I honestly can't see how Mellor is considered not good enough yet people think Russell is. He's fantastic with the ball in hand but he's still awful under the high ball. People didn't have much patience with Ainscough and I can't imagine them having much patience with Russell either. The Hull fans would be happy for Russell to come back to Wigan and that says a lot given the few options they have at fullback.

Salary Cap may be a stumbling block.

pay him roberts wages and up his pay packet next year?????????

We will deregister Tommy.

I completely understand the anger at the loss of tommy, it's not that that I am getting at. It's the "let's scrap this meaningless game/we want compensation" nonsense. I realise that it's not all Wigan fans, but these types of games are important for the England "team" regardless of current selection. It's about the bonding as a unit for just the training camp or the game itself that is important. We need to start performing as a unit, and put aside team differences like we saw with the Saints/Leeds split a few years ago. Contrary to a lot of opinions, I believe we have the players to compete at the top level. Getting the selection right is the key, and it's these events that greatly assist in that.

7 months out, devastated for him. The last thing we wanna do is disrupt the team too much with moving lockers/sam to the half's. We have a favourable run of games coming up, next 5 games being 4 of the bottom teams? So this gives us time to play around and see what the best combinations are, ready for play off time. Id be tempted to splash the cash now, too rash?

Could we offer Tommy early termination and let him go home and begin rehab with NZ Warriors?? Not exactly what I'd like to be done but if he's out for the season and he's going there anyway on a selfish level what good is he to us now??

I would be absolutely amazed if Lenagan allows any Wigan player to represent the exiles, in any form, ever again.

I appreciate it's bad luck on our part that it's our player and such a bad injury, but when all's said and done, IL has a responsibility to Wigan, not England.

How does it help though?? Aussie based players will walk straight into the team/squad and they've not been part of the mid-season bonding. And if rumors are true and McBannana did go there with a list of "English" players we're going to get more players who only become available at end of season.

Correct me if im wrong on this but cant we de-register tommy and still pay him as none playing staff? Didn't Hull KR do the same with Dobson when they brought in big willy mason? Don't think the salary cap would be an issue if we were to bring somebody in.

His GF has said he will only be out for 10 weeks....this was after his brothers Twitter announcement!

I will admit that it is a major draw back having those players away from camp. I simply wouldn't include Widdop, Reed and Heighington, they have a very limited connection with the rest of the side. At the very least Graham, Burgess and Ellis at least have relationships within the squad and should slot in relatively quickly. Anyway, gutted for you guys to have lost tommy, from a selfish point of view, it's a big piece of your playmaking gone, but don't like seeing anyone on a long term injury list.

If we were to do that then we would have to pay a fee for Matty Smith for the last few months of his contract with Salford. Thats the best option if we could do it.

yesterday was nothing short of a farce!not only was the game one of the most boring games iv ever been to, the abuse sam and gaz hock got was a disgrace, how can our sport expect be taken serious at international level when your own fans boo an england player when he scores a try???

+1

Get him bought.