Not a chance in hell saints will pay transfer fee.

I would be happy with Smith. English, in his mid 20's, IMO he is exactly what we need. A half back who (if we want him to) will stay for 5/6 years. Not a world beater but a decent organiser, a pivot with a good kicking game. With the coaching and structures in place at Wigan I think he could well blossom into a very good player for us.

I'd love Gaskell to be true but I just can't see stains selling him to us. Maybe if we gave Bradford a few quid to do a Higham/Newton style deal.
IMO he has more potential than ANY other player over the hill.

I'd be happy to pay a transfer fee for Gaskell. We're not going to use all this salary cap money/Joel Tomkins money signing expensive Aussies this time round. If Gaskell is unhappy then go for him.

He might be a bit more happy this afternoon. He is on the bench against Hull FC.

Agreed, but Finch should be priorities 1, 2 and 3.

With Gaskell being the age he is Wigan will have to pay a fee whether he's OOC next season or the one after.

I think Smith will go ok at Wigan. Everyone knows he's a decent kicker in open play and with the way Wigan's attack is structured playing in the pivots is simply a matter of organising people, knowing the set moves and picking the right pass out. Easier said than done I know but Brett Finch isn't really an exceptionally talented player but this season he's looked like Trent Barrett!

I don't see anything special in Matty Smith. He's ok that's it. It's a shame a club like Wigan doesn't have any halfbacks coming through its junior ranks like we do with Gareth O'Brien.

Matty Smith's not even been as good for Salford as Myler and Ratchford were - he's the type of signing that I would associate with a club like Huddersfield or Warrington maybe but Wigan? Seems a bit like Man United trying to sign Stewart Downing or something.

2 words ,Kyle Eastmond

remember him ? !

The BIG mistake was keeping Scott Moore and letting Smith go.

Correct,with good old hindsight,things would have been different.

It's shame a club like Warrington have taken so long to produce anyone such as a Gareth O'Brien in any position



How long have you been waiting to post he above?





If Warrington have started to get their act together producing young players you will soon notice that not everyone of them who looks good as a junior will make the transition to the senior squad. Wigan [imay[/i be seeing that with at least one of the current junior half backs who may have been expected to step up rather than us go for Smith.



I am surprised we seem to have gone for him as well but as I said this may be because the expected progression of at least one junior player isn't quite going to plan.