We may have looked but Wire have offered enough marquee money for him to come despite being offered contacts in Australia. There's no chance we could have offered similar.

Very good player in my book.

Great signing, one i am honestly envious of, will put bums on seats with entertaining rugby and also makes Wire contenders...wonder if Patton is available, would make a great long term pairing with GW!

I quite like the look of Patton but there's obviously something the Wire don't like about him if they're prepared to bring in a player like Roberts rather than give him a crack. I'm not sure he's better or has more promise than Shorrocks though?

Williams and Shorrocks are the long term 6/7

I see Cas have taken Jamie Ellis back, would indicate he will be 6, Gale at 7 and Roberts will be moving to FB?

And another GOAL kicker

No thanks.



Williams and Tomkins yes. Shorrocks isn't good enough to be long term 7 for Wigan.



Back up choice ok, 1st choice no thanks.

Have we really seen enough of Shorrocks to be sure? At the very least, the lad should be given a decent chance.

I wouldn't be so sure of Tomkins at 7 either...

Neither would I, but I'd be happy to see them both given a shot alongside Williams.

Bit early to be writing Shorrocks off I think....?

I'm not writing him off, I am just totally uninspired that we have been led to believe that just because they come from Wigan or have played in our youth system they are going to be good enough to play 7 for Wigan.



This is the exact reason our squad quality has become diluted. We have become over obsessed with developing our own players regardless of the standards needed to stay at the top and hence this is why we are no longer the leading force in the SL.

Do we think Wane could play Escare at half-back with Williams? Seemed to have a half-decent kicking game last year before injury and he's got enough pace to ask questions of the opposition defence.

I think we can safely say that Wane playing Escaré in the halves is even more unlikely than him playing Sam Tomkins there.



'Could'? Yes. But vanishingly unlikely.

I don't think so.



I just think Escare was so good at full back that it would be silly to move him anywhere else which begs the question of what will happen to Sam Tomkins if he is unable to be successful as a half.



Some big decisions for Wane to make next season.

Sam Tomkins will be successful as a half or as a fullback imo. If we judge by any players standards then we'll all be more then happy with his contributions next season but if we judge him against his previous self of 2010-2013 then we may be disappointed. I get we're paying top dollar so we'll probably always want more but I'm convinced that if we get a full season out of Sam next year, we'll have a player either as a fullback or a half who'll contribute 10+ try's, 20+ assists and a whole heap of experience.



Fingers crossed we get him through a full pre season. I think he'll be massively fired up next season after he was left out of the World Cup squad.

+1

Pauli Pauli on the market and now so is Kurt Baptiste.



Both looking to be heading to England, both players that would improve us......neither will sign for us.

Read this







All i saw was this

Baptiste going to Wire allegedly.



Leuluai starting at 9 for NZ. Bet he puts in his best performance of the year.

He should be the same for us next season. If he isn't then I despair. I'm not sure I can do another season of watching Tommy try to kick us round the field. I fear I may just collapse in a heap on the DW stadium floor the first time he puts one of his 'bombs' up and stay there until 2018 is done with.

Agree. And I don’t want another season with McIlorum at number 9.

Shelford gone to Swinton, official. These forwards don't seem to be given a long time to prove themselves. He was captaining the academy in 2016 and being bigged up that pre-season. Suppose it's difficult for him if Wells, Field and Hamlin are now ahead of him though. Do we know if Davies is still with us?

Yes Mac is still with us. He will offer cover to the back row as well as playing reserves. Spent a lot of time last season bulking up whilst injured