I wouldn't say so. He was relatively unheard of, but he wasn't like Tim Smith, Karl Pryce etc that needed a lot of work to his game. He had been very successful in the NRL. I think the Newcastle fans made a petition to urge the club to keep hold of him IIRC.

He improved under the coaching staff at Wigan, but he had been consistent for Salford. He wasn't a quota player and doesn't need half the amount of work Lauaki does.

Regardless someone at the club must see something in Lauaki. I'm not sure how shrewd a move it is signing a 27 year old quota player that needs to be retrained, but who knows what will happen. If he gets himself fit, adjusts his attitude/temperament, finds motivation and works himself into a very structured defence/attack we might have a good player on our hands. Let's hope so!

personally, I would break the bank for Todd Carney if we could overcome the Visa issue. The man is a magician and I would class his attacking play as being up there with the likes of Trent Barratt. Mr Lennigan, work your magic!!

Interesting to note IL's been in Australia recently:



[urlhttp://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=6474&type=news[/url

Wonder what he's been up to?

Agree fully.

Joel must go back to second row next year. He has done a decent job filling in but with Hoffman going he's needed back in that pack.

As for who plays centre it'd be a new signing or Charnley for me. If the quality of centre required isn't available Charnley should get first crack with Goulding, Roberts and Ryan King fighting for his wing spot as things stand.

I really like the idea of Charnley at centre. Yet it's an option that very rarely mentioned on here. Personally I think he'd excel there. He's pace to burn with immense strength and superb feet, what more could one ask from a centre. Plus it means Joel back to the pack and an opportunity for King on the wing. I like it!

Maybe the Gareth Thomas signing was to get the RFL on board so we could use them to help with Carneys visa, after all IL is a shrewd business man and you don't to be that loaded without the odd deal here and there

I don't think a visa application has anything to do with the RFL otherwise Bird wouldn't have been allowed to play for Catalan.

Think Charnley is fine where he is, not sure he has the hands or the game smarts for a centre. The attributes you mention are very much the core skills of a good wingman, a centre needs a little more refinement in his game, and to be honest without taking anything away from Charnley who I rate highly, not sure if he has that in him.

I have no doubt he could do a job as a centre but feel for the foreseeable future he is a better asset on the wing.

His handling ability is one of the reasons I'd give him a shot tbh. I think he shown some nice touches this year in a position you rarely get to use the skill. Funnily enough 2 good examples I can think of set up try's for Hoffman. One a cracking inside ball in Cardiff and the other a great run and pass away at huddersfield.

Game sense will come with time although I agree he needs work in that area.

I disagree jon. I remember watching him play for Hull KR in the centre's, and was excellent. I particularly remember him giving Keith Senior a torrid time. Granted the nuances in his game could do with a little work, but it is his first season of first grade football. To be fair to his hands, playing on the wing we don't exactly get to see that part of his game much, but as NickyKiss points out there are examples of where he's shown good hands.

I know when Joel reverted to centre this year his hands and quality of passing was poor. Numerous times he threw the most terrible balls for Josh to catch.

If I'm honest I get the feeling that this discussion is going to be pretty redundant I'm afraid, as I'd be very surprised if Josh is moved from the wing position next year. But in saying that, with Carmonts departure at the end of 2012 we've got real hole to fill there.

I'm not trying to argue here, but I don't think this dismissed my point in any shape or form.

Off the top of my head, without trying very hard, I was immediately able to name four 'projects' who became great servants to Wigan. The similarities are actually huge. IIRC, two of those four came from Rochdale Hornets. People were stunned when we signed them.

Does the fact that it happened in the 1990s make it irrelevant?

Surely the lesson there was that players who'd been ordinary at their previous clubs blossomed into something special when they entered a highly professional environment - and that's one thing we definitely have in common with that era.