I would go further and say too many so called world class players on world class wages meaning the cake was cut to thin for the rest of squad.

You need a team of solid players, backed up with a sprinkling of youth and a couple of star names. Leeds and Saints have this and are the two most successful teams in the country at the moment. We have a youth system as good as Leeds and better than Saints imo. The big difference is they bring their young players through and mould a team around them while we go for the easy option of big name players.

It has not worked for years so why do we still think it will? Even Huddersfield have cottened on to the fact about having good young talent (mostly ex Wigan) and blending them with other more established players.

We are very close to achieving this imo a lot of our current team is very young and talented and if we get the balance right then we could have the team we've been calling for;

1-Richards/Roberts
2-Ainscough
3-World class centre (on par with Gildley is a must)
4-Goulding
5-Richards/Roberts
6-Tomkins
7-Smith
8-Fielden
9-Riddell
10-New prop
11-Hansen
12-Lockers
13-Tomkins

Prescott
Hock
Feka
Leuleui

Plenty of youngsters like O’Carroll, Mcilorum, Farrell, Mossop, Thornley, Vievers to step up for CC games and injures.

We realistically only need a new centre and a good British prop and we then we have a quality team for the next four years. It’s very achievable all we have to make sure is the new prop is a good $hit house one and a world class is brought in.

You are right mate, this is the closest we have been for a good few years in getting the balance right.

IL said when he took over it would be a good couple of years before we are ready to be at the top again. Whilst I don't think we will be the top team this season I still think we can win some silverware or at least be there on the day with a chance.

I think with one or two good signings the balance will be right in 2010. We do need to blood a few certain youngsters this year to achcieve that though.

We haven't got any.

Hock, Smith, Roberts, Pryce and Riddell do have the potential but I dont think Noble is picking the right team or tactics.


and we have a world cup winner in the squad so he must be a superstar

Till you have any facts or evidence about Smith and Riddell on king street nobody is going to believe you.

Ok they like a drink...so what? They can do what they please in their own time as long as it doesnt affect their performances on the pitch.

The fact is Smith was our MOM last week! Not only have we been praising him but Hull fans have also commented just how good he was 2. He must be doing something right. He's got undoubted potential and is already a cracking SH. Do i think he's a 6? Probably not but his skill set is perfect for the SH role and if he's stays at Wigan with Tomkins as his HB partner we can all have something to look forward to.

What are you basing your statement about Ainsough being twice the player Roberts is on? Is it all the SL and Challenge cup games he's played? Or is it Ainscoughs try scoring record season after season like Roberts has?

Untill he’s played a SL all he can be is good prospect and nothing more. You don’t become a good player until you do the business in the full league.

Defiantly. Sam T and Ainscough shouldn't be playing every week but hopefully they’ll play a good number of games to aid their development this season. The more experience they get this season the better we’ll be going forward next season

My only concern is Noble may not be the person to achieve the team we could potentially have or make the most of it either.

I really do feel we are on the cusp of something with the squad we have, two major signings in the prop and Centre spot and we could easily be challenging.

Please show us your facts that prove Roberts is over rated

People are dubbing him a 'superstar' when he's done naff all apart from have 2 bad games. I know you can't go off 2 games when judging a player usually but he really has been that bad I can't see him improving... people went off less when we signed Coley. Most of peoples opinions are based on what they want to happen rather than facts on here.

First Tim Smith was much better v Hull than Wakey. I just wish people would stop harping on about his Rookie of the year awards. When he won that his coach Brian Smith said he would play for Australia within 2 years. It never happened. If it had Tim would not be at Wigan. The player we have is still a good one but a pale shadow of what he could have been due to his ongoing health issues.

Have a drink on the season ticket holders boys!