I am a big SOL fan but to have a player in your top 4 earners and know that he can't complete a full season is a poor use of the cap.

I would say to that, as with Joe Burgess, that Williams needs to learn to swim before he sinks. He has talent, and I hope he does a lot more for Wigan, but he's nowhere near a NRL-standard half yet.

Agree that Lockers should probably call it quits at the end of the year. His experience will be massive for us on the training field. I have a feeling we won't replace him sufficiently though.

There's nobody in SL that can replace a fully fit SOL and in the current climate it's impossible to recruit from the NRL as we can't compete with salaries. We would need another big name to do something due and need a fish start, the club then wouldn't be interested anyway. So the end result is lose one of our best ball players and replace him with an extra prop at loose. Oh how the modern game excites.

I for one hope he gets fit, and now Sam is back he has more time to play his natural, more varied game and shows he can still play a bit. I don't want to lose a talented ball player and replace him with someone like Greg Burke who would operate as another prop.

Why?

He only broke into the first team less than 12 months ago.

Quote: Itchy Arsenal "What about Williams and Gildart? Williams wants to go to NRL I believe and Gildart isn't the happiest guy in the camp.'" Williams, 4 year deal in 2014 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/27423326 Gilhart 4 year deal at start of 2015 season https://www.wiganwarriors.com/teams/fir ... ldart/2014

Quote: Itchy Arsenal "What about Williams and Gildart? Williams wants to go to NRL I believe and Gildart isn't the happiest guy in the camp.'" Williams, 4 year deal in 2014 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/27423326 Gilhart 4 year deal at start of 2015 season https://www.wiganwarriors.com/teams/fir ... ldart/2014

Clubb?

I think Clubb signed a long term extension not that long back.

If true thats utterly staggering at this stage of Gildarts "career" he should be just grateful he's getting in the first tea,.

Run before you walk so to speak.

I agree, but I think we can at least offset the loss of Lockers by signing an experienced Aussie from the NRL. It's certainly not done Catalans (Glen Stewart) and Hull (Mark Minichiello) any harm. With Lockers being one of our biggest earners the money would definitely be there to spend.

I think we'll give 13 to Bateman though (if he's still around) and promote someone from the academy, which wouldn't be a bad thing but if we want to keep challenging for trophies every year then Lenagan needs to get his wallet out; Leeds' plight this years shows you can't mess about when it comes to replacing the core of your team.

Minichiello has been a really good buy for 'Ull.

Quote: PurpleCheeseWarrior "but if we want to keep challenging for trophies every year then Lenagan needs to get his wallet out.'" I agree with this. We cannot keep diluting the squad year on year with youth and expect to be challenging for trophies. At the Salford game I was asked "when was our last big overseas signing", obviously we had the 'Melbourne Three' which came over here as a package due to the salary cap saga. But other than that? Last big name signing? Trent Barrett? or Richards possibly? Anyway, it's years ago 4th May 2006 to be precise. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 971418.stm

Quote: PurpleCheeseWarrior "but if we want to keep challenging for trophies every year then Lenagan needs to get his wallet out.'" I agree with this. We cannot keep diluting the squad year on year with youth and expect to be challenging for trophies. At the Salford game I was asked "when was our last big overseas signing", obviously we had the 'Melbourne Three' which came over here as a package due to the salary cap saga. But other than that? Last big name signing? Trent Barrett? or Richards possibly? Anyway, it's years ago 4th May 2006 to be precise. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 971418.stm

The days of signing the likes of Barrett are gone (or at least they've been placed on hold for a sustained period of time). There isn't enough money in the game to get players to turn their backs of rep games down under. You can get guys like Gidley (at the end of his career) or Sandow (not in rep teams and was having issues) but you won't get those types of players.

I say that but that doesn't mean we should give up totally on recruiting from the NRL if the player is the right one. They don't have to be a rep superstar to be a good player. We've signed guys with good potential to improve in our system who've got great attitudes from over here ala Tony Clubb so why not from the NRL. To my mind we need a big aggressive prop, a winger and a utility back and with the right scouting they could pick up one or two of those from the NRL, without much fuss and for decent money.

Big names help put bums on seats but playing entertaining, winning rugby does that just as well.

Seems he has missed more games than he has played. injury plagued

I understand that due to the fact he has been at the club for more than 10 years only 50% of SOL's salary counts towards the Salary Cap.