Excellent.

It was with Thompson.

Quote: NSW "When’s the interview out mate?'" Change of plan It's out now https://open.spotify.com/episode/73UU4v ... gZw2Bz9Hgw

Quote: NSW "When’s the interview out mate?'" Change of plan It's out now https://open.spotify.com/episode/73UU4v ... gZw2Bz9Hgw

Matty Peet has agreed to do one and that will be arranged in the next few weeks
But also Peet was keen for other players, particularly the young ones to be involved so we discussed a few ideas around that and working on doing more of that.

The 3 lads are all teachers so getting time during normal term time is difficult, and they do the normal.reviews ones in the evenings, which obviously is difficult to arrange with players
But I'm sure that keen be worked out.

We also have 4 or 5 other ex Wigan (and a Saint) lined up who have agreed to do Specials also

Amazing, they have been great to listen too

Bonkers that SL & NRL have nothing to do with - and seemingly aren’t interested in - WCC.
What a sport

Bevan has signed long term, shocking but brilliant news

We've got such a settled side now with ready made replacements coming through for our shall we say senior players, a bit of luck now and we've every chance of going on a trophy filled run

Looks like this thread will essentially be redundant for a while with the French news. Cooper will surely be replaced from within (assuming he leaves). Maybe an overseas back rower to replace Willie Isa?

A back rower with a similar profile to Kaide Ellis when he came over would be a good replacement for Isa. Some NRL experience, plenty to prove, hungry for a chance and not costing the earth. If Cooper and Mago were let go I think we can replace from within and that is likely the plan in the next year or two.

When Isa goes we will still have Farrell, Walters & Nesemba.

I think we already have our 4th secondrow/utility forward in Chan.

I expect us to go into the market when we have to replace Faz but in then I don’t see any front line signings for a while.

We have Havard and Eseh yet to play and with the exception of Cooper all our props are either in there Prime or well before it.

I could possibly see us dip into the market for a Prop is Mago takes up an offer elsewhere and Copper retires.

Chan could well be that 4th option in the second row. He seems to have been signed to play in the middle though and didn’t look comfortable in the friendly at Wakey. You can never write a guy off in a position after one game though. It’s probably not a question they need to answer just yet. We’ve not seen Walters playing full time in the second row yet and we need to see more of Nsemba before probably knowing what’s needed.

I've said before that we could with a Curtis Sironen-type player. The NRL seems full of these powerful, mobile second-rowers.

All different opinions, but I'd like to see us sign a workhorse second row.

We've got size and athleticism in Walters and Junior. What Wigan have always had however is a world class defender. Someone who leads the line and sets the tone. We've had Smithies, Hansen, Bateman, Cassidy and Isa too. Some have obviously been better than others, but I don't see that in the makeup of this season (without Isa) and not at all for 2025.

Personally and I know it's only early days, but I think we're really missing Smithies.