Willie Mason, Lee Smith, Karl Pryce, Chev Walker, Mark Gasnier, Craig Gower, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor, Matt Rogers and now Iain Thornley. Most of them come back once they see the grass is certainly not greener.

Source www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 106&type=1

Source www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 106&type=1

Good news.The future is looking very, very bright for Wigan rugby. Our rivals must be very worried indeed. We are assembling a squad with a view to the long term and we are already top of the league!

a better league player than union

I'm very surprised to how well we are playing this season considering the exodus of senior players leaving last year. Huge credit is due on the coaches and players, we look a well integrated team which is great considering the many new arrivals we have had.

Still qualifies at U20 and won't be cup tied. A good move by Wigan.

I'd heard about it around three or four weeks back, but thought it was for next season.

i miss the days of us signing over the hill aussies!

looking at the signing of Thornley and at the progression of Gelling it appears that IL/SW are hoping to take care of George leaving and then this leaves us a massive cap space to address the hole that Tommy will leave........If there isn't a class scrum half ready to promote from within or an available british option then we might be able to tempt an NRL player who is of origin quality.......

Watched most of Leeds Carnegie's home games this season, whilst the team performed poorly, Thornley was the stand-out player in a poor back line, constantly making breaks and offloading well, he suffered from having lesser-able players alongside him not reading his play. Im sure he will thrive at Wigan.

Thanks for that, good to hear from someone who has watched.

When Thornley left, those "In the know" were certainly disappointed, and i don't refer to myself there. But it was overshadowed by the JT departure.

Hopefully he can step in to George's shirt and leave a good chunk of cap to bring in a quality 7 (plus Finch, SoL and McIlorum need signing up ASAP). A possible 1st choice back line next year of:

Sam
Charnley
Goulding
Thornley
Pat

with Gelling eventually taking over from Pat.

Glad hes back, excellent potential.

You could well be right, I put them that way round as I understand Thornley played a lot of his junior rugby at centre, whilst after seeing Gelling I think he has the attributes to make a better winger. His defensive positioning is still very iffy, which is why I wouldn't really want him in the centres, but he has an excellent work rate, good pace and is good in the air. I think the next 10 or so weeks will tell us more, if he can keep hold of the left wing spot while Pat's injured. More performances like last week please Anthony!