What was obvious last night without Coley we struggled to contain the Wire props after 20 minutes. We need a repleacment for Feka who is totally wasted at present in our squad. If we sign Hoffman, Lima and if we manage to get Coley to stay another season our pack is much stronger than it is at present. Thats without getting Hock back in and i dont really give a monkeys what people think of Hock he was until his suspension the best second row player in Super League by a long way.



This season is a major bonus not many if anyone predicted we would be top at this point but its obvious we have weaknesses in certain areas and looks like most of it will be sorted. Only issue we have will be a replacememnt for Riddell. Our backs is better than any in SL we just need the pack to go with it.

From those reports it looks like the three are heading our way.



Our pack next year could be:-

Props, Fielden, Coley, Lima, (Later Hock) Prescott, Davies, O'Carroll.

Hookers, Leuluai, McIlorum.

2nd row. Hoffman, Tomkins, Hansen, Mossop, Farrell & Tuson.

Loose, O'Loughlin.



That is a formidable pack by any measure and would be a match for any club.

Father Ted - thats an interesting list of players. Few would argue the props and 2nd row would be a match for any team in SuperLeague and possibly even the NRL.



However, not sure you can say the same about our hookers and that is a very important position in today's game. I hope Madge brings someone in or manages to develop Tommy and Macca as top hookers.

The hard part with bringing in a quality NRL hooker is do you play them like they play in the NRL - pretty much a minimum 60 minutes, or like over here and play them for half a game?

If they are good enough and fit enough they can easily play 60+ mins like in the NRL.

Exactly, which then comes down to McIlorum being a 20 minute hooker at best, and realistically a 0 minute hooker if we signed a hooker like Ennis. That was the point I was making. If we signed Ennis for example, then barring injuries McIlorum's Wigan career would be over. Which maybe fine, maybe not, I'm just saying that there's wider things to think about than who's good and off contract hooker wise. Which is why an available halfback maybe a better fit?

I think McIllorums done a much better job this season that previously, seems to be taking control of the game a bit more. Maybe with Finch in the halves doing a bit more of the organising (ala Barrett) then that'll have a positive knock-on effect with MM, plus I believe he could probably do 80 minutes anyway.

Which is why I feel that Finch in the halves is currently a better option than signing an Ennis for example. Unless we've decided that McIlorum isn't Wigan standard. If we want a part time hooker to work with MM then we'd be better targeting SL than the NRL, and either way we'd still be debating the halves and our kicking and organising game next year.



I'd sign Finch and gamble on MM/TL for next year

I can't see a top class hooker coming over here at the moment anyway. In which case, Finch is available, so we give McIllorum the chance he deserves and see if he can step up.



Tommy is the enigma for me, I can't see him working at hooker, he doesn't quite do enough at SH, but he's too good a player to let go.

Wholeheartedly agree with you mate, I couldn't see us signing a top class NRL hooker at the moment either, and as you said Finch is available. TL i'm in much the same boat on, not 100% sure what his best position is but think he's a good player - fortunately people who know far about RL than I ever will have to make these decisions.

Didn't actually realise Mcilorum is out of contract at the end of this year.

I don't think it was a case of being disorganised. Warrington had done their homework and closed Wigan down well in the halfs and out wide. What we lacked was a plan B which we will surely need come the play-offs. Other than moving Sam to full back we didn't look to have too many options. With wire moving up so quick in defence I was surprised we didn't chip over more like Ssam did in the away game. The wire centres were moving up very quick to block the passes out wide and it was crying out for a chip over into the acres of space. Its also the best way to make players think twice about moving up so quick out of defence!



I just think we need to have some different moves for the big games. In the games against Leeds, Saints and Wire, Wigan have been playing the same style but the other teams are wiser than they were earlier in the season. Perhaps Madge is saving his surprise moves for the play-offs when it really matters.