I'm extremely confident the season won't slide away and this is just a blip, much in the same way as we had one last year. This upcoming period will be tricky without a doubt and I look at all the clubs remaining fixtures and I feel top spot may end up being a step too far but I'd be surprised if we didn't finish second in that case (Hull KR have a really tough run). The aim now has to be to get Field and French back and firing in advance of the play offs and I'd then back us to win it.

Keep the faith.

Previous seasons have gotten away from us tho. It's important, imo, to not let it happen. Once your confidence goes, it's hard to get it back. I look at Leigh and Wire they've both strengthened in the last couple of weeks.

I just think this side is in a different place to ones of previous seasons, where things have started to go badly and we haven't pulled it back. There are plenty of strong characters and no bad eggs for starters and as much as we can't lay all the blame for the last two weeks at the door of Field and French being out, they're going to make such a difference, both in terms of talent but also just the confidence and belief they will give everyone around them (they'll be a bigger boost then any new signings could be IMO).

A lull was always going to come in this season. It's been a huge one so far with a WCC win against a side considered as one of the best NRL teams of all time and then backing that up with a Challenge cup win. We had our bad period in May/early June last year but obviously we couldn't afford that this year, with that being the time of the cup semi and final and it just feels like we've hit a flat spot now. I actually think it'll prove to be a positive thing in getting it out of the way and I could see it lasting a little longer yet tbh but it'll turn. We go to Catalans at the end of August (which is exactly the game we flicked a switch in last year) and then pay HKR at home the following week. I think it'll be around that time when we hit top gear again.

Eseh has been recalled, and Chan played for Wigan reserves at the weekend.
Both will be at Wigan until the end of the season as was planned all along.

Wigan today are saying Eseh recalled but Chan still available to Hull and he only played for our reserves at the weekend because Hull didn't select him in their 19 man squad.

Chan’s future looks uncertain.

Odd signing for me. I don’t see him at Wigan next year. We need another secondrow with Walters joining the prop rotation with Eseh.

a utility back would go down nicely as well.

Think we have the backline covered with Farrimond who has effectively replaced Hampshire already, Eckersley and Douglas.

Having both Field and French out for extended periods has caused the current issue but hope we wouldn’t have similar issues moving forward.

Someone in the mould of a young Rhyse Martin would be nice.

If Walters wage is a lot bigger than Chan's I'd keep Chan. If it gives us more cap space I don't think Chan would give us less than Walters has so far

In reply to Jon. Ok, what about Matautia? Cover for second row, prop and centre.

Not for me he’s a player very much on the decline.

Of lads who are off contract I’d be looking at Jacob Alick-Wiencke from the Titans, 6’4” dynamic secondrow (who has covered centre). I don’t think the centre cover though is essential as that’s what Eckersley is in the squad for this and next year however it’s a good fallback position.

I don’t think there is any need for further prop cover.

]

I say give Walters time as he clearly has a much higher ceiling than Chan....he has to or he'd keep banging his head

Text of email sent to Saints today

I also cc'd the email to the Warriors.