The Mathers situation is pretty sad. The lad clearly had talent, otherwise he'd never have got a berth in Australia. But injuries, and presumably the way he was sidelined by the Aussies, seem to have devastated his confidence.

By all accounts he's a nice chap, popular with the other players and the management. He also looks to be a good club-man - his one positive contribution during matches is the encouragement and ethusiasm he offers the rest of the lads. But his horrendous lack of rugby ability has become an insurmountable problem IMO. He hasn't improved from last season; in fact, on the few occasions we've seen him this year, he's been woeful.

It makes you wonder if the oft-mentioned assumption that sending a player to Australia "will massively improve his game and bring him home a better man for it" is actually a load of tosh. It certainly didn't work that way with Mathers.

I agree, apart from the Australia bit - I don't think the fact that he went there had anything to do with it.

The fact is that he suffered two terrible injuries that have completely robbed him of any confidence he had. Myself and I'm sure anyone else who plays sport at a competitive level will tell you that playing the game without confidence and not being able to play to the standards you know you're capable of is unbelievably frustrating and I certainly feel for Mathers.

You say he will be out in a few weeks - where is he going?

Gleeson is signing for us this week with Goulding and Mathers going the other way. For 2009 season.

Tattooed boy isn't signing for wigan. end of.

Wigan's likely targets are Leuluai from Leeds and Lynch from Bradford. I can see Fielden going back to Bradford.

Richards will start at FB and that will be his position from 2010, no Michealcunt signing for us.

That would be great if all that was true. Especially getting two new experienced props who would give us great go forward. Or is it just one of Lynch and Leuluai? You seem pretty confident about the Gleeson deal too. Why are you so confident?

The deal makes sense as Goulding has apparently asked for a transfer and Tony Smith has worked with Mathers at Leeds.

I can't say. But if you look at other signing talk posts I have never passed comment on someone defo signing before. This is the first time I've put my neck on the line.

So trust me on this one. He's signing this week (Gleeson) If he doesn't, I'll become the 'Last Son of Wire' and then top myself.

Not sure if it's Lynch and LuLu or just one. Just know they're the deals being neg.

We'll hold you to that one

That would be a living nightmare, I'd have to talk about Bo Jackson and Paul Cullen and best of all Des Drummond!

I don't think he will be doing though! He's spot on and like Last Son of Wigan Iv'e only put my neck on the line Twice before (Ashton Leaving & the Fielden sigining!).

PS

He's not far off with the Lynch thing either (Noble's driving that one), whether Noble will be here to reap any benefits is another matter!

So Gleeson isnt going to be playing until next season? Does that mean we get to keep Mathers until the end of this season aswel.