No but every team needs a player like Goulding, just like our all conquering teams had players like Ged Byrne, Sam Panapa...etc in them.

He's been at the club since he was 13, he is Wigan through and through and always gives his all in every match he plays. He is 4th so far in the leading top try scorers in the whole of super league and has played less games than the 3 players above him, we would be stupid not to sign him on for at least another year, out of all the players off contract this year, he has earned it the most IMO.

Could not be happier about this decision!!

A very handy squad player to have around the place. He's a lad that never lets us down and is also young enough to keep on improving his game.

A good move for the squad and hopefully other young squad members like O'Carroll, McIlorum and Prescott will follow suit shortly aswell as us getting the more experienced heads like Hansen, Coley and Fielden signed up.

They have agreed to the "option" for 2011. Surely that means Pryce will be out the door?

rlwww.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?idrl

Even if Phelps is to leave?

4 into 3 sounds about right to me.

The same thought has crossed my mind before now.

It's inevitable some will be released but stating the obvious, it's a balancing act (though a bloody hard one). I have some faith that what the club won't do is overlook the younger players in favour of experienced-but coming-to-the-end-of-their-career type players who may become available either here or in Oz.

I'd like to think the days of signing average players are in the past and if they are, then that gives every opportunity for the younger players to push for a 1st team contract. Hopefully they won't find their way blocked by such players which I don't think was true in the recent past. Of course they may find their way blocked by other Wigan produced players and there is nothing we can do about that except hope the club makes the right choices when it has to.

What the club needs to get going is a balanced squad in terms of age such that each season a player (or players) may retire then everyone moves up a slot and a new player(s) is added in at the bottom of the 1st team squad. I doubt we can ever reach this ideal but can probably go some way toward it.

Dave

Sorry I missed the big thread on this. Now merged.

Good point but I still think we don't need both him and Pryce with youngsters like Josh Charnley and Stefan Marsh (and maybe the forgotten Ainscough as well) eager in reserve. I think it was between the two who would be kept on.

perhaps him or Pryce will move infield to being to take over from Carmont next seaso?

What I forgot to mention in my previous post was regarding Goulding both he and the fans should see the club taking up the option to extend his contract as a positive move. If was not considered good enough they would not have taken the option up.

Dave

I think we'll be able to keep most of our youngsters for another year or two, without too much impact on the cap - as Rogues has pointed out previously, most of them still qualify at U18 level, so presumably won't be earning much yet. As far as your "balanced squad" concept goes, that's already building, I believe - with good prospects coming along in just about every position.

I think it's more likely Ainscough is out the door, if anyone leaves.

Ainscough's contracted till the end of next season.