arcticchris

For Origin they are in camp such a short time that you can see both States clearly value knowledge of the onfield battle and leadership qualities over proven tactical coaching skills.

Of course but star power can be a big factor in enticing good players to commit to being amongst the first signings for a new club. Getting Kaufusi and the Bromwich Brothers from Melbourne gave them instant credibility that ensured others were willing to join as it did not look like a side doomed to be perennial contenders for the wooden spoon.

Far too many for Wigan to just give one name so need a few categories. Starting watching in the late 80s but only very young then. Best Aussie signing - Pat Richards. One of the most reliable kickers of the SL era. A long term part of improving a team not at its best time when he arrived. Best Kiwi - Dean Bell. Captain of arguably the greatest rugby team of either code in history. Led by example. Best ROTW - Adrian Lam. A fabulous scrum half. Best Domestic Signing - Jake Wardle. Arguably our best centre of the last 20 years. A few others were fantastic like Ellery Hanley, Martin Offiah, Henry Paul, Bevan French, Garry Connolly etc but they largely came into already supremely good teams so their signings were not transformative in the same way.

Tom Burgess Whitehead Bateman (when he was good)

Hard to see how he would even star in the championship.

That rarely lasts long and can’t be relied on.

Had everything going for him in terms of physical attributes to be a global superstar and would have been if he had the mindset of his brother. Sadly he just didn’t play his weight.

What stands out a mile there is that whilst he was far past his physical prime at that point his rugby league brain was insanely good as he was always in support where a break was made or the bounce of the ball.

Also rate him highly but he hasn’t seemed to be in the conversation despite all he has already achieved at a young age. He is Micky Mac with an upgrade in creativity and speed.

We have a pretty settled 1-7 of good quality with some decent back up options. Back row should be a point of strength if correctly selected. We need someone to have Man of Steel type season at 9 and demand selection as this is a slight weakness as things stand. Mikey Lewis should make the bench to come on and offer a spark along with cover at full back, halves and hooker. If a centre or wing goes down you can shift Welsby and put Lewis on at full back. My biggest concern is that beyond Walmsley (who has a concerning injury record) and Thompson, the front row lacks size and proven test level quality as we can’t afford to be struggling to reach halfway and then kicking on the back foot consistently.

Chelsea and Catalans Dragons - both lots of eye catching splashy signings but little signs of a coherent plan Man Utd and Leeds Rhinos - a comparison both cities will despise but huge clubs in strife from having fallen away from great academy products and replacing them with increasingly more mediocre players at cost. Everton and Widnes - 2 teams that shone brightly in the 1980s but have had little to shout about in the last 30 years. Man City and Hull KR - the noisy neighbours who have ousted their better supported and mismanaged local rivals from top dog status in the city.

That would make far too much sense for to ever happen in Rugby League

Farnworth/Fonua-Blake/Grant are top 3 for me barring an outstanding pacific cup final from one of the other Tonga and Australia players nominated.

Totally agree. It was 100% a deliberate play at the ball and the minimal contact with Johnson’s legs was both incidental and unintentional. It would have been a very soft call to give a penalty there. Credit to all the officials for making the right call and not buckling to favour the bigger nation.

Tottenham Stadium looks excellent and very modern. Big capacity and event venue feel but small enough to fill and give a great impression on TV and atmosphere.

As fair as a foul tackle goes I think it would be playing at the opposing players chair with your arm not at the ball and tag. The spectacular Bechara finish was legal because he was knocked forward by the referee tackle whereas if he had deliberately promoted the chair forward like a diving motion that would be a penalty. This is to give some parity for the players with limb/spinal disabilities that can’t make that kind of movement. The commentators did suggest France picked their side with building for 2026 WC in mind. They were missing 3 of their 5 main players. England had only Jack Brown absent.

You could see France were in transition with a new coach and leaving out several star players but England were excellent and some of their set pattern plays were outstanding to watch.

It would be harsh to enforce this if we were to see anything on the scale of what happened in the World Cