And to draw a similar parallel to the Budgie to Centre argument - How did switching Richards to Centre go?

Every situation is different

Connolly wasn't great anywhere on the pitch. He was a poor to average full back and didn't play anywhere else but centre. Robinson was a hit and miss half but a world class winger. Again he played nowhere else and, in all honesty, I can't imagine which other position he could have played with any distinction. There are a mix of players listed. Some multi positional, some outstanding in only one position. That's exactly the point. There is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to players. Hence the reason I said 'worth a try' rather than 'he'd definitely make it as a centre'.

The simple fact is he shows many traits of a top class centre: good awareness, great hands and the ability to bust a takle to name but 3. He's already an excellent winger. He wouldn't suddenly lose that ability if he tried his Hans at centre. I'm not sure why you think he would. Can you name me some players for whom that was the case?

As I said. If we're being pedantic (which you were) then you said he's a winger full stop. Well, if we're being very pedantic, you actually missed the full stop but we'll let that one go!

You're subsequent post regarding Richards proves this is actually what you think anyway so I'm not quire sure of your reasons for arguing unless it's just more pedantary.

For the sake of clarity, do you think it possible Budgie would make a good centre or not and, if not, why not?

And would you further explain how this went on to ruin him as a winger?

We'll agree to disagree on Connolly but you do realise you're arguing against yourself if that's what you think, don't you? Why would moving an outstanding fullback to centre make sense if moving a good winger to centre doesn't? You can't argue it both ways.

Robinson did indeed play a number of games at full back in both codes and didn't excel in either. You may as well argue Budgie has played several times at centre..

I don't want this discussion to get muddied though so rather than discuss the merits of individual positional swaps let me ask you this: What do you think we stand to lose from trying Budgie at centre (not thrown in this season btw) given we have an abundance of quality wingers and are struggling at centre?

I didn't say it did - I just said that Richards was brought by Millward and he tried to convert him to centre when he had only played Wing previously.
It didn't work and he moved back to Wing quite successfully (He also played a bit of FB 07ish but it was quite clearly Wing was hi best position).
This is what I believe to be Joe's best position - Nothing more nothing less.

Budgie was awful in defence when he played at centre. it's not all about making tries but stopping them as well. He seemed to lack the positional knowledge of where he had to be when defending at centre.

So no actual reasons for that belief then. Fair enough. Not really sure how to counter that other than to say that clearly his best position is currently wing but I still don't see why that would preclude him being equally effective as a centre given time, training and experience in that position. It seems you don't either so I guess that's the end of that particular discussion.

But as said earlier, being thrown into an injury ravaged team that was playing badly while injured yourself and with no real previous experience or preparation, that's not a surprise. I cannot say with any certainty that he would make the transition but equally it can't be said that he wouldn't.

However the point is, having given Marshall and Davies long term contracts and the possibility of Manfredi's return, not to mention a couple good prospects in the junior ranks, that someone will have to make a positional change (or lose players, of course). The only question is who looks the most likely candidate.

I didn't have that belief, you put thise words down attributed them to me and I hadn't said them.
To be fair as I said earlier I wasn't so much arguing with your point but just saying that 2/3 times you said I'd said something that I hadn't. That's all.

Budgie has played centre at junior level, academy level etc.
He currently could "Do a job" there.
But currently he's a far better winger than he is centre or full back.

We currently have 3 1st team wingers, saints have 3, most teams do, I don't thinknthats excessive.
You talk about having to lose players because we have 3.
What happens if one gets injured and we only have 1 with no other juniors currently in the frame to step up?
We play budgie centre and we have 3 x centre's, do we let 1 of the others go and only have 2? (what do we do then if budgie and say gildart get injured and we have no back up?).

Wigan have built up a squad of players and I'm over the moon that currently for the first time in 2 years we have fit players and competition for places, I see that as a positive not a problem.

Correct. We can’t count Manfredi because we don’t know when he’ll be fit again, how long it will take him to get back to match fitness, if he’ll ever be as good as he was, and also allowing as much time as he needs to get back without having to rush him back.

When is Budgies contract up? I know he fancies another crack at Australia and indeed was offered a contract by Souths last time he was over there. It's a measure of the man that he said no because he had promised Rads he would come back to Wigan and didn't want to back on his word.

End of November 2019 (3 yr deal)