Rumour is we have promised him a flying car if he signs another 6 year deal in 2031.

Really surprised by this but buzzing!!!

Everything at the club is ticking over quite nicely at the moment and it isn’t happening by accident. On field and off field it makes you proud to be a fan.
I was hoping that Junior would be a “home bird” but I never thought that he’d sign such a long contract.
We’ve done some great business lately.

Just watched Rads interview. There are no release clauses for NRL moves at any point. Rads said he put a presentation together for Mike Danson which compared the things he's doing as a young player to what a young Ellery Hanley was doing. He clearly realised what a massive statement that is.

Great news for Wigan but I think there its also a real opportunity for Junior to become a real figurehead for SL going forward.

F**k me, did not see that coming!

Excellent news and very well deserved. One hell of a player

What all you guys said! Unexpected, and very welcome!

Nsemba is a fantastic talent and is a great retention for both Wigan and SL
Although tbh the whole RL world is at his feet and if the NRL clubs come calling (which they will) then he has a big lifestyle choice to make.
I've loved watching him this season and it's scary just how good that he could eventually be?

What a great piece of business by the club.
Junior is the brightest young talent in SL by a very long way.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

It goes without saying that this is a massive signing, moreso if it comes without NRL clauses. He has the potential to be the best in the world and it's easy to forget that he's barely left his teens. I didn't expect this at all as, like most people I think, I just assumed that an NRL move would come sooner rather than later.

Well done Rads and everyone at the club

That's a great bit of business. How big is this salary cap?

6 more years, in possibly a legend in the making.

This and Zach wow just wow.
Great piece of business by all concerned.
Absolutely love being a Wigan fan at the min (reminds me of the late 80s and 90s)

Paper bags are much stronger these days

We've not yet seen who's leaving other than Hampshire. Rumours are both Isa and Cooper are to retire (along with Byrne potentially leaving). More than enough cap space there to give Nsemba & Eckersley improved extensions.

No suggestion as yet if we are signing anyone, do we really need to? Potentially the first season I can remember where we might not which is great planning by the club.

We've borrowed the model from Saints circa 2019-2023 of getting lads to sign up for the 'love of the club'. Some don't even get paid



In all seriousness though, we've signed nobody for 2025 and Hampshire, Cooper and Isa will leave. I also think we may well see Liam Byrne leave, which rumour seems to be suggesting could be the case.

I think some new blood into the squad is always a good option and SC permitting I’m sure that the club would look to cover the second row if Isa was to retire. I think that we may also cover the Hampshire departure with a “project” signing.

Cooper, Isa, Rocky and Chan I would be comfortable to all see move on to manage the upgrades provided to retain the quality in the squad.

I would like to see the secondrow strengthened. I know Lucas Mason is well though of (just needs to make sure his old man doesn’t get too involved with guidance) however Faz isn’t going to go on forever and a secondrow to support that rotation of Faz, Nsemba and Walters would be the only addition I would think we may need.

The versatility of the squad is one of its key strengths which means we can really focus on quality over quantity as long as we keep feeding in young prospects.

All our props are pretty much modern middles able to play 13 except maybe Byrne and Dupree.

Walters and cover Prop.

Field can play 6 &1 as can French and also wing.

Eckersley can cover centre, wing and fullback.

Keighran can cover the halves.

Leeming can play in the halves.

Then we have the likes of Farrimond and Douglas as specialist backup.

It’s clearly a tactic to build a squad around versatility and quality which means we can really use the money available under the cap most successfully.

Yeah agree with all of that Jon particularly your comment on Mason.
I was told a few weeks ago that we have signed a young HB from a rival team. The source is usually pretty sound so at this point I’m assuming that this is still potentially valid.
Have you heard anything about the young Bradford backrow forward Fulton being a target?

So a couple of days ago there was a post on Facebook where a supporter coming out of the arena had seen laser writing on the South Stand wall showing 'JNR 2030' we all know what this has led to with the fantastic news of Junior's contract extension. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/nrerWJzuDY5kadG5/ EDIT - Seems the 'Danny W' message was just a test.

So a couple of days ago there was a post on Facebook where a supporter coming out of the arena had seen laser writing on the South Stand wall showing 'JNR 2030' we all know what this has led to with the fantastic news of Junior's contract extension. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/nrerWJzuDY5kadG5/ EDIT - Seems the 'Danny W' message was just a test.

Didn't want to start a new thread for this so have revived an old one. Just watching an interview with Peet on The Sportsman Youtube channel (the season preview show for anybody interested) and he mentions that Junior is bigger this year than last. Apparently he is 20kg heavier than he was this time last year, that's 3 stone He was already beasting everybody last year, and he still looks super fit in the pre season stuff so it seems to all be healthy weight, he is going to be an animal again this season if that is correct!

Was strange after the launch yesterday we was saying look at the size of JNR he made the other players look like little lads. When I watched the Sportsman interview with Matt it made me chuckle ….. just wait until he fills out!

I certainly wouldnt want him running at me!

[quote="BoredWiganer":28hhkynr]Didn't want to start a new thread for this so have revived an old one. Just watching an interview with Peet on The Sportsman Youtube channel (the season preview show for anybody interested) and he mentions that Junior is bigger this year than last. Apparently he is 20kg heavier than he was this time last year, that's 3 stone He was already beasting everybody last year, and he still looks super fit in the pre season stuff so it seems to all be healthy weight, he is going to be an animal again this season if that is correct![/quote:28hhkynr] i'd personally find 20kg / 3 stone a lot to put on in 3-4 months, so think that is probably exaggerated, and you'd have fans of other clubs claiming he's been ont steroids there's no doubt he could bulk up / fill out and put on some weight, but i personally dont believe 20kg

[quote="Mark_P1973":2elnkq78]i'd personally find 20kg / 3 stone a lot to put on in 3-4 months, so think that is probably exaggerated, and you'd have fans of other clubs claiming he's been ont steroids there's no doubt he could bulk up / fill out and put on some weight, but i personally dont believe 20kg[/quote:2elnkq78] He's saying 12 months isn't he - as in he's 20kg heavier than this time last year.

[quote="TKOR":2e2p3j2v]He's saying 12 months isn't he - as in he's 20kg heavier than this time last year.[/quote:2e2p3j2v] to be fair i havent watched the video. i'd assumed it was off season as thats when the majority of that work is done, with an emphasis on maintaining during the season