He already has.

Been confirmed this morning that both Charnley and Sarginson both leaving Wigan at the end of the year.

Lets hope we keep hold of him

If I remember correctly when Carter took over he made a statement of intent that Danny Kirmond was not for sale. He stuck to his word on that since Kirmo was in form, in demand and a firm favourite with the fans. I suspect TJ is now filling the spotlight and a similar statement of intent is what we need. It also reflects the long term ambition of the club.

I do find it interesting to see how people are all pro TJ now. There were a few critics last season. I must admit I always was pro TJ but thought it would take more time for him to blossom.

I think his worst game was last year away to Hull KR in the normal season. He was found wanting in defence, although probably to some degree not helped by those around him. I kept telling myself he is only young, he needs time to develop, be patient. Well that turnaround was quicker than I expected. He has learnt very quickly and very well. I wonder if that is the Brian Smith influence, the players around him or just overall self confidence.

I love what Tom is doing at the moment and along with England is a clear contender already for our player of the year.

If he keeps up his form and can get some International recognition then I don't see a problem for the next few years, he won't be in a rush to join anyone at 20. However if the selectors do their normal myopic top four only tactics then frustration may set in. We'll see.

For now he needs to concentrate on his Rugby because at the moment he's at that point where he can go down as well as up.

Anyone remember Shaun Ainscough of Wigan - ripped us to bits early in his career when many Wigan fans were on here telling us he was the greatest young prospect ever to hit the game. He's 26 now and at Batley with his career effectively dead. I don't know how or why he got there but he looked the business at 19-20 years of age.

I suppose the redeeming feature with Tom is that the adulation he is getting is not instant as it was with Shaun Ainscough. It's two years since his debut in the Leeds boxing day friendly and they have been two hard years for all concerned. He's had to learn on the job in a poor team and he's had to do it publicly. Due to this I hope he's a more mature and rounded individual than most young RL players and this will help him not make rushed decisions.

We do need to remember that he is young and unfinished.

There is no doubt he is a diamond but he still has a lot to learn (though he seems to be learning fast)

I have every confidence in him, but the things that will go wrong are potentially all on Saturday. If he makes a mistake on Sky, Hemmings will start on at him and suddenly the media train will just turn around and knock his confidence. It's happened to us before.
Some teams stretch us out wide, like Cas and Hull KR and both leave the winger vulnerable. Mantelato (Spell?) and Solomona have made Tom look ordinary, whereas top players like Hall, Makinson and now Briscoe have all been made to look foolish by Johnstone.

We need to protect the kid. Not by leaving him out of the team, but by allowing him some down days as well as up days without stringing him up. We do have a habit of being very fickle with our heroes.

Sky and Clarke in particular are really blowing the Johnstone trumpet (ohh err). I hope they get chance to praise him even more on Saturday. It will be great for both him and the club.

Yeah well the things you outline that could go wrong for TJ apply not just to him but the whole team unfortunately! We've won a couple (good wins as well!) but in true Trinity style we could blow it against Salford and the Vultures will be waiting to swoop!

I think that some credit should go to Brian Smith for giving Tom the number 2 shirt . Although coaches always say squad numbers mean nothing,I think it has given Tom a lot of confidence that a starting spot his to lose rather than waiting for an opportunity when someone is injured and maybe only getting the one chance to impress in a difficult game such as Wigan away which puts pressure on young players in a no win game. I think that gas happenedto some extent to Jordan who seems to me to have only been given a chance in games when we are already putting out a weakened side against a top team . He has done his best but it is better to introduceyoung players into a full strength side at home to give them confidence to play there natural game rather than having to try to prevent an embarrassing defeat away from home.
.

I doubt Wane will be interested in Arundel or Gibson so I suppose that's one thing we don't have to worry about
As for Johnston even if he rips it up every game for the rest of the season which he undoubtedly wont he'll still have three years left on his contract at the end of the season, so depending on form he'll be in big demand with a high price on his head or just somebody with plenty of potential, personally I'm more concerned with the here and now than worrying about something that may or may not happen 6 month down the line.
I'll put my faith in the chairman and the player and his family unless an absolutely ridiculous offer comes in.

I think internationally we are very strong on the wing with the incumbents being Jerry McGillavry and Ryan Hall. I'm personally of the opinion Hall didn't justify a start given his form last year and even less so this year but it is a long season.

Behind them you have Manfredi and Burgess who are probably a year ahead of TJ developmentally although unless Burgess starts playing in the NRL soon it would be tough to justify him getting a spot on the wing.

You then have TJ who personally I wouldn't like to see start at that level yet but given his current form you couldn't say he hasn't deserved it he needs to produce it over an extended period as the others have done and it is only natural his form may dip over the course of the season.

The comparisons of Ainscough and his treatment at Wigan are slightly false as that was under very different management Noble tried his hardest not to pick young players often to the detriment of their career. He only picked Tomkins when Smith who was having a shocking season got injured. Wigan let Ainscough down and others at the time and I don't feel his confidence ever recovered from that. They have had a total shift under Wane I feel sometimes to the detriment of the team.

The best thing however for Johnston would be to remain at Trinity assuming they retain their position in SL. Develop slowly as under the radar as he can given the standard of his performances. Many players seem to struggle when leaving their first club to join a perceived bigger club and he is coming along fine just where he is.

England seems to struggle to produce decent centres and for me he looks more than capable of moving inside which would probably boost his international credentials as well but probably leave him where he is playing for this season at least.

I understand Wigan are close to signing Carney to replace Charnley and Sarginson can't get a game anyway in the centre due to the form of Gelling and the emergence of Gilldart. They will I would think be in the market for a utility back which is where Johnston may attract their interest but hopefully not, and if so hopefully Carter is in a position to turn them down.

Wasn't comparing them, just using him as an example of how it can all go wrong - for whatever reason.

Just watching the great Ellery Hanley on youtube. He scores a very famous try against Fev in the CCup (I think) whilst still at Bradford.

It's almost identical to Johnsons try except ellery took the ball on the move and Toms was a standing start (not expert enough to know which is better).

Both twenty years of age. High praise Iknow but if you can find it it's uncanny - sorry don't think I'm allowed to link it?

I picked up on this comparison when I watched the try back at home. Very similar indeed, particularly the agility, carry and fend as he breaks down the right.

Will be on Evalds side tomorrow.

For those of us that are not clued up on Evalds means what exactly?