He looks like he's in a more positive frame of mind and seems to be enjoying his rugby so far this season. He looks a yard quicker than last season (shades of 2010/11 seasons).

Is he out of contract at the end of the season?

I have heard something similar but the club in question was Harlequins.

I'll admit he has pulled his socks ups bit and looks a bit like the Charnley of old, but his attitude for the two previous years was awful. Not sure what his contract situation is with Wigan but I'm sure Leneghan said he was holding off offering him anything until the end of this year. Maybe I'm wrong.

I didn't think he did too bad yesterday. Some people were and are saying he isn't good enough but it was his first game of the season. He ran fairly well, backed up a break and passed out wide for a try (although I think the pass was forward) and he shew some ok touches. I'm happy to give him some more games as I think he can come good.

Hampshire did make 28 tackles which for an half back is very good..more than most in the Cas team and I don't think the Wigan halves have reached that this season.
Cas were outgunned in the forwards and made too many basic errors..ie losing the ball 6 or 7 times on the first or second tackle, kicking the ball out on the full twice and also into a team mate in an offside position on one occasion.
He was far in front of Gale in tackling and metres made stats so to single him out in what was a difficult game for the Cas backs is ridiculous.

just an update from friday's game, against wire, i don't know what cas fans thought but i didn't even realise he was playing till the second half and he was defending along the southstand.

Obviously it was all one way traffic in the first half, but he was anonymous, anything and everything cas tried was via Gale. Hampshire seem to stay right out the way in the right centre, didn't seem to want to get his hands dirty.

He's incredibly young looking though, how old is he? He reminds me of Liam Bretherton who you guys took off us ages ago, proper baby faced.

We've heard an awful lot about what Wigan can and/or should be doing for Ryan Hampshire, but it's a two-way street. At present, he just doesn't seem to be making the required impact. There's time yet, though. To answer your question, he's 21.

Looking at the match stats it would appear that Hampshire had to make a lot of tackles but only missed two. Did Wire target him? For whatever reason Cas don't appear to be playing to the stronger part of his game (running) as he only made 30 metres from six carries. Gale mad a lot more metres but had much less defending to do. www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... port/12233

Looking at the match stats it would appear that Hampshire had to make a lot of tackles but only missed two. Did Wire target him? For whatever reason Cas don't appear to be playing to the stronger part of his game (running) as he only made 30 metres from six carries. Gale mad a lot more metres but had much less defending to do. www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... port/12233

presuming he's deffo number 18, looks like he did a fair amount of standing and watching for a few tries. www.skysports.com/watch/video/sp ... highlights

presuming he's deffo number 18, looks like he did a fair amount of standing and watching for a few tries. www.skysports.com/watch/video/sp ... highlights

Yeah, *that's* how the game should be played! A bit of pace! Just too quick for Cas.

Hee the second coming according to some posters

He is a young player who has made 2 appearances for a new club in matches where his team have been totally dominated in every area.

Defiantly time to write him off.........

It highlights the problem that we have no decent level below SL to allow players develop their game.

Williams and rocky playing in together in a team that dominated probably all but one or two other teams they played against. Many Wigan fans wanted them both in the 1st team together.

It doesn't provide the environment for a half to learn the art of leading a team and working out how to unlock a defence. It's all to easy to go through a gap if you're a player like rocky. Those gaps don't appear as easily in SL.

The last time we had two promising halves they were thrown in too early, were too inexperienced, ended up being sold and it took a good few years to establish themselves. Wigan fans don't have the patience for that, especially in key positions.

It will take a couple of seasons to judge what level rocky can play at I think. Do we have the patience to find out?

The one big worry I've always had with him is that he looks like he lacks a little confidence. He seems a decent lad but pretty quiet and as a halfback that's not going to make it easy to communicate. There's no doubting his natural ability. The lad is a fantastic young player but you sense his confidence has taken a hit over these past couple of years of what's seemingly been a frustrating time filling in at fullback whilst wanting to play in the halves.

It'd be nice to see what he could do in a confident Cas side which was winning and playing well but unfortunately that Cas side will probably have Dorn and Roberts in it which means he then won't be.