You’d think with Farrell back in training with saracens, that pretty much puts the rumours to bed. As someone previously said, if he was coming here he would be most likely resting up ready for pre season here.

I think Ellis is a great realistic shout for the loose forward spot. Has more than good enough hands to be the middle link like smithies this season. Clearly got the work rate and big mins in him too. I thought he was outstanding at the back end of the season!

There’s a few options I suppose, looking forward to seeing what the club do with the 13 shirt next year!

Have we signed Knowles as you have mentioned every player we have signed or plays for us in a position that Owen may need,hope we havnt signed knowles as a replacement for Smithies as surely that is bringing in a lesser player maybe he could be the next project player we take on

OF isnt signing for Wigan

Owen Farrel is 10x the player Thompson ever was, or ever will be again.

I'm sick to my back teeth of this RL is great, RU players are bad BS.

You’re comparing apples and oranges though.

Farrell is 10x the player at what sport? Because it certainly isn’t Rugby League as he is 100% untried, untested and unproven in that sport.

At no point have I said anything along the lines of “RL is great, RU players are bad.” I’ve come absolutely nowhere even close to suggesting that.

What I have said is that I don’t see how Owen Farrell fits into Wigan’s line up for 2024, as either you have better options in some positions or he doesn’t have the skill set for others.

Do you disagree with any of that?

You're just bitter Sorry, couldn't resist..

Personally I tend to agree with this. Farrell is a great rugby player and, maybe 2 years ago with time to transition from what is essentially a different sport, I would have said a definite "yes". But I don't see the need for him now at Wigan. As you say we are well covered in all the possible positions he might play. I'd add Eckersley into the mix at centre too as he definitely needs to be getting game time this year.

That said, if he did come, I wouldn't put it past him to be a roaring success. Very much a case of Que Sera, Sera for mine.

With Shorrocks and Powell both likely to depart we will have the salary cap to strengthen further.

To be fair, I know that Welsby has had discussions with teams in the NRL. Why wouldn’t he if they are likely to quadruple his salary.

I was really looking forward to OF joining but him being back at Saracens rules it out IMO.

Agreed.

With with dad looking likely to be named Lions coach for the 2025 tour as well I’d say he will want to be involved in that too.

I’ve always wondered with Farrell what the overlapping seasons of League and Union would mean. I don’t have a clue if there has ever been any sort of chance of it happening but even if it was going to happen, would that be immediately or would it be when the Union season was through? Looking at Google, it seems like that has just started and finishes in June. We’d have about half a season left then. Could it be that he comes on a contract that starts part way through our season, with him spending that first half a season bedding in, getting minutes in a couple of positions and then looking to push for a regular position at the start of 2025?

As I say, not a clue if there’s any truth in it but I would still say him not coming in immediately doesn’t kill it stone dead. That will come as and when he signs a new deal in Union (which won’t be too far down the track if he is staying).

On reflection, it might have been difficult for OF to adjust back to League in any effective way. It would have been a fun signing to make, especially given the various salary cap discounts we could have called on, not to mention the wave of publicity ... but would that have been enough for us in the long-term?

Being hardnosed about it, it's unlikely he'd have made a satisfactory replacement for both Smithies and KPP. Once the fuss had died down, we might still have found ourselves wanting in the back row.

Taking a strictly common sense approach to this, if Mike Danson is really ready to stump up big cash, there are probably better options out there.

I have always thought OF was a none starter for many reasons but I wouldn’t say him going back to train with Saracens means the deal is 100% off, it may still be in a negotiation stage? Or it may have been agreed to let him play for another couple of months before coming Wigan (although personally I think we would want him here as early as possible learning the ropes).

OF was captain of the age above at rugby league and absolutely dominated as a teen at amateur level and service area (now called scholarship). You see kids develop early and play an age up but I've never seen one always be the best player on the pitch whilst playing an age up. I know there's a big difference between that and Super League but it's not right to say he's untested at rugby league. He was already looking destined for big things prior to converting to RU.

I think the pros would massively outweigh the cons when you consider how good he could potentially be, the marketing benefits (both for the club and the sport) and the fact he wouldn't count on the cap. Having said all that, I don't think he's coming, yet anyway.