Defence wise he is fine. In attack, however, is where he really seems to struggle. Anyhow, given that he has been put in at centre, he is doing a decent job.

He attracts defenders and the rest will come with time. He will cause a lot of teams problems at centre.

(shudder)

With respect pal as you're normally a really good poster - that's a plain awful idea.

I'd prefer to recruit a specialist but Joel with an off season of work would be the best option we have.

When will he cause these problems? As far as I can see defences have got him easily sussed and after 2 months in the centre position he is not getting any better, in fact he now seems worse as teams know what to expect from him.

Don't get me wrong I appreciate how tough Joel has got it at the moment BUT I can't see him being a top centre. His passing is off and his option picking is shocking.

I don't think Lockers would be an amazing centre but I do think he'd create more room for his wing man and his passing is top notch also.

Did he not play there for England a few years ago?

How can people expect Joel to have nailed the position already? He's been playing centre for just a couple of months now and whilst it's has it's ups and downs he's shown enough IMO to suggest he can make it work to a very high level fulltime if needs be.

The areas we recruit in will decide his position for next year.

Problem is Joel at centre might be the lesser of two evils, their maybe no suitable centres available.

It's a very difficult job to think of more then 1 or 2 realistic options who are available in the position for next season especially ones that are good enough.

Outside of King, Ratchford or possibly keeping Carmont I can't think of any and many wouldn't be happy with Ratchford.

this is all fine in theory but for mine we are spoling the chances of one of our brightest stars - joel could be a world class backrower...

in a year or twos time when he gets a big nrl offer to go over there playing as a second rower (where he is far more involved) or sta at wigan 'helping out the team' and he then goes to oz we can have no cause to complain. loyalty is a 2 way thing

get joel back to where he belongs!!!

exactly he isnt good enough there, get a youngster in there who has the positional knowhow.

stevemascord.com/2011/06/08/hoff ... ace-blair/

stevemascord.com/2011/06/08/hoff ... ace-blair/

rlHoffman to replace Adam Blair at Melbournerl

'Hoffman has an option to leave Wigan at the end of the season and is thought to have politely declined joining the Cherry and Whites’ coach Michael Maguire at South Sydney.'

It was quite encouraging to hear that he considers he has two options - Melbourne or another year at Wigan.

That said, I'd be absolutely stunned if he opted to stay here.

I know there's all kinds of crap written online, and that you can't take anything at face value, but that reference to Hoffman being put off staying because of the uncertainty regarding the coaching position was pretty irritating. Another reason to be miffed about Madge going early.

Yup, i noticed that word too, but as you say, probably just "paper" talk. I don't think any of us are suprised that he would choose to go back.

The longer this goes on and its gone on far longer than I thought it would - the more I think Wigan may be looking at someone other than Shaun Wane for the head coach's job.