Trinity were interested in Thornley earlier in the year on loan.

They will be losing both starting centres next year and possibly Pratt the backup.

They will be retaining Gale, Lino and Jowitt and possibly Dagger so I don’t think they will be too desperate to get Rocky back over a natural big centre.

I'd rather play 1 in 10 for Wigan (with the potential for more) than play a full season in the championship with Wakey.

I'm pretty sure that, on the right deal, Wigan would love to keep Hampshire. Heck, Peet has even said the same. Next season, now he's fit he'd be 1st choice back up at 6 or 1. He'll get plenty of game time over the year imo.

Its a strange one with Eseh. Seems to be credible sources on both sides convinced he's joining their team. The pessimist in me is now swinging back to him going to Wigan. Even though they have a ton of props a loan deal makes sense as you'd think Mago and Cooper may not be there in 2025 and Havard can miss a few with injury too.

I spoke to another contact I have at Saints and he said Eseh has been to the club (that's not for debate- clearly we have been looking at him) but Saints are wary of having too many young props in the squad given that Delaney is only 19 and Stephens (now promoted) is only 18. That does make sense so I'm thinking now that the path is clearing for him to go to Wigan

What I will say is that putting rivalries aside I champion Wigan the same as Saints. Both clubs aren't afraid of signing "project" players and will always give youth a chance.

I dono. Hampshire still SL quality I think. Thornley is a great player on his day but is coming to the end of his career think it just fits. I imagine Wakefield will be picked clean of players by other SL clubs. I hope we keep Hampshire although I don’t see him wanting to play second fiddle. He’s good cover

If possible I’d like to keep Hampshire but I’d never play him at FB as for me defensively he is a total liability particularly under a high ball.
If we do keep Hampshire then that’s probably the end of the road for Astley.

If Field got injured we'd probably move French to FB and put Hampshire in at 6. That being said, if both French and Field got injured and we could call upon Hampshire to play FB - you'd know that we've got excellent squad depth.

Whilst he's a squad player, he's undoubtedly an important person to have in the squad imo.

Huge worry for me with Wigan across all of the forwards

Not many Wakefield players are SL quality, sadly.

I'd hardly call it a "huge worry"

It wouldn't be stretch to see this being a starting pack (if everyone is fit) next year*That's current ages too. You can add an extra year on if we're talking about next season.[/i

Only two under are 25, one of which is Smithies who's the best 13 in SL (imo) and has played well over 100 games. Isa (34), Mago (2icon_cool.gif, Byrne (24/25).

I'd argue it's a pack that's just coming into its own.

I would have Dupree in the starting 13.

He is only 23 years old

Personally, id have him on the bench with Ellis starting with Cooper as further above but any combination of those 3 would be fine. I think the pack next year is an excellent mix of experience and youth. Only question mark for me is how Cooper comes back from his injury

Correct.

Langi, Dagger, Whitbread, Tanginoa (when fit)….think that’s about it.

Murphy is (although he’s gone now I suppose) and I also thought the first few months of last season Mason Lino showed he was good enough and was one of the better halves in the league. Individually I’m sure plenty of others who could slot in better sides and do some sort of job but collectively it’s a poor side.

I wouldn’t pay Lino in buttons. Hopeless.

Langi isn’t anymore, sadly his body isn’t up to the top level these days. I expect him to see his career out back in France in elite 1.