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Matty Smith is set to be confirmed as Wigan's first signing for next season.

The Salford half-back has agreed a deal with the Warriors and an official announcement could be made within days. He is a replacement for Thomas Leuluai. It is Smith has agreed a two or three year deal after rejecting offers from Salford, Widnes & former club St Helens.

According to todays Evening Post

Wonder if he could turn into a Sean Long and haunt Stains for the next 10 years?!

Far better signing than many believe. Right age to allow Williams & Hampshire the time to develop.

Are you writing off Powell and Mellor CPW?

Personally, I think Mellor has lost a bit of pace since his injury and will never be the same player again. Whether Powell can get back to the level he was at before his ankle injury remains to be seen. Until his injury I would have thought Powell would be a better bet to make it in SL as he has a better kicking and defensive game than Mellor and, if given game time this season, may have been a half decent replacement for Tommy.

I think he's just an ordinary player. Not my idea of a good signing.

Quality player, can't imagibne whay Saints let him go really. He got them to Old Trafford for their ritual humiliation.

I sense another thread where people will eat their words!

doc wrote:Are you writing off Powell and Mellor CPW?

Personally, I think Mellor has lost a bit of pace since his injury and will never be the same player again. Whether Powell can get back to the level he was at before his ankle injury remains to be seen. Until his injury I would have thought Powell would be a better bet to make it in SL as he has a better kicking and defensive game than Mellor and, if given game time this season, may have been a half decent replacement for Tommy.

No. I fear Finch will leave and that opens an opportunity for either Mellor or Powell. Irrespective, we have Mellor/Powell, perhaps Chris Taylor AND Williams/Hampshire as potential halfbacks.

cpwigan wrote:

doc wrote:Are you writing off Powell and Mellor CPW?

Personally, I think Mellor has lost a bit of pace since his injury and will never be the same player again. Whether Powell can get back to the level he was at before his ankle injury remains to be seen. Until his injury I would have thought Powell would be a better bet to make it in SL as he has a better kicking and defensive game than Mellor and, if given game time this season, may have been a half decent replacement for Tommy.

No. I fear Finch will leave and that opens an opportunity for either Mellor or Powell. Irrespective, we have Mellor/Powell, perhaps Chris Taylor AND Williams/Hampshire as potential halfbacks.

Aren't Williams & Hampshire now the age at which Shaun Edwards made his debut?

And on the same subject, can anyone realistically see a way back for Stefan Marsh?