I was replying to your comment that you couldn’t see how we could sign one of those players.

If Bateman was to go then I’d envisage Smithies moving into secondrow assuming we are only allowing Bateman to go to bring in Thompson to play 13.



I really don’t see how we can fit JWH into the squad even if we lose Bateman as it wouldn’t badly unbalance the squad with props and the obvious quota issues. For JWH there would have to be some very significant moves still to play out on both sides of the world.



I’d love for both to happen, I’d love for 1 to happen but not to the detriment of squad balance.

I agree. Thompson would be the most obvious given he is a federation player.

I don’t think we can strip any more numbers out the squad now tbh, or we run the risk of leaving ourselves short. If Bateman goes, we need to get a player in. If they need to make room for an overseas forward by releasing somebody like Miski, then for my money we need a British replacement in place of Miski (or Isa, Mago etc).



Ultimately we really need to stop losing so many homegrown players. We’re constantly having to live at the limit on the quota because of it and it leaves you needing to juggle things to get replacements in. A club who gave produced so many players this past decade should not be in that position IMO.

Dan has spoken

There seems to be a lot of talk this morning online about the Bateman deal to Australia looking as good as done…no idea how true it is though?



You’d like to think that the club will have somebody lined up if he is going, so could be an interesting couple of days! Surely we wouldn’t go into a new season without replacing Bateman on the cap space that he would make available.

Here's a cheerful thought. It was announced just before kick-off on Boxing Day 1993 that the club had signed Inga the Winger as a Christmas present for the Wigan fans.



I know we don't have a game this Boxing Day, and the days of signing players of that stature are long gone, but ... hey, you never know.

I don’t see how we can replace Bateman with a prop if he is confirmed going as expected.



In my opinion we need to go like for like ie secondrow or a “middle” at least who can play 13 and Prop.



The other option could potentially be to see Ellis drop back to spend more time at 13 I guess if we were to bring in a Prop.



I’m regards a replacement as it stands he would have to be non quota unless we have also managed to move someone on.



I can’t name any that we could realistically get of the right quality from SL so that again leaves the NRL options of Thompson, rumoured with no real substance, or wildcard Sutton, but again that seems highly unlikely given he has just gone to the Bulldogs.



Interesting few weeks ahead I would say to see how it all plays out as clearly something is happening behind closed doors.

I don’t see how we can replace Bateman with a prop if he is confirmed going as expected.



In my opinion we need to go like for like ie secondrow or a “middle” at least who can play 13 and Prop.



The other option could potentially be to see Ellis drop back to spend more time at 13 I guess if we were to bring in a Prop.



I’m regards a replacement as it stands he would have to be non quota unless we have also managed to move someone on.



I can’t name any that we could realistically get of the right quality from SL so that again leaves the NRL options of Thompson, rumoured with no real substance, or wildcard Sutton, but again that seems highly unlikely given he has just gone to the Bulldogs.



Interesting few weeks ahead I would say to see how it all plays out as clearly something is happening behind closed doors.'"

Powell to 13, job sorted

I don't see Smithies as a 2nd row, far too slow

thought he played well there last year when he was put there

Apart from some potential depth, we don't need anyone in the backrow.



Faz = best 2nd row in the comp

Smithies was outstanding last year and it was criminal Wane left him out of the WC. I hate to see us move him for anyone - make him VC and give him the 13 shirt.

KPP = one of the games most sought after prospects.

Isa and Nesmba as a backup.



Props an issue however. Singleton, regardless of what people say on here, is one of the worst props in the game. It's criminal he's even a pro, nevermind a Wigan player. Mago, seems well liked, but doesn't seem to trusted or able to do big mins either.

Under that scenario you are expecting either Isa or Nsemba to be a key part of the 17 every week.



Isa is a warrior but I would not be comfortable with him in the 17 every week. Asking a kid with bags of potential to step forward into that role could very well destroy his career.



Singleton I rate he is the throwback we lacked for so long who may not do the eye catching stuff but puts his head where others don’t.



Mago needs to offer more consistency.

I'd happily see us share that role between Isa and Nesemba.



That line about Singleton is one of those myths that gets rolled out when people talk about him. It's one of the RL'isms and the opposite to when a player is labelled as 'soft'. In the real world, his stats are dire and we struggle to get on top, when he's on the pitch. It's why we signed Cooper i.e the player we thought we'd got with Cooper.

