Phil wilkinson has just tweeted there are a few surprised in the squad numbers which are released tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing them, should give us a little insight into what is happening with Hansen/Powell.

gives an insight into Wanes thinking, but 1-17 are not necessarily the starting 17. Cant wait

That is, IMO, exactly the stance we should be taking.

We can debate if we should try and retain him with a new contract beyond his current deal next year but as he has indicated he wants to stay and there is no suggestion he would give anything but 100% that is what we should do.

He is very underrated (still) and at 28 is hardly past it. In fact as a forward he is in his prime. To sell such a player would be bonkers IMO.

Even if he did, he deserves it or do you not value his contribution to our sucess over the years he has been here?



To say thanks for 10 years service!

If H leaves before or after next season it will be Wigan's not his choice IMO and it will be the wrong choice.

There doesn't appear to be any need to sell him. We hardly need the money. So it's possible that his body is starting to creak a bit after all of the effort that he has put in. His defence is the best in the team, Lockers excepted. But he does have deficiencies with ball in hand, and maybe SW thinks the youngsters offer greater potential.

He missed the first ten games or so last season and when he came back we were top of the table. So we were hardly found wanting. The likes of Bateman, Hughes, Hopkins are queuing up for the shirt. It may turn out to be a good deal all round.

I have no problem whatsoever with him pocketing money from a testimonial. He has earned it.

Being of the old school on here I simply don't see the point of testimonials anymore. They used to be for part time players who when injured very often didn't get paid by the club nor by their place of work.
A testimonial put some money back into their pocket and rewarded loyalty.
None of that applies to F/T players in SL as they are contracted.
Hansen has been excellent for us, if he has better prospects financially at Salford then if he goes, good luck to him.

Aren't testimonials used by players to raise money for their chosen charities rather than the money going to themselves?

Some do some don't!

A lot of RL players aren't paid that well for sportsmen IMO, especially when you consider how many injuries they pick up, the longevity of their careers (15 years at SL level, often less) and the constant lure of NRL/Union. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Hansen shattered his wrists by putting off an operation so he could save us from relegation? Either way he's tackled his backside week in week out for us for a decade, he deserves every penny he gets

If what I've been told is true then the deal has already been done, Hansen will be a Salford player in 2014.

I was just looking up the second row choices for the super league dream team. Over the last six seasons the following have been chosen - Westwood (4 times), and once each for Kirmond, Ferres, Hock, Menzies, Joel Tomkins, Galea, Newton and Ellis.

I wonder how people would rate HH against these. And given that Wigan have been the most succesful team in this period, epecially over the last 4 seasons why hasn't HH ever been picked?

A major positive of Hansen for me is how consistent he is. He rarely seems to have a bad game, never mind a bad season, and the nature of his game is bound to mean he will often go unnoticed as he's primarily a grafter.

I wonder how much cap space he is taking up compared with the players mentioned, and how he compares with back rowers on similar salaries. Even ignoring those factors I'd still feel far more confident going to a season with him than a player who will tear a team apart one game, then throw wild offloads, give away needless penalties and hardly make any tackles the next. Not naming any names



P.S Did you know only one of the top 10 tacklers from this season made the dream team?