Who does everyone feel will part of the leadership team.

Last year the five were:

Lockers
Tommy
Coley
Carmont
Bailey

Now Bailey's gone I'd add both Sam and Joel to the team. I can't see Maguire demoting anyone who was part of it last year, so I'd assume the rest are safe.

IIRC Joel was added towards the end of the season last year.

Hoffman should be included to that group. I don't think Sam has enough experience to be involved yet. Maybe next year for me. Let him just focus on his game for the time being.

I don't think who's got which number really matters. As proven with Madge whether your jersey says 1-13 on or 14-28 on, if you warrant a selection, you WILL play.

Don't go looking into these too much.

I think it's obvious that a message has been sent to the players that have earned a place in 1 - 13 and to the new signings. So what message has been sent to KP at 26 (behind both Marsh and Charnley)?

26

The odd bit to me was numbering Joe Mellor at 90 and John Walker 91.
Where does that come from? There were plenty rumours that Walker had been released, doesn't look like it if he's got a number although it is 91.
We had 27 players on the list plus those two which makes 29.
Then we have the six new lads who are now full time, up to 35.
Should Gaz Hock return then we've 36 full time players.
That's some squad!
Quality all the way through as well.

Dunno why they've put those numbers in. According to the official press release...although we have six new young players who have stepped up from our Reserve Grade last season, they have not yet been awarded 2011 squad numbers. If they do earn a call up they will be rewarded with a number as the season progresses."'"

Depth is a massive factor...........Presuming that 1-17 play each week, who in Super League will be able to put out a stronger bench, never mind team, than this...........

14 PAUL PRESCOTT

15 JEFF LIMA

16 RYAN HOFFMAN

17 BRETT FINCH

Thats pretty awesome IMO, especially when compared to our main rivals;

Saints

14 Scott Moore

15 Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook

16 Paul Clough

17 Gary Wheeler

Leeds

14. Ali Lauitiiti

15. Ben Cross

16. Ryan Bailey

17. Ian Kirke

Huddersfield

14 Simon Finnigan

15 Andy Raleigh

16 Darrell Griffin

17 Danny Kirmond

All with at least one pretty average youngster in the starting 17, never mind going beyond that shows you how threadbare some of their squads have been with too much investment centred in the first 13!!

Add to that we STILL have players of the calabre of AMOS ROBERTS, EAMON O'CARROLL, LEE MOSSOP
LIAM FARRELL, CHRIS TUSON in RESERVE.........when all Saints and Leeds can call on beyond there inital 17 are DISTINCTLY average youngsters like Jay Pitts, Ben Jones Bishop, Kyle Amor, Mike Coady, Matty Ashurst
Andrew Dixon, Jonny Lomax, Sean Magenniss, Gareth Frodsham etc!

Might as well hand us the league now

One thing I have noticed though........

WHERES JOE MELLOR? Was expecting a big year this year from him and cant work out why hes not in the squad?

Anyone shed any light?

EDIT : Just seen hes got 90 or something?! Where was this on the official site?

Perhaps Wigan are giving the 90s etc out to players they intend to loan out......Thats always what I do on RL manager so it doesnt mess with my squad numbers when they come out and go back in DAMN YOU MAGUIRE STEALING MY IDEAS!!!

My thoughts too.

Numbers count for nothing and I am sure every player will be more than aware of what they have to do to earn a starting jumper regardless of what number is on their back.

Its more of a marketing thing for me.

I expect the team that starts the season will be the one that has performed the best in the preseason (both games and training).

I am reading nothing into these.

When Joe makes his first team debut, he'll get a squad number

So it's Joe 90 then?