Anything in this Hampshire to Leigh on loan story?

Does he still have a year to run on a contract? As I heard he was happy to go to Hudds for next year and be closer to home, and then go back to Hull for 2016 on a free as neither Hull team can afford a transfer fee for this year!

The rumour about Hampshire is on the Leigh board and they seem pretty confident about it.

Probably be on DR so he can come back at short notice.

Could be a good move with him alternating between playing first team for Wigan and when not playing in a good Championship team.

Definitely. There was a rumour he was off to HKR on loan too. Both would be a good move for him and us and would certainly help him in his next stage of development.



Brian Noble touched on it with reference to Sam when he brought up "Duty of Care" regarding youngsters. We've really got to be careful that these young lads don't end up having their careers stalled by over play or unrealistic expectations, r.e. Kevin Brown.

Unless Leigh are losing somebody I don't see why they would bring in Hampshire. They have a good 1,6 and 7 already who I'd have thought would be given the chance to drive them on. Hampshire is obviously a class act and probably better then all three already but on a dual reg or loan I just wouldn't get it.



I'd love to see us bring in Brough. I've said plenty of times I'm happy with the three young lads rotating at 6 and seeing who nails the position but if you get chance to sign a top class player like Brough it would be hard to turn down.

Rocky was going nowhere about a month ago, despite interest from Saints, Salford, Cas, Wakefield and Hull KR. It is interesting now the Brough rumour surfaces that he is being linked with a loan move to KR.



I see no merit in him dropping down a level he needs to be playing top flight rugby.



The concern Wane has about him at 6 is that he is too off the cuff as I understand it and will struggle to lead our structures. Brough in relation to this would be the ideal short term signing and get the team used to a spontaneous half who is still able and experienced enough to work to a structured game plan also.

Off the cuff could be good for us IMO. In games we're struggling in to have a lad that could pull a rabbit out of a hat could be invaluable.



I hope we don't hold this kid back because of concerns like that. He's obviously supremely talented and if we don't use him right somebody will.

The mole on twitter has said this week that both The Eels and Canberra are both in for Dudson which adds weight to the Patrick deal especially with Flowers absence. Still hoping Taylor stays. Not sure how I feel about Brough. When it matters he goes missing but can be sensational week in week out in regular season games.

Hope we don't send Rocky out on loan, he is too good to leave out IMO. I'd have him at 6 this year then maybe 1 the year after depending on who progresses better between Tierney, Williams and Powell. The Brough rumour seems to come around every year, definitely don't think it will happen

I'd love us to go for Martin Kennedy after he's just been released by Brisbane.



12.months ago he was the next big thing and was pushing for an origin spot. At 6ft 3 and just shy of 19stone he'd be a big addition to our pack and a good replacreplacement for Taylor.

I am just coming in on here not as a reply to Grimmy's post , but just to give you my feelings regarding the last few posts.



Ryan Hampshire is the most natural standoff that Wigan have produced during the last 30 years, what makes me cringe is all this talk that he is being groomed for the fullback spot to take over from Bowen. All because he is quick and agile and can be devastating when he joins the line.

Rocky has shown in the past that he can be dodgy under the high ball, so can Bowen. Sam proved to be very good at fullback but even he had and still does have his moments under the bomb.



But the statement put on this thread by someone that Wane believes that Rockys off the cuff style disrupts the structure makes me despair, I am starting to think that Rocky will get fed up of all this and will ask out.

The sad and tragic part off that last comment is I do not think Wane would be bothered. Long live the structure.

Hes better than Edwards and Tomkins at 6?...he'd better be special and a half

Going off Rocky's return at the back of last season, he played all his games at FB, shifting the regular FB, Oliver Gildart, into the centres. It's quite apparent he's seen as a FB rather than a SO. You have to remember, as good as he is, he's still only 19, and whilst he's an exciting player, his talent needs to be nurtured.



The modern FB role is like an extra pivot anyway. Sam Tomkins was dodgy at best under the high ball, but he's still got the #1 shirt for England and in an NRL side. The amount of tries his perceived liability under the high ball may cost us, he'll more than likely make up for in attack.



I'd love to see Rocky go out on loan for a year to a SL club. An extended run in a SL team would give him the experience needed to slot in from 2016 onwards.

Which in the opinion of some, is wrong. The fact he might be too off the cuff for Wane if true really is depressing. It's not as if the structured play Wane wants is perfect. While he has the excuse of Flower's dismissal in the GF we fell at the first half decent hurdle in the CC and throughout the course of the season put in some very drab performances crying out for something different.

Do people not think that the modern fullback is more like a traditional standoff? All teams tend to play with a bit of structure and, if they've got the players, seem to play with split halves with the full back given a license to roam.



When Sam was our full back he probably had a hand in most set pieces anyway and I'm sure Hampshire would be the same. If that's the way we play then he's a fullback for mine.

It's all good and well saying he moved Gildart to the centres, but he's always been a centre as far as i'm aware? I thought you used to run with Tierney at full back with Williams and Rocky in the halves. Then Gabe Fell played at full back. No idea who's played there this year as i've not followed it as much, but Gildart has always played centre. No idea where you got the idea he played FB from.

Gildart has played a few games at fullback for the U19's this season and acquitted himself well when Fell was out. Tierney has only played five U19 games this season two at fullback, two on the wing and one as sub.



I would agree though that Gildart is primarily a centre, although he's also played some of his junior rugby at #6

This. 100%. The move to FB never stifled Sams creativity or off the cuff play, and the attacking structures were designed to get his hands on the ball as often as possible in as much space as possible. It doesn't stop either half back dropping a shoulder and going themselves nor does it stop a short ball to a forward instead of going out the back. Rocky may have defensive issues or be dodgy under the high ball, I don't think we've seen enough of him to say whether he has or he hasn't tbh, but from an attacking perspective he's Sam Tomkins mkII at fullback for me.

Sorry, didn't make it clear that I meant Tierney played full back the year before this. Then Fell played there most of this season until injury. Gildart has nearly always played centre.



How do you reckon Bretherton will go now he's returning from injury?

Is there any more on the rumoured Brough / Patrick moves? Personally I hope both come to Wigan.

Ryan Bailey has joined Hull KR

I would assume the Scott Taylor issue would need to be finalised first before any potential signing.

I'm hoping all goes well for him. He played very well in his first season culminating in a place in Wigans U19 Grand Final win at Leeds whilst still only 17 years of age. I believe he's back in full training and hope he gets a run out v the aussie at Orrell on 29th November.

He was always a big lad for his age but that doesn't guarantee he'll stay bigger than his contemporaries. However he does have a "frame" that looks like he could develop into a big prop very much in the Lee Mossop mould.

The final was the first time I saw him and he made a real impact. Massive presence on the pitch with a cracking frame to build some real size on, he must be 6'4"-5". How come he has been out? Ligament/muscular issues?

ACL I believe when playing in the triangular Catalan, Leeds, Wigan academy tournament at the beginning of the year.