Great news!

An announcement of Finch and Lockers signing on for 2013 and beyond would be very nice.

Get him tied up!

A two year contract would be ideal. I'm not normally a fan of keeping players after they are thirty, but losing Tommy and Finch would be difficult, and I wouldn't really like to have to rely on just Mellor and Powell (he could provide cover at 7 and 9) next year.

Further down the line we have the two England halfbacks in Williams and Hampshire coming through who will be putting pressure on Mellor and Powell in the next three years.

lets hope we get him signed on a new contract ASAP.

Echo what's been said....let's get the guy a new deal ASAP. He's a leader and a dam fine player that will take the pressure of both our young halfbacks and future recruitment plans if he sticks around.

A one year deal with a years option would seem sensible and if he's happy enough long term that could extend further. He's not the type of player who will suffer from a lack of pace.

On a side note the guy has 'future coach' written all over him. He speaks sense and seems very tactically aware. I'm not saying that will be here but he'll end up coaching somewhere.

This bit worries me........



Sensible management would have us identify the key positions already for next season, especially given we knew about Tommy's departure well in advance of the new season. It hints at a lack of planning, lets hope that isn't the case otherwise we may get left behind on any other targets we might need.

He looks quicker on his feet this year than last, surprisingly. For me that's the reason why he looks so threatening, because he's mixing the play up.

Totally agree about the future coach point.

When does Mellor's contract expire? Can't see him getting another one with Williams and Hampshire already playing for the u20s.

Can't see an issue with Finch's age if he is performing to the desired standard.

Mellors contract is up at the end of this year.
Williams and Hampshire will only get limited game time at U20 this year as they are still first year U18 (both aged 17)

That injury to Mellor really came at a bad time for him.

I'd hope Mellor is given an extra year at least. As a player who mostly relied on his running game the injury really did set him back and I think it might take a little longer to really see what he's capable of.
He might not make it, you can't always tell, but I think it's in Wigan's best interest to keep hold of him for next year and play either him or Powell alongside Finch (assuming Lenegan does the right thing and re-signs Finch).

Absolutely tremendous news! What a fantastic thread to see on rlfans after a long day!

Absolute no brainer. You get this lad signed up on a two-year deal asap! We're losing Tommy next year and Carmont - that's two very experienced players - we've a young enough team as it is. I feared that should we lose Finch or god forbid Lockers we'd find ourselves in a similar situation to our nearest and dearest over the hill.

Fantastic player. Great rugby brain. Organises the side, experienced and is in a rich vein of form. One of the best halfbacks running around in Super League. Two year deal get it done.

If we only lose Carmont and Tommy next year (with Amos Roberts) then I think we've done very well. Signing Finch and Lockers up is absolutely paramount. Two (FInch) and three (Lockers) year deals would be my thinking for both players.

The u18s will not provide any sort of test for them. They are only three or so months older than Ben Currie at Warrington and he has been playing u20s for over a year now and is on the verge of first team duty.

I can't see Mellor having any long term future with Wigan and it would be best all round to release him now to Widnes or wherever and allow Williams and Hampshire to play u20s. By the end of the season they'll probably offer more than Mellor currently does to the u20s.

Next season is probably a year too soon for whichever one of these two bolts through and that is where I think Wigan's "problem" is for next season. I don't think Mellor or Powell are realistic options at half-back for a team that wants to be winning trophies and therefore Tomkins may well return to that position.

That could happen with Russell slotting in at fullback, in fact I think that we may see that tried in a couple of games this year. I can see Powell being cover for 7 and 9.

Heard we have had talks with Matty Smith and Scott Dureau

I still remember the bloke stood behind me at Leeds away last season, "Go Home Finch...your bluddy useless"

about a minute later he throws a 30 yard cut out pass to send us away which we then level the game off!

We definately rushed Brett back last year for the Warrington game. I hope IFL offers him a 2 year option with a year in wigans favour. We need the experienced lads around the side to bring the likes of mellor and powell through. Who better than an NRL winning half and a challenge cup winning half who has also played state of origin?