Cooper's 31 now though and we wouldn't be able to get him until next season and signing 32 year old aussies is something the current regime wants to be moving away from. I agree I dont think we'll get an adequate replacement from SL but I dont think Matt Cooper is the answer imo. I think they will use Charnley, Joel Tomkins and possibly Marsh (although I dont think he is Wigan standard yet) to cover Gleeson this year then look to bring in a top class overseas player to replace Carmont at the end of the year, presuming he retires.

I think we all would really. But who's ready other than Charnley? I'd like to have kept Carmont for another year and played Charnley in place of Gleeson. But by the sounds of it Carmont is going. So that plans out the window.

Personally I think Charnley's ready to take over from Carmont next year. The spanner in the works has come from Gleeson, because were now having to replace both centre's at the end of the year. It would have been a much smoother transition to replace Carmont with Charnley next year and then replace Gleeson a couple of years after that.

Like I say I feel Charnley will do fine in place of Carmont next year, my worry's are however that we don't have another adequate replacement in the reserves who's ready to play in SL week in week out to fill Gleeson's spot.

Tahu all the way for me.

A massive player for me and currently a free agent. Get him signed on a 1 + 1 year deal.

If he still wants to play the game then his capture would be quite a coup.

Said the same thing to my mate, don't know if he's got off-field issues or anything like that because a talented player like him should never be a free agent.

can someone please pm me with the roumers regarding gleeson and roberts
cheers

He went to Aussie Union for more money and it didn't work out.
When he returned he had problems and left the Eels.
Was a very good player but is now 30.
He'd be worth a punt but I just don't think IL or MM will consider him the kind of player Wigan want to go with now.
We are going towards a very inexperienced 3/4 line with Goulding, Marsh, Carmont, Charnley which lined up at Salford. If George copped a knock we'll really be in trouble experience wise.
If Marsh or Charnley go to 3 then I think Roberts should play at 2 with Goulding going to 5.
Then we'd have Roberts, Marsh/Charnley, Carmont, Goulding.
That gives an experinced and an inexperienced man each side of the field. A 3/4 line of Goulding, Marsh, Carmont and Roberts isn't the right balance for me.
I'd rather have Cooper than Tahu. Cooper's playing, in form and a class act. Tahu right now is an unknown qualtity.
Trouble is Cooper's not available.

Jamal Idris?

I've heard Tahu isn't playing with a full deck, Cooper would be nice to replace Carmont.

If I were IL I would go all out for Michael Jennings from Penrith.

Players such as Idris and Kenney Dowell aren't gonna leave the NRL any time soon.

True.

But what do you do then? I don't think we'll find any middle ground in trying to sign a player from overseas. I can't see any top class or 'world class' centres coming over to the UK if they're anything under 28. I just can't see it happening. With the better quality matches and higher chances of representative honours over there they're not going to come over. Plus they'll still feel like they have something to prove.

It's for the above reason that I don't think we should rule out someone like Matt Cooper as well as the reasons LTS mentions. I don't think we particularly want a player on a five-year deal when we want to develop Stefan Marsh, Josh Charnley, Darrell Goulding, Karl Pryce or maybe even Joel Tomkins as a centre. The plan must be for two of those five players to fill the two vacant gaps at centre.

I agree that looking for players at the age of 32 is not ideal, but this is not an ideal situation. I don't think we should panic buy, but we should look to strengthen with Gleeson and Carmont both seemingly going. We can't go into next season having lost both our first choice centres & hope to promote from within and we'll be alright. We would have a too inexperienced backline. It wont happen when the lads mentioned have not had much game time at centre. It's too much pressure. So having an experienced head like Matt Cooper is needed IMO. Especially when you consider that Gleeson, Carmont, Deacon and possibly Coley (all off the top of my head) could be leaving us next season. We're a young enough squad as it is. We've seen Matt Cooper can more than produce the goods at centre - he carved us apart at the DW - certainly doesn't lack any pace! I think for two years he would serve as an excellent mentor for one of the five aforementioned players to take his place when he leaves and would be a good signing for Wigan at the moment.

Rumours circulating that Martin Gleeson is going to Hull FC.

Hopefully we'll get Tom Briscoe in return.

Maybe teaming up with Sean Long again. Who would have bet on that happening? Apart from those 2 if the odds were good enough!!