- There will be a press release later this week about how we have added significantly to the number and quality of the full time staff, part time staff, coaches and scouts over the last few weeks.



- We have already begun our plans for 2010. We pretty much know now which players are staying, those that are being released and the positions in the squad that will need replacing.





Direct quotes from Mick Hogan

If Mick Hogan reckons that they know who's going and staying then they must be on the look out by now for replacements.

It is also important that the players arriving are considerably better than those leaving as that is the only to improve the squad.

So what are our needs?

Everyone on here, including me, believes that Mathers, Phelps, Coley & Smith will leave. Tommy & Bailey are maybe's to go yet still could be retained on reduced salaries. Pryce will be offered a new deal.

Can't see Lockyer or Petro coming over here. Glen Hall neither as he's just won the WCC.

An intersting few months ahead.

If we retain Bailey i will dispare, i do hope TL gets a deal though.



If we stick with Bailey it means we have not managed to sign even a half centre and also have no faith in the lads coming through in the second row. Mossop has to move forward to first team in 2010.

Sadly the phrase of 'quality recruitment' inevitably means looking overseas. There are very few opportunities to both recruit British and improve the squad at the same time.

This is one of the big problems that those who regularly shout about Wigan failing to promote British players cheefully ignore.



If you lined up the recent England squad, I think I can honestly say I'd only be interested in about half of them, and as none of those are available it would be a bit of a lost cause.



We are desperate in this country for every club - not just Wigan - to start bringing through young British talent that they've developed themselves. Until that happens, those clubs who want to keep their fanbase, and therefore must keep competing at a reasonable level, will have no option but to bolster their ranks with overseas recruits.

I'm sure the club recognise the medium to long term future of the club is based on producing our own talent from the accademy





Also i guess Noble is now safe in his role as i'm sure he was consulted in the new recruitment.

Sadly thats the problem, Brough probably is top of the pile. Is he really that good? Not IMO, but some people will disagree.



This is what the RFL expansion is trying to achieve, quality British talent being signed and/or considered before any Aussie, which doesn't exist much ATM. You only have to look to the NRL and if a half-back is injured, straight away he's replaced by another fantastic talent from the same club. The fact that when it comes to HB partnerships the majority of teams have to look to Australia to find a replacement is IMO very sad.







It's an option and one I'm sure many on here would welcome if we signed him again. He coped exceedingly well under the Wigan pressure cooker and organized our team very efficiently. One Noble should consider.







Realistically, Briers or Brough. I wouldn't want Briers at Wigan because I think he's average at best but to mind he is possibly the only realistic British HB that would sign.



If Orford were to stay for the 'long-haul' I'd gladly take him, but at 30/31 it's not likely.

If true this is excellent news



Mathers, Phelps, Smith, Coley, Bailey with Tommy (unfortunately) and Goudling as maybe's I reckon



What positions will they be targetting though?



Prop Centre Half back? Or maybe 2 of the 3 mentioned <<?

It is true I sent an email a few days ago - similar to the massive post I made earlier in the thread and got a response within 24 hours. Top bloke and great public relations from the club.



Everything in that post are direct quotes from Mick Hogan.

Do you reckon we should be telling players they're going to be released already? What happened to playing your way into a new contract?



I still have slim hopes that Richie will rediscover his Leeds form, or that Tim Smith will suddenly learn where the legs are located on the human body.



Maybe i'm dillusional...

Not saying your lying mate



No-one knows whether Hogan is telling the full truth though

Players coming off contract in 2009



George Carmont 2009 - Mutual option for 2010

Richie Mathers 2009 - Wigan option for 2010

Cameron Phelps 2009 - Wigan option for 2010

Tim Smith

Mark Flanagan

Phil Bailey

Karl Pryce

Andy Coley

Thomas Leuluai



Players coming off contract in 2010



Lee Mossop 2010 - Wigan option for 2011

Darrell Goulding - 2010 - option for 2011

Paul Prescott - 2010 - option for 2011

Mike McILorum - 2010 - option for 2011

Feka Paleaasina

Stuart Fielden

Sam Tomkins 2010 - Option for a third year

Harrison Hansen

Eamon O'carroll 2010 - Option for 2011 in Wigan's favour.



Players coming off contract in 2011



Mark Riddell

Gareth Hock

Pat Richards

Joel Tomkins



Players coming off contract in 2012



Sean O'loughlin

Amos Roberts



Academy Contracts



Chris Tuson

Sean Ainscough

Liam Farrell

Ben Davies

Ian Thornley

Roll on 2012

Ones in bold I would keep

2010 Should be the first year in recent memory imo when our entire off contract players are resigned!! All have a part to play in the squad and if the likes of Fielden can be resigned for fractions of their current salaries we will have done some very good business.

No way Glenn Hall he is average. He is the Aussie equivalent of Ricky Bibey.



We need a prop_



1- Steve Price

2- Andy Lynch

3- Mark O'Meley

4- Petro Civeniceva

5- Kylie Leuluai.



In that order go for them.



Also we need a stand off -



1- Darren Lockyer

2- Karmichael Hunt

3- Jamie Lyon

4- Thomas Bosc



I would make a play for Justin Hodges too as a right centre, its worth a go.



Fullback -



1- Sean Briscoe



I dont want Pat wasted at FB, if our half backs had half a brain as soon as we got in their 20 I would kick to the corner for Pate, nobody will out jump him and we would score every time, why dont they do that?

Surely Tommy's gotta stay hes one of our best players, get him resigned

Couldn't agree more

Looks like Cadoo/Hogan were right. Todays Obby says Radders is coming back as a coach of the younger players.



Good move this as he has bags of experience and is Wigan through and through.

I couldnt care if they were 40 both are sheer class and would still rip it up, easy two years out of them both.

Two years service? Are you actually joking?



So we sign Lockyer for 2010 leaves 2012 and then we're right back to square one, where the hell would that get us? It's all well and good saying "Oh its invaluable experience to Sam Tomkins." but what would it do for the club? It certainly wouldn't bolster our success chances.



The half-back pairing is essential to a teams success, thus it needs to be a long-lasting partnership. Not two/three years.

Good call on the fullback situation apart from Briscoe being contracted at Hull KR till 2011 so we can rule that one out.



Back to the drawing board

You think a 37 year old could stil rip super league up?