Well, apparently Bailey is on around £120k which makes sense considering he was a mid-twenties SOO & Australian international when we signed him.

I have heard Baileys on more than that. Like people have said though, take it all with a pinch of salt. Nobody really knows.

Closely guarded secret isn't it?? Don't think the players can even tell the other halfs

Hate to say I told you so but this is another performance when we've not missed Hansen.

People can bang on all they want about having him as a 'good squad player' but do we really need him as that with the younger backrowers coming through?

Nope.

And as I predicted did we miss Piggy? 38-18 against Saints makes me think no.

Who would you get rid of and what positions would you bring people in if it was up to you?

Bloody hell, you don't half like being proved right



Regarding Riddell, your right, we didn't miss him, but I think with him on the beach the score could have been forty. Like it or not, hes shown us the tries he can create with his scooting game.

However in the Saints game, Macca did us proud tbh, never shied taking the ball up and his distribution was good

Wasn't he on the beach in Ibiza or somewhere anyway?

So because they did not play proves we did not miss them? Where is the logic in that?

I will counter in saying they were missed massivley and we would have nilled them and put 60 on the board ourselves.

You cannot prove or disprove it either way. Its pure specullation on how we would have gone had they played on either side of the argument.

All it does prove is we beat Saints on the day with the team we had on the park, no more no less.

He'll be kept of course, just because he's not playing doesn't mean he isn't performing a role at the club, having him, creates competition throughout the 5 second rowers we have so you could say him being there is making the others perform as they know, it could be them for the drop!

He seriously needs to get his head down and earn some MOTM awards in the reserves, because Mossop is my choice over him at the minute on performance side of life

Where are these young players who are coming through? They are not getting any SL games are they?

So what happens in 2010 when Bailey leaves? We start the season with one of the two 2nd rows being a young player with zero SL experience?

Even I don't think Noble is that daft.

What if one of Bailey or Hock gets injured? Would Noble be daft enough to risk a cup run or our season on a young forward with no experience? Lets not forget these are forwards not backs. The job is physically much tougher than for the likes of Ainscough and Sam Tomkins.

Hansen may not have been missed v Saints but to suggest he is surplus to requirements because we have young players coming through is just daft.

Dave

Interesting one.

(Disregarding contracts)

Lets start by outlining who are 'keepers'

Ainscough, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards
S Tomkins
Tommy (as a 9)
Feka Prescott
Hock Lockers J Tomkins
------------------------

Players with something to prove (IMO)

Hansen (Under pressure as we don't miss him in the 17 and younger backrows are impressing (Flanny/Mossop/Farrell)
Phelps-Playing well lately at FB, still has to make the spot his own
Roberts-Needs to push on. Ainscough looks more impressive going forward.
Smith-Looking better-but who knows if he'll want to stay or go? Plus Myler offers more of a running game if he were a target. If he pushes on with a running 6 ( S Tomkins) we could have our HB combo)
Pryce-Needs to be evaluated at the end of the season
Goulding-needs to prove he can replace Carmont when he retires.
--------------

Players to go
----------
Fielden-Played better against Saints but he's knackered. body seems worn out. What you get for being an 70/80min prop for so long at Bratford
Coley-Pushed on lately, but he's around 30 and hasn't done enough during his time at Wigan, he cap space can go towards some other players.
Bailey-We have plenty backrowers so he's not needed anymore. His cap and quota can be used in more needed positions.

So...

Phelps?
Ainscough Carmont Gleeson Roberts/Richards (Pryce and Goulding to prove their worth
S Tomkins Smith or MYLER
FERRIOL (quality prop, wouldn't cost the earth or an Aus spot) Tommy NEW IMPACT PROP
Hock Lockers
Tomkins
----------------
Feka Prescott Farrell NEW 9

In a no contract situation I would like to get rid of:

Riddell
Fielden

There cap would do nicely for a new 09 and new prop.