These sorts of deals are definitely the way forward. It's far better for young fringe players to be playing against seasoned pros than clattering 17 year olds on a weekly basis. Leeds have been doing the loan for some time (more often previously to other SL sides) and its worked pretty well.

It's a big indictment on the standard of the Academies in terms of player development though. I understand the economic issues of running proper 'A' teams, but this whole dual registration scheme has been introduced to help try to fill a glaring deficiency in the game's structure.

Good move. Farrell will rip it up in that division IMO. Ainscough needs the first team experience but isn;t going to get it here at the minute. And Davies is a victim of our abundance of front rowers atm, his time will come, he is a super player.

Kevin Penny still regularly trains with Warrington as Widnes only train in the evenings, presume these will be the same?

And why don't Widnes do an offer for Wigan Season ticket holders - I'm sure plenty would be interested in attending.

I think some people in this thread are underestimating the league a bit, we will still not be favourites by any margin but we're a club giving a chance to the stars of tomorrow and I hope that doesn't go unnoticed by the powers that be.

I was at a sports mans dinner at the back end of last year with Terry O Connor and Barry Mac.

From what I can rememeber Terry said he has tried to sign Ben Davies previously as he rates him that highly, but obviously we weren't going to let him go, so I suppose this is the best of both worlds for us and Widnes, they get a player they want (albeit on loan) and we get a player(s) back with match experience at a significantly higher level than they would be getting week in week out

He was also very complimentary about what IL was trying to do with our youth policy and promoting from within

Thankyou for these players.Just hope they play more for us this year so we can win some silverware.Hopefully we can keep a good bond with wigan and goodluck for the season.Maybe one day see you in superleague. Wigan are my second team and hope to see you in superleague.

Really mate?If you did not have a game i would love to see some of your wigan fans at stobart stadium.I am looking to go to a few wigan games aswell this year.

Any Wigan fans seen much of Farrell and Gerrard? Wondered who you thought was the better player at this time in each of their careers?

Farrell by a mile.
Gerrard is a great passer of a ball, but not quick enough for the backs and not big enough for the forwards.
Farrell is a superb back row forward, strong, fast and tackles well. If I was rating your three signings it would be 1 Farrell, 2 Davies and 3 Ainscough, that's how lucky you are.

Can anybody explain how dual contracts work?

Alex, my interpretation.
The dual registered player will in general train with both his Superleague and Championship clubs on an agreed percentage basis. e.g. (60% at Wigan 40% at Widnes)

The superleague Club can recall the player up to 48 hours before their game (that's when the squads have to be announced), but I =#FF0000think that this can only happen after the first month of the loan.

It's a win win situation really.
And the players cannot play for both teams in the Challenge Cup.

How its been explained to me in simple terms

The player trains with his main contracted club and if he is not selected in the squad for the next game he goes to the other club