Kevin this may be good news for the Wire and the rest of the RL and bad news for Wigan but as a previous poster says they where Wigans first choice props. I can't confirm that myself but whoever Wigan put out at prop we are weak in that position.
On paper plenty of cover but very short of experience and aggression which means Wigan could be in for a long season.

I wouldn't worry too much. How many of those lads in the Wigan team were Wigan lads or from the Wigan academy? There's not many other teams that could put a team like that out and surely that bodes well for the season ahead, Wigan could have a squad of mainly Wigan lads.

IMO we've been light on props since the end of the 2004 season, that was the last time I saw our pack dominate on a regular basis against the top teams.

Do we get 3 tries start for having a team full of Wigan lads?

How on Earth does it bode well for the season?

True Jack, but we also don't have Aussies looking for the next contract. We have a very inexperience team, lacking in nasty props, and i for one am really looking forward to the season ahead. It's going to be fascinating.

In respect of the handling errors, there have been rumblings about the lightness/flight of the new Rhino ball, so I factor that in your thoughts.

As has been mentioned elsewhere, I would say one of Wigan's biggest issues in the coming season will be clearing the tryline to 20 metre zone, due to the lack of a big prop. I did like the look of one of the Welsh lads, not sure whether it was Dudson or Flower, one of them was a big unit, but didn't run their weight as effectively as I they probably can. Early doors, I suspect.

Thanks for turning up for his testimonial, in pretty ty conditions. You must have been freezing.

Because local lads are more likely to play with pride in the shirt and show commitment to the club rather than the mercenary players that other clubs have.

Like Gaz Hock?

Yes like Gaz Hock.

He played about 200 games for Wigan and was one of the leading forwards in the world over a decade.

If some of your current young players were destined to go on and do this would you regard this as a success or failure for Wigan?

I would echo this point as well, appreciate the attendance and support from Wigan fans

I fail to see how Hock's behaviour suggests he's less of a mercenary than anyone else. We paid Gaz a lot of money to play for the club, went to unreasonable lengths to keep his career going and he fecked us over in the end. Compare that with imports Pat Richards, Tommy Leuluai and George Carmont in the same era who played to a much higher standard and treated the club well. They'll go down as Wigan legends, Hock won't.

How did Scott Taylor go - was he any good?

The Saints v Shudds game was similar , lots of penalties against the team in possession - they seem to be keen on the PTB.

I'm glad they're clamping down on forward passes, it was getting laughable. All these penalties for not playing the ball penalty are getting daft though, it's not in the interests of the clubs or the fans so leave it alone