Re: 3 new signings for next season

[standishwarrior]

After the match Brian Noble was being interviewed by the sky team and he said they're looking to bring in 3 new faces.

When Eddie told him that he would have a difficult job of replacing Trent Barrett I noticed Noble hesitated and then said Leuluai will have to take up more responsibility and we have Tim Smith who will be very useful to us.

That worries me slightly and suggests that we're not signing a replacement for Barrett. I'm sorry but Tim Smith is not the answer from his showings this season. Although the WEP have said we've all but ruled out replacing Barrett, I don't see why then we were chasing Todd Carney. Ian Lenegan was quoted in saying he was interested. So does that mean we are looking for a replacement?

Anyway in what areas do you all feel we need to strengthen?

For me we need to replace Trent Barrett with a new stand off. I don't think we'll find a stand off of that quality available at this time but nevertheless our answers do not lie with Tim Smith.

I feel we need a new prop forward. A real enforcer, a leader. Ruben Wiki fits the bill perfectly.

Then I feel we need a centre/wing. Phelps is not good enough to play centre week in week out, he's okay for a couple of games but not all season. Goulding is the same. Although I'd put him higher up the pecking order than Phelps. We have Karl Pryce but who knows if he will ever play and how good he will actually be. I hope that he can be a similar player to Ali Lauititi given his size and strength over most players in that position.

So there you have it:

A stand off
A centre
A prop forward

For me those are the areas we need to strengthen.

What do you say?

id say IL agree's with you!!


firstly wiki wont be coming to us or anyone in superleague!

todd carney was made a very good offer, but got offered a "stupid" amount by hudds so accepted that instead!

wigan are after a centre and also looking at two wingers!

[cherrywarrior]

Phelps is not a centre, he is a fullback, or a winger at a push...so therefore next season I think we should have Phelps/Mathers on the wing/at fullback, with Pryce at centre!

[platt-warrior]

I disagree with you pieter re Smith he has shown from the bench that he will do a good job for us.Remember he is attempting to fill the shoes of a world class stand-off
players of his calibre dont come round very often.I think Tim may well thrive on the responsibility.

[exile in Tiger country]

I think Tim Smith will do fine, with Sam tomkins given some game time off the bench. IMO we need a replacement for Calderwood a forward and maybe another quick three quarter to replace the winger when Pat has to cover for Mathers, which I believe will be necessary unless Mathers improves his tackling technique.

[RJ]

I frankly don't know what to suggest since Nobles 'plan'is a complete mystery to me. We had a perfectly good winger in Calderwood whom Nobby ignored most of the time and got no service when he did play so getting a 'fast winger' would seem to be a waste unless anyone knows a 6'8" 18 stone winger who can really run who would probably appeal to Nobby. I think the jury is still out on Smith who may respond to the additional responsibility. We should be giving more game time to some of the youngsters IMO since they are at least enthusiastic and will give 100%. At the present rate our youngsters will be too old to play before they get th opportunity to prove what they can do. I would rather see a team which tried all season and gave a good account of themselves than a group who seem to turn the wick up from time to time between mediocre displays.

[GeoffN]

I agree the jury's still out on Smith, but I do think he's showing potential, and i think it will do him good to have a settled position for the full 80. He had a pretty good game yesterday; it wasn't his fault people kept dropping his passes. If Richards had taken that cutout pass and scored, it might have been a very different story.

[Nobbylad]

I'd hate to think anyone would be thinking of writing off Tim Smith already. It's extremely hard to try and slot straight into an already strongly cohesive outfit at any level let alone at Super League level at the buisiness end of the season. From what I've seen he's obviously talented and warrants alot of promise.

My concern stregth wise would probably in the three quarters and I'd love to see us aquire a winger that can play like Calderwood, only with more consistancey. I thought he had a massive game last night and am sorry to see him leave the club.

[cpwigan]

The chap sat next to me at KR said it does not matter who plays for us as long as Noble is in charge. I gave that man a mint

[josie andrews]

The chap sat next to me at KR said it does not matter who plays for us as long as Noble is in charge. I gave that man a mint

How come its taken you so long to come back on tonite and start putting everyone down again. I'm beginning to think maybe you maybe a troll CP

[cpwigan]

The Mrs calls me a hippo

Trust me the woman in front of me last night made me sound like Mr Happy 100% positive. I tell you Josie if you had been stood where I was you would have punched her lights out.

Your voice does not carry well at KR BTW.

That weird stinky Wigan RLFC fan was sat not far from your group today. Big bloke, grey t shirt, huge sideboards, Wigan rlfc bag.

I love the club, the players etc etc

As I tell the Mrs I am loyal to her and Wigan RLFC

Just wish we did not have our coach. Do you know Wigan RLFC have never had any success of note with a Yorkshire coach in their entire history. It's fate Josie.