Williams and Hampshire are two of the most promising half backs I've seen in schoolboy and junior football and did a great job individually and as a partnership in the Wigan academy.
They should have been developed and moulded into a partnership for senior football. One is now a hooker/half and the other is a full back despite never having played there as a junior.The game is crying out for quality English half backs..it seems to me that the Wigan management can't see a good thing when it's staring them in the eye but sadly maybe it's symptomatic of the game in general.

Well said, Yorkshireman! I have been watching Wigan since the mid 60's and Hampshire and Williams could and should be the new Edwards and Gregory, who (for younger fans) were the Wigan half back partnership from 1988 - 1991, ie the start/first 4 of Wigan's run of 8 CCs etc. In my opinion, Wigan's best half back combination in the last 50 years - and 2 Wigan born lads as well!
Hampshire isn't a Sam Mk2 - Sam isn't the strongest in defence, but he is taller and better than Hampshire. One of Bowen's shortcomings is his weakness under the high ball when there is a lot of traffic and Hampshire seems to struggle similarly - not surprising as he hasn't been a regular full back before.

Is that your date of birth, 2. 2. 59.

The Hampshire / Williams combination SHOULD be the medium term 2/3 years off aim as Wigans halfback combination.

What you didn't mention was Wigan tried the "young way" with Edwards and Keith Holden. It failed. Holden disappeared via Warrington and Edwards was moved onto the wing and to fullback before eventually reverting to #6 or #7 Gregory only arrived at Wigan when he was established and around 25 years of age.

It was tried again with Kevin Brown and Luke Robinson and look where both players are now.

At present Wigan don't really have cover at fullback so Hampshire is the ideal player to do that AND cover the #6 role. Have a look at the players playing at #1 both here and in the NRL . Lomax, Dorn, Hanbury, Rankin etc. all started as half backs The #1 and #6 roles are not much different with the exception of catching the high ball for the #1 and the #6 has do do more tackling.

What does need to happen is for Wane and Radlinski to sit down with the young players and map out their plans for them over the next couple of years.

And sometimes, moving them in the opposite direction (#1 to #6) doesn't always work too well; see Barba and Milford. Also, the plans to put Josh Dugan in positions where he's required to pass the ball (never his strong suit). Conclusion: maybe #6 to #1 is easier than vice versa?

There is a shortage of half backs in SL hence so many arrive from the NRL. At Wigan we have quite a few in that not all can be played in their favoured positions.

I'm probably the only one who's quite relaxed about Hampshire not playing right now. The pitches are soft to muddy and ours at the DW is like a ploughed field and an utter disgrace.

Hampshire is a terrific player with exceptional pace. That pace is lost in the mud and on slippery surfaces. Being so fast enables Ryan make up for the odd mistake or being caught out of position. On a hard fast ground he can make that up, on a muddy field he can't and will get found out by crafty halves.

In two-four weeks the grounds will really have dried out and that's when I'd look for Ryan to replace Bowen. Bowen's pace is declining by the game and it will soon be time for his successor to start playing regularly. Bring him in over Easter and then play him regularly for the rest of the season.

The only thing I'm not relaxed about is that Ryan hasn't signed a new deal. The club need to get that sorted and soon.

I'm actually really excited about the prospect of a Hampshire & Smith partnership.

They have two contrasting styles that could merge well together. I really do think we would see an improvement in Smith's game if he had a 'natural' 6 outside him who enjoys taking on defences.

Would you sign a new contract if you were him?

Yes IF he was given assurances that the #1 position was his for next season.

If he is assured of the one shirt next year I will dispare at the strategy under Wane, Rads and Lenagan.

Quite simply his performances at 1 have not warranted any assurances for him to take the 1 shirt.

The policy seems to be round holes into square pegs. We have 3 young lads capable of playing halfback so rather than see who rises to the top in that position we shift players around at accommodate them. Rocky is the player most versatile and able to play 1 so he is earmarked as a 1 even though he clearly isn't. Is he a future Wigan 6? Who knows but he needs to be given a chance to stake a reasonable claim as to be honest neither Williams or Powell has managed to make the shirt their own despite having been given the chance.

I'm surprised Rocky is not being lined up to play on the wing to replace Burgess after all he is the fastest player at the club so why not give him a run there?!

The current policy of Acadeny "succession" is a load of vain bull in my opinion. The simple fact is Rocky should get a fair crack at 6 as the others have had. We need to be looking to recruit a fullback for next year. We have to accept that we will more than likely lose 1 or 2 of Williams, Powell and Hampshire. Of the 3 give them an equal opportunity, see who takes it. The player that does give him the shirt, the player/players that don't let them fight to earn a shot, if they get a chance through injury they have their opportunity, if they continue not to take it make a call on them when contracts are up and move them on.

Wigan should not be the Wigan Academy First team. Wigan should be a the best team they can put in the pitch regardless of where they were developed. It is also unfair to jeoidise careers by not giving players the opportunity to play their best position.

Would you still sign that contract if you saw yourself as a 6?

And therein lies the problem. I think most people, including himself, sees him as a 6. Everyone apart from Shaun Wane apparently! I genuinely think the club are handling this one badly and we'll end up losing Hampshire. In my opinion that could be the worst piece of business since we swapped Longy for a no mark prop!