I just hope Bateman's return doesn't push Isa into the front row. When is his contract up?

I’d push ISA in the duggie along with a few more.

2021 I think. That should realistically be the end of him.

Great guy, useful utility but definitely not a starter for a team that wants to win trophies imo.

I would like to see him stick around the club tho. He'd be great managing our U16s or something - a real role model for kids looking to make it in the game.

Except in 2016 when he was a starter in a team that won the Grand Final.

Well done for being a smart ar$e, bu helping prove my point...

He started because Joel was injured and SOL was coming back from an injury too.

Like I said he's a useful utility/squad player.

He started 29 games that season.

Because Faz was injured. He was dropped as soon as he got back - useful squad player.

I'm not 100% sure what you're getting at with this? He started when we had injures and then was moved about when people came back.

Are you saying he was anything other than that?

We played 36 games and Isa was included in 30 of them.

In 2017 when we made the cup final he played 33 of 35.

In 2018 whilst he missed the final (injured IIRC) he was again involved in 30 games.

In most of these he will have done 80 minutes. Whilst he may not be a superstar who are we replacing him with for similar money bearing in mind it isn't the early 90s when despite being told we have no money, the work on the new stand has gone well over budget but we still bought a player for £500k.

I'm not doubting the numbers he played, so feel free to keep counting them.

The fact that you keep (conveniently) skirting over is that in each of those seasons he wasn't a starter through choice. The backrow was Faz, Bateman and Lockers - each of which had injury issues and is why Isa played so much. You know that, as does everyone else. If Faz doesn't miss 13+ games in 2016 it's 13 games less that Isa starts. That's proven by Isa being dropped or moved to accommodate him when he's back. Or are you saying different?

Not sure why you've brought the 90s into this? We've signed Smithies to a long term contract & are bringing Bateman back. That's enough to cover Isa, so that when his contract runs out next season he won't be needed.

Well you seem to think we can sign who we want.

If he isn't starting he's on the bench when those 3 are available. He isn't available in 95% of our games because of injuries he's included because he's a valuable member of the squad despite not being Boyd Cordner, who of course, as Wigan we should be signing.

So what you've literally just said is "he's a valuable member of the squad"... So in other words a useful squad player...

Thanks for agreeing with me.

Also I don't want Cordner - Bateman is better

So having 4 forwards around him +2 stone heavier doesn’t count for jack Shiite then
Bateman added to our current squad for me adds very little if anything without some better props. If we are the top SL team we can’t have Farrell and Bateman in the second row
I don’t care for middles I want props who can do at least 60 minutes and aren’t pumped up centres

We'll have the best back row in the league next year. Yes we need better props but I don't know why that means you shouldn't have top players in other positions. I'd be going with Havard at loose next year to beef us up a bit.

What with 2 or maybe 3 13 stone back rowers?

What on earth has Havard demonstrated to even suggest he can play 13?
He’s a prop. A decent prospect but never a 13 in the memory of man
Oh I forgot he’s a middle. Sorry Grimmy but that’s total Shoite