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ddtftf wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 7:21 pm It would be wise to secure a long-term deal before clubs come in offering big-money deals

Absolutely. Ellis signed up to that four year deal the other day and hopefully we can get Walters on something similar. The beauty of this side is that success is coming while a lot of the players are still quite young, so where Saints have fallen away as lads have gone past their peak, ours have won things and pretty much all of them are in their peak years, have yet to hit them and I some cases, are nowhere near them.

Walters is becoming the player we all hoped he would and yes I would,if it was down to me be looking at tying him on a long deal before Leeds come sniffing around,they do seem to be signing ex players at the moment

fozzie58 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 7:12 am Walters is becoming the player we all hoped he would and yes I would,if it was down to me be looking at tying him on a long deal before Leeds come sniffing around,they do seem to be signing ex players at the moment

For me, in terms of ability, yes he is. However he's playing a completely different style to how I thought he would be. He's become a tough, hard running prop. I expected him to be more of a back row, running clever lines, throwing offloads out the back door type of player. Maybe I didn't watch enough of him at Leeds, but my main excitement when watching him for them was him hitting gaps at pace. Absolutely not complaining how he's turned out

When you think that any trophy winning side is usually based on a foundation of having good prop forwards, it's exciting to think that we're now looking at a future of having a top 5 prop rotation of Thompson, Havard, Walters, Mago and Dupree. That is pretty formidable and opposition sides won't get a minute off through that middle of the field.

On the flip side, if we're using Walters in the middle going forward (and I think we should), I think we'll need to put some focus on the second row position. We have Vaughan coming in, who will compete with Faz and Nsemba for a spot and there are a couple of young players in the squad, who'll hope to push through but I think we could do with an experienced signing for 2026.

We also have a second row in Hirst who's on a year long loan at Oldham. He's relatively inexperienced but not that young.
Also I think he's 6'4" which isn't far off Junior in height.

Wiganer Ted wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 10:26 am We also have a second row in Hirst who's on a year long loan at Oldham. He's relatively inexperienced but not that young.
Also I think he's 6'4" which isn't far off Junior in height.

I wonder if he may get a go on Sunday with the injuries we have. I don't see the need to run with two hookers on the bench again, so you're then looking at bringing in two players. Tough to say who is most likely to come in without knowing the rules of each players loan deal but we are on dual reg with Oldham, so you'd imagine there might be a bit more wiggle room on that one.

NICKYKISS wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 11:32 am

Wiganer Ted wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 10:26 am We also have a second row in Hirst who's on a year long loan at Oldham. He's relatively inexperienced but not that young.
Also I think he's 6'4" which isn't far off Junior in height.

I wonder if he may get a go on Sunday with the injuries we have. I don't see the need to run with two hookers on the bench again, so you're then looking at bringing in two players. Tough to say who is most likely to come in without knowing the rules of each players loan deal but we are on dual reg with Oldham, so you'd imagine there might be a bit more wiggle room on that one.

i think the only positive about the weekend at the minute is that the Hull pack is possibly more decimated than ours

As i've posted previously we still have a good roster for props and most would be happy to start with the below

we could start with Walters (been doing big minutes so that helps us) and Byrne, poss Mago (subject to whether it was illness or hamstring),Hill, Ellis could be added to prop rotation but leaves us slightly weaker at 13

If Mago not fit, i'd look at one of young lads or we could go with O'Neill at 13 and have Leeming and Forber rotate at 9

and back onto the original topic, at the minute he's going really well, and offers us something a little different at prop & can run 2nd row, so i'd be looking to offer an extended contract in line with some of the other 1st team squad

keptinthedarkfans wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 8:15 pm

Wiganer Ted wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 7:54 pm

ddtftf wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 7:21 pm It would be wise to secure a long-term deal before clubs come in offering big-money deals

Said that a few weeks ago. Can't see that the talks are not ongoing now between the club and Sam's agent.

It would make quite a few of us on here happy signing him up on, say, a four year deal.
Sam certainly playing very well.

He did interview in supporters club bar after saints. Said he and his family loved it in wigan and he's even bought a house here. So imo going nowhere soon.

If Sam';s bought a house in/near Wigan then I'd imagine his future is secure at the club. Kaide Ellis's new contract was announced in the week leading up to the "Rivals Round" and home to Saints. Perhaps a new deal for Sam might be announced in the week leading up to the "Magic Weekend" and Warrington's fixture.
Good publicity at the right time!

With Eseh, Chan, Hirst, Makin coming through and Walters still quite young, it's been said that we should sign an older, experienced prop for next year.

On another thread, Josie posted a link to stats, and looking at props, McMeeken is tearing it up at Wakey: top tackler, few missed tackles etc. I was surprised that he's "only" 30. What a signing he would be for us! Experience to guide the youngsters, whilst contributing massively to our prop-dominated squad.

Thompson, Harvard, McMeeken, Dupree, Mago, Walters plus a host of younger ones coming through! Unbeatable, or as near as you get!

morley pie eater wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 9:41 pm With Eseh, Chan, Hirst, Makin coming through and Walters still quite young, it's been said that we should sign an older, experienced prop for next year.

On another thread, Josie posted a link to stats, and looking at props, McMeeken is tearing it up at Wakey: top tackler, few missed tackles etc. I was surprised that he's "only" 30. What a signing he would be for us! Experience to guide the youngsters, whilst contributing massively to our prop-dominated squad.

Thompson, Harvard, McMeeken, Dupree, Mago, Walters plus a host of younger ones coming through! Unbeatable, or as near as you get!

Isn't McMeeken marquee at Wakey?

Someone further up was wondering whether Paddy was illness or hamstring. It's definitely hamstring as he said so after the Saints game. Obviously he hadn't had scans or anything but he said "hopefully not too long out" when I asked how bad he thought it was so maybe precautionary like Jai's a couple of weeks ago? I doubt he'll be playing this week though.