Do Wigan have the money to buy him?

Looking at £250k at least

Hard to say really. The club has made a profit for the past couple of years and Lenagan had stated he's willing to pay transfer fees for the right players in the past so you never know.

They certainly have the money, but whether they'd be prepared to spend it, and whether they have the cap space are other matters.

Cap space can't be a problem surely but his wage demands if it got in to a tug of war with other clubs could be.

Any player that comes to Wigan won't get paid over the odds to outbid rival clubs. We'll miss out on a few players this way but it has to be the correct way to do things.

tough one this...

1. id like to see him play at wiagn
2. id prefer to give a wigan lad a go - if mellor is ready lets go for it
3. is deacon definitely retiring - i might have missed the official announcement but are we all ssuming like we did last year?
4. will chases attitude be detrimental?
5. i dont want him playing for another top team but is that reason to sign him?

Cas may go for a cash plus player deal.
Mentioned elsewhere that Roberts could go to Cas along with Mellor on a season's long loan. It appears that Cas want players to bolster their squad.
If Mellor is being touted as a loanee then we'd deduce that Deacs will be going one more year. If injury occurs then Powell could step in.
The other risk is a new visa. He may not get another due to his off field problems down under. A cash deal with 50% up front and the further amount on getting a new visa would make sense.
Good deal for Roberts as this is his last season and I don't see where he will play. He aint going to full back and Charnley will now be in front of him for the 2 shirt. A 2 + 1 deal at Cas may suit Amos.
Great these rumours, you can build a case for and against them all.

Personal preference here, but if Wigan are going out and splashing transfer fee's for players and Cas are strapped for cash. I'd rather see that money go towards Daryl Clarke. I think he'd be a better signing for Wigan when taking everything into account. I'd worry about Chase's off the cuff style blending with are current style.

To start a match with Leuluai and then bring on Clarke would be nothing short of superb. Plus Clarke wouldn't demand as larger salary, or take up a valuable quota spot that we could do with using on an outside back.

I'd offer Roberts for Clarke.

Cracking post. Did you see his try the other week? The lad's got bags of potential and would come on leaps and bounds surrounded by quality players and staff.

I saw that cracking break he made against Hull KR at the weekend. Unfortunate not to score the try really. Like Sam he's deceptively strong for only a wiry lad. Would be nice to have him at Wigan though, particularly if we are losing Tommy in 12 months time. Clarke could learn a hell of a lot in 12 months under Leuluai's wing.

Mellor in my opinion will be farmed out to other clubs until Finch leaves, he will be the natural successor and game time at other SL clubs can only benefit him and more than likely them as he is a cracking player but needs games. I would not like to rely on him for a full season at a club hoping to go for trophies.

Getting Roberts off the wage bill would be a massive boost. I would expect he has a weighted contract with the bulk of his salary being paid in the final year of his contract.

Its a shame really as were it not for that injury at Wakefield we could have been talking about Roberts in the same circles as Renouf etc when it comes to great overseas signings.

Until I read the notion of a deal involving Mellor on loan and Roberts permanently I was somewhat sceptical about the Chase link, but the structure of this deal being touted does seem very much an IFL way of going about things and adds considerable weight to the notion we are negotiating a move for him.

Where abouts was that?