at some time at 13 potentially.

Bateman. A class apart despite the suspension.

Charnely gets an honorable mention also. He is leaving but has stuck two fingers up at those who think players who are leaving can't see contracts out and still do their best. Very professional as well as quality play. He has been great IMO.

Too right, he ran his blood to water. I was a tad worried when he was popping up making tackles in the second row position....on the opposite side of the field but you couldn't fault his passion. I'm chuffed he's gone out like he has this season because he was always a real fans favourite and that was tarnished a little over the past two years due to injuries and what looked like a loss of confidence (and maybe focus).

I hope Brian Carney has watched on with interest!!

I agree regards Charnley. Plenty focus on it being his last home game. However not a peep has been mentioned about Sarginson. I've not been his biggest fan this season but last night I thought he was tremendous. Absolutely put his body on the line, face smashed up and still driving in hard and tackling hard taking multiple knocks to his already bleeding nose. Shades of Farrell with the bandage!

Definitely another player desperately wanting to go out on a high.


You could say the same re:Smith if the rumours are true.

Bateman by a mile. He needs to know how highly regarded and loved he is. I've never heard a bad word about his performances, which is unique in my experience.

Matty Smith because at times he almost single handedly held the team together. I hope he stays.

Gelling. Unpredictable and sometimes just brilliant (and a great character)

Honourable mention to Charnley. His tackle at Wakey when we were 50-0 down proved this lad is genuine and strangely is one of my stand out memories of the season.

Bateman would of been by a mile but I've got to give huge credit to Sam Powell who has been immense for us after the massive loss of McIllorum's season ending injury after 3 games. TT, Smith and Charnley also played huge roles.

I agree Sargo had a great game: he seems better suited to FB than Centre, where he can drive it in and use his step. Sam doesn't seem to want to take tackles any more, and I wonder if we'd have won that with Sam in the team, and Sargo at Centre.

As for Player of the Year: Bateman would have won it hands down if it wasn't for that incident. I hope the rumours of him wanting to leave are wrong.

1. Sam Powell – He’s nowhere near our best player, won’t be in the reckoning for England, and I’m not even sure he has a long term future at Wigan, but he’s still my player of the year. At the start of the season you would only really have expected him to do 20 mins or so a game off the bench spelling McIlorum, as well as providing cover in the halves when needed. He has ended up playing nearly every game out of position, often for the full 80. He has also been our top tackler by a mile in a team that has only really succeeded because of its defence. An important try in the semi too.

2. Anthony Gelling – He was correctly dropped at the end of the 2015 season for making too many errors through taking daft risks with the ball, and consequently I’d argue it looked more likely that Gildart and Sarginson would be our centres for 2016. However, he’s really improved his decision making whilst still being our most dangerous player with the ball, in a team that has desperately struggled in attack. Massive end to the season too, in the Super 8s he bagged a hat trick against St Helens, scored a try to win the game against Wire and then a try to win the game against Hull FC in the semi-final.

3. Taulima Tautai – Another who looked like he might struggle to make our best 17 with Crosby, Flower, Mossop and Clubb all potentially ahead of him at the start of the year and O’Loughlin moving to prop as well. Before this season you always worried that he would make an unforced error, and his fitness was a concern. This year he has ran really hard, developed a dangerous offload and reduced the errors. We have had a few islander props who haven’t lived up to expectations over the last few years so it’s great to see. Deservedly scored the winner against Hull FC in the super 8s as well.