Last nights Manchester Evening News stated that Saints,Widnes and Wigan are to put offers in for Smith,it also stated that Wigan are showing a lot of interest in Rangi Chase.
God help us if the latter is true.

If Finch were to leave, several member of this board will probably throw themselves in the cut....

I'd like to think we are doing everything possible to try and persuade finch to stay, looking at the amount of remaining space we have left on the cap I think he'd be one of few players worthy of giving that bit extra and maybe giving us a chance of competing with the NRL. I know we've signed Thornley but when you consider who we are losing there must be a massive amount to play with. I'd imagine that if Fielden can recover and with Mossop Preccy Spencer and the rest then I can't see us being desperate to replace Lima. And a high class replacement for Carmont is going to be hard to come by. We just can't afford to lose both him and Tommy.

I liked Barrett, but for me, Finch is even better. I'll be gutted if he goes.

Terry O'Connor slipped up in SL Extra time last night when Carney was talking about Leuluai and Finch. Terry said Wigan will have a big job on replacing both of them. Sounds to me like he knows more than most.

Well played last night btw, fantastic display and very worthy winners. Hope from a Leeds PoV that it's the kick in the pants we have needed for a while now.

I thought that when Terry said it, however Wane seemed genuine when he said he would do everything he could to keep him.
Feeling a bit more confident that he'll stay after hearing what Wane said about him.

What about promote a British halfback instead of just relying on imports?

Surely in Wigan's youth set up there is a good halfback worth promoting, Wigan have always had a great history of producing great halfbacks like Edwards, Gregory, even Sean Long although he ended up at the Saints.

At Warrington our youth set up is obviously crap compared to Wigan but we look to sign young British halfbacks like Myler and Ratchford, its the way the game needs to go forwards if we are to challenge the Aussies.

Good luck

i will say at least 4

I'm sure that would be something Wane would consider, he'll do whatever he believes is best for the club going forward.
I don't think Wigan's youth development can be questioned at the moment, and perhaps the pivot positions need to be filled with more experienced players with so much youth throughout the team.

I'd like to see us sign someone with a great kicking game to replace Leuluai and try Matty Russell at 6 ala Gareth Widdop. Let's be honest, he's not going to push Sam out of the fullback position any time soon is he?

Sometimes you just have to give a young player a chance, like Warrington are doing with Gareth O'Brien...rather than go for the tried and tested from the NRL. Its no different than the coach - who would have known how good Shaun Wane would be if he hadn't been given a chance with no head coach experience behind him?

I agree. This is one of those occasions where it is worth giving that bit extra to a player who is clearly one of the best in the league. IL has to just bite the bullet and realise if we want the best at this club you do have to pay for it sometimes and you can't have such players on the cheap.

Hmm... so the way to go to beat the aussies is to pinch talented backs that other clubs have developed ???
No No No. Warrington (all SL teams) should develop their own and add to the pool of talent. that is the way to do it.

As for us - well I am sure that Wane will promote is they are good enough (just as happened with Sam). However, the current crop aren't quite good enough and the crop below that are a little too young. An old head will do for another 2 seasons until we see if a junior emerges to take a place by right.

Completely different situations.

Wane was well known to the club as a coach and had worked with Madge for two seasons. This was the point I made at the time when we didn't know who our new coach was to be. I wanted him as coach for the continuity and was quite fearful if we went for some Aussie coach he would want to change everything.

As to the half back role as Tommy is also leaving it is inconceivable in my opinion we promote two juniors so we need to sign someone with experience if the worst comes to the worst and Finch does go.

Widdop and Russell are completely different players IMO. Russell is more of a ball running FB whereas Widdop played as an extra pivot type player, basically just a 6 who joins the attacking line late and was therefore very much suited to a move to stand off. Sam plays both these roles from FB which is why I don't want to see him shifted back in to the halves.