I see Gareth Ellis has been cleared to play in Saturdays game v France.

Had that tackle been made by Gareth Hock or Ryan Bailey the message boards would have been in meltdown calling for 10 match bans.

When there's so much talk about a "rumor" it almost definitively is true in rugby league, I have conceded to the fact we'll be losing Hock but it's all about his replacement that will determine how I feel about the whole fiasco. I think long term Jack Hughes is a strong replacement for Hock but there's no way at his current development stage he can step up and fill the gap left by Hocks immanent departure.

And if we'll only look at a replacement from over here as it seems from Lenagans comments is the only option where do we turn?

Realistic options for us are very thin on the ground. Guys like Manu and Ellis have been snapped up, Bateman has signed on at Bradford and is too young anyway. The only types of players I can think of are maybe guys at clubs like Salford, Cas or Hull KR who need the cash and there's nobody worth bothering with.

One player I do like is Danny Kirmond who with the right conditioning and coaching I feel has a lot of potential. I'm not sure the majority of Wigan fans would be over the moon with him as a replacement for Hock though.

At the end of the day though I think we know we'll stick with what we've got and save money.

I don't think we'll lose too much with Hughes / Farrell / Tuson as replacements for Hock. I was talking to someone from inside the club towards the end of last season add he said that Liam Farrell was actually the strongest player (in the gmn) at the club, which surprised me. What we would lose with Hocks running we would gain defensively and from better discipline.

My bigger concern is lack of experience, and IF we could sign a good experienced centre and prop forward I think we'd be close to trophies again next year.

Do you think we'll try for more signings Rogues?

I'm not convinced but I'd love to be wrong. I'm not overly worried about a second row but I think you've hit the nail on the head with the positions you mention. We need some cutting edge in the pack who can break tackles and some experience in the centres.

i like kirmond as well, likewise i think with a bit of work he could be a westwood a like, he's a very strong runner, i felt sorry for him getting farmed out of huddersfield, maybe its for the best for him though.

id take kirmond.

agree, an experienced prop who can crack a few heads when needed will cover hocks loss

If Hock was to leave I'd like to see us go for Larne Patrick, but I can't see that happening.

You might well get your wish

Patrick must have admirers at Wigan after the way he's performed against us at times.

I'm not sure Huddersfield need the cash like HKR do but him along with Taylor would soften a couple of the blows we've been dealt.

Things may be about to change at Huddersfield.
Ken Davy has underwritten everything there for years but has now said that he wants the club to be financially self sufficiant.
To do that could mean he would at look at a transfer fee for a player if his position was readily filled.
From the £Ms he has put in over the years Huddersfield will be into a new financial era if KD wants a financially break even club without his money backing up.

If so then Patrick and Crabtree would do for me

Regardless of what we have coming through we do not have an impact runner in a wide channel like Hock.

Another thing that has not been mentioned is the space that Sam gets when Hock is on the field, as defenders are drawn to him even as a foil due to his line breaking threat.

We MUST replace Hock with 1 or probably 2 good players that offer that type of threat or doubt in the oppositions mind. Where they come from God only knows, thinking about it could Gelling be brought into the pack on a more regular basis.

Surely not?

If that's the case some of our "bigger units" need a kick up the arris

Perhaps KD & IL have been swapping notes on financial sustainability.