Massively out of favour apparently. Wanes changed his mind on him that's why he didn't go to Florida in pre-season. Massive mistake for me, was impressed with how he performed in pre-season.

Sam was training with town tonight so I suspect he will be in our side to play barrow on Sunday. Heard great things about him and expect him to lead our pack when the warriors make him available

Ok Wonky thanks for the update let us know how he goes. With all our youngsters playing for you you should have a good team!

Sam will be Hoppy about that, signs for Wigan then drops down a level from where he was at,

Don't recall you complaining when we signed Scott Taylor from Hull KR then sent him to Leigh

If he applies himself he will get a chance at Wigan if he doesn't he won't.

Sam is definitely playing for Town at Barrow on Sunday.

Gone back to Leigh on a months loan

And is allowed to play in the CC.

Doesn't look like a chance in Wigans first team will be coming anytime soon. Seems a really strange case this one.

Probably a make or break period for Sam, comes back and gets game time, gets match fit then a chance in SL, hopefully for him, he takes it and goes forward or either doesn't or never gets the chance and moves on

I really believed Sam would do well for you.

Very strange situation, it's like we've given up on him without giving him a chance.

I wouldn't go that far, but it definitely seems as though the coaching staff feel he's got some way to go before he's ready for SL. That much was clear when he didn't get selected to go to Florida for pre-season with the 1st team, going to France with the u19s instead.

It is a strange one though, we clearly didn't sign a 23 year old to play anywhere other than in our first team, a full pre-season should have got him to the required fitness levels and you'd have thought enough research had been done on him during scouting to ensure his playing standards were up to scratch.

It may well be my memory, but I'm sure that when he signed something was said, along the lines of "he is one for the future, and won't figure so much in the first team as yet" Most likely my fading memory..

Phil Wilkinson on Twitter says that Wane made it clear that Hopkins was a long term prospect and still in his plans

Good to hear that, it was a big call for Sam to move last year and many advised him it was a year too early for him. If it suits both parties a year loan would probably be best for his development followed by a big pre season