Totally disagree in regards Singleton. You don’t have the CV he does by being poor. You don’t get picked to follow your coach who himself was a very good Prop when he moved clubs ti be the cornerstone of their pack.



When he joined us he was the propped up what was a poor front row rotation.



Cooper was brought in to support Singleton, not replace him. Cooper has more impact no doubt, I don’t disagree, but you need balance in your options and Singleton does that.



Genuine question why do you say his stats are “dire”?



Nsemba I hope gets 10 games at the most next year, we have never really fast tracked players and rightfully so. That would mean Isa would be expected to do 20 plus games.



If we get an injury in the secondrow where do we go then?



In my opinion I think you are way off the mark if you expect Nsemba/Isa to play a key part in our 17 in 23 and we can be successful to the levels we should be targeting ie Champions.



Time will tell I guess.



Genuinely interested in the “dire” stats line though.

Interesting that the super league page on facebook just posted a promo video for wigan in 2023 that includes a clip of bateman near the beginning





Seems an odd thing to do if he is going to be leaving, still not sure about all these rumours.

Singleton was very good at times last year - when he plays with intensity he's a real asset.



If Bateman leaves and all the rumours about players coming in come to nothing I don't think it's the end of the world. There is enough 2nd row cover to get by and recruitment opportunities tend to crop up mid season.

Agree good players usually become available mid season.



The issue being most of them tend to be non quota. A luxury we don’t currently have an allowance for.



Very rare a top player goes to a SL rival mid season.



I accept Cooper did but that was thanks to agent Powell and is the exception rather than the rule.

If you force performances out of Singleton he’s fine. He was one of our better props last season in week to week Rugby. The time I worry about him is in games against Saints or in big semi finals/finals. When a team has good line speed, he’s quite slow in getting going, so he is cut off before he gets up a head of steam. He’s a good player to have in the squad though because the season is long and he’s tough and durable and brings good experience.

Good point - comes back to the issue of wasting a quota spot on Isa - I couldn't believe his contract extension this time last year.



Can't see him being released mid contract for some reason although I think it would be our best move re the quota. Think it'll be either Miski or Mago if we intend to open up a spot for someone but there are downsides to releasing either. Miski is a good option on the wing either as a back up or to take Bevan's place if we decide to move him to full back. Mago looks in better shape in the pre season pictures Iv seen - it would be interesting to see how he'll go in 2023.



Ultimately though I'd be surprised if Bateman leaves and no-one comes in prior to the season start. I don't see a viable English replacement outside of Thompson and unfortunately can see him ending up at St Helens in 2024 to replace LMS.

We will be OK at prop, we could do with a real class prop I'll grant you but what team wouldn't? We should be getting more from Cooper, Ellis and Mago as they settle in, Byrne and Havard kicking on with maybe one of the Academy props filling in well.

If Batman goes then we are very thin in the 2nd row, especially at the start of the season with Faz out and Nsemba further from being ready than he will be at seasons end.

Just following up on the “dire stats” and as I’m a bit of a stickler for such things and if you are sad enough to actually spend 40 minutes analysing the stats of all our props from last year it makes very interesting reading.



Based on the following criteria over the course of the season -



Average gain, marker tackles, offloads, tackle busts, tackles, penalties, missed tackles and errors.



Singleton shows up pretty well. Probably our 3rd most influential prop in the squad statistically, 5th best from an attacking point of view but just first on defence and the first and second are a long way of the rest in the defensive department.



What was also interesting statistically is the fact Ellis is probably our number one prop over the course of the season and perhaps why the coaches speak so highly of him.



We have on our books next year Cooper, Singleton, Byrne, Havard, Mago, Ellis as front line props. We also have Smithies who has moved forward into that position at times very well last year and Hill coming through who made the England Knights squad.



If Bateman goes I’m more convinced than ever we need to replace him with either a like for like or a “middle”.



It’s also interesting that you seem to be pushing Nsemba over Hill as a first team prospect in 23 over Hill an England Knights player.



Like I said though interested to understand why Singletons stats are “dire”.

Bateman signed for Wests, immediate effect, no replacement incoming

This aged well. Another pearl of wisdom from LeBron