I think the longer term plan willl be to move Brad to 13 and Leeming and Forber as 9

Batemans first spell he’d be in conversation to be in our all time SL team.

2021 he was really poor. 2022 he was good not great but didn’t hit the heights 2014-2020 (Canberra included).

I still think an NRL team would come in for. Would be a brilliant signing for Leigh though, they’ve money to spend.

Personally don’t see Forber as a Wigan regular.

For me its far, far to early either way for Forber but if I where to toss a coin i'd agree with you but we shall see

I like Forber from the bits I've seen but he turned 21 yesterday and it feels like he's fighting a bit of a losing battle here for a spot. They won't move Brad O'Neill to 13 this season and I doubt they will next season and him, Leeming and Ellis have long term deals. It feels like it'll be a case where you just can't fit them all in and Forber will move on. I'd take a punt on him ending up in the Wigan B team at Salford. They're losing another Wigan produced hooker in Bourouh and he'll need replacing.

Longer term, I could see Tom Ratchford being the hooker who comes in should O'Neill move to 13. He looks a real prospect whenever I watch him play and things can sometimes be about timing and he's at an age where things could work out.

Good post and it was kind of what I was getting at. He’s a decent young hooker but the clock is ticking and he’s not going to force his way in ahead of O’Neil and Leeming. Like most things in life it’s a lot to do with timing and I just don’t see it at the moment. If he was coming through 5 years ago he may well be our starting 9 today.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... l-29224014

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... l-29224014

The Nicholson news soften the blows of us losing him, we’d have only been delaying it a couple of seasons of which we have had good success and not really needed him.

Had we kept him, I doubt Nsemba would've played many games at all so far and we may not have signed Sam Walters.

Funny how things play out sometimes.

Definitely worked out for the best.

If Nsemba and Walters have blinders at Wembley I imagine their agents inboxes will be chock full with enquires Sunday morning, here's hoping they're home birds (at least for a few years)

Quite simple if that happens. Nsemba is signed at Wigan for the next 3 season after this year.

If he wants to go the NRL he can do in 2028.

Walters the same.

Think we should be a little firmer with contracts rather than letting them go whenever they want (I understand we let Smithies go as Thompson was available but this won’t be the case most years).



Seeing Nicholson shine at Wire has stung (same with George) so I’m glad he’s off down under.

I hope I'm wrong but given Nsemba's past comments it wouldn't be a surprise to see him off to the NRL at the earliest opportunity. What we don't know is if there are any NRL clauses in the longer term contracts that some of our players have signed recently.