Obviously Bailey has been out for sometime now and during this period we've seen more of an introduction of reserve team players into the backrow, most noticeably Mark Flannigan. Also whilst Bailey has been missing we've had an opportunity to see how the team performs defensively without him.

For me I don't believe we have missed him or his defensive capabilities that he brings to the team, and for this reason along with the fact that we have many promising players in his position I wouldn't renew his contract for 2010

Next year it look's as though are backrow options are going to be:

O'Loughlin
J Tomkins
Hansen
Mossop
Farrel

For me those above players are more than enough to match and beat any other backrow in the competition.

We don't need him, expensive and overseas

With Mossop and Farrell coming through we don't need him. He's not been a shiny class player at Wigan but he's done his graft and been a good servant for me. He's just unlucky he plays in a position we are overloaded in.

Depends who else is available, if its a choice between him and a top Prop then he has to go, if we have nobody lined up then he has to stay.

He is the most at risk overseas player (excluding Smith who i class as having left anyway) but in truth ever since Hock has been missing he has been fantastic, arguably our best player for mine, real shame he has picked up the injury.

If we can replace him with a top front row then he has to go, if we have nobody lined up that will strengthen the frontrow he has to stay. We certainly do not need a like for like secondrow replacement.

I think that's a very good and fair assessment. Bailey is very well liked and respected around the club, is a "talker", and his versatility is also a big bonus.

But if he has to be sacrificed for a top class overseas prop then I'm afraid as Jim Reeves sang "He'll have to go"

Think i'm gonna sit on the fence for this one, whatever the club does i'll be happy with. (Apart from sell him to world dominating aliens, now that would annoy me)

He'll stay I reckon had we not lost Hock and Flanagan he should have gone.

O'Loughlin, Hansen, J Tomkins, Mossop and Farrell isnt enough cover for the second row / loose forward position.

Thats a good point actually.

5 back rowers is pretty much the number included in the 17 anyway so injuries will mean we have no ready backup

Agreed. How is Farrell judged to be ready for the first 17, week in, week out?

True but having been selected for the 19 a couple of times he is very much a part of Nobbys plans and it is only a matter of time before he does play first team.