O’Loughlin expects new deal to be agreed soon

[Wandering Warrior]

This no signings for 2018 thing sounds like IL's arms have shrunk in the shower again?

[fozzieskem]

This no signings for 2018 thing sounds like IL's arms have shrunk in the shower again?

Gut instinct i'd say the contracts that have been handed out have topped the ceiling to be fair.

[Brad5926]

I was led to believe Kyle Shelford had a promising future ? Has he not performed on duel reg as of recent?

[Wandering Warrior]

Been released iirc.

[Brad5926]

Any idea who will be coming up from the academy if Farrell and Shelford and I guess afew others youngsters get released?

[Wiganer Ted]

Never understood this deep pockets, short arms about IL!.

It cost him good money to buy the club and when we run at a loss he makes it up with his own money. We must have the largest salary bill in SL as George and Sam are marquee players.

It's not just the quality of players but the depth of the squad too.
Squad numbers 32,35 & 36 turning out on a regular basis. No other club could hope to get anywhere near that.
Marshall 2nd highest try scorer in SL when wearing the 32 shirt.

The club is better run now that for decades under IL.
He can stay as long as he want to as far as I'm concerned.

[Warrior Gilfedder]

No new signings = less season ticket sales, do you think fans will be clammering to fork out to see the same crap as we've been served up this season SO FAR

[Wigan_forever1985]

Never understood this deep pockets, short arms about IL!.

It cost him good money to buy the club and when we run at a loss he makes it up with his own money. We must have the largest salary bill in SL as George and Sam are marquee players.

It's not just the quality of players but the depth of the squad too.
Squad numbers 32,35 & 36 turning out on a regular basis. No other club could hope to get anywhere near that.
Marshall 2nd highest try scorer in SL when wearing the 32 shirt.

The club is better run now that for decades under IL.
He can stay as long as he want to as far as I'm concerned.

I do agree to a certain extent but i think that we invest in too many "project" players. When i think back to Wigan when we were top dogs, i think of a team made up of a variety of both wigan players and top quality overseas talent, even in recent years we have had that Barrett, Finch, Hoffman, Green et al.

However in the very recent we seem overly concerned with having the largest possible squad of good players. Dont get me wrong weve needed it after 2 injury hit seasons but no other club seems to have our problems with injuries and that cant just be bad luck, everyone expects injuries but weve have near on a full team out for 2 years running for a large portion of the season.

It would be nice to compliment the home grown with a NRL star or too, we may have to rely on circumstance like Saints have with Barbra and we may have to shed a few fringe players and do more to keep players fit.

When you take a step back i agree with your overall point though, IL has done a lot for the club and it strikes me he does dip in his pocket when he is asked to, just maybe he's being asked the wrong questions i dont know.

Lockers is one of the star attractions of Wigan so he needs to be replaced by a star IMO whatever it takes, they dont have to play like him but they need to be in the same circle of talent

[markill]

Gregson is a great shout as long term successor to Lockers assuming he gets and stays fit. He has a very similar skill set to Lockers, just lacks a bit of the leadership in terms of the senior group and obviously experience, both things that will develop in time. Also, don't forget, Lockers wasn't the player, leader and world class 13 he is now straight away.

[moto748]

Maybe not, but watching some of those old games on Wigan TV when Lockers was just a teenager, he was pretty damn good even then! And an England international.

It's a shame Gregson hasn't had more game time this season, he does look a good prospect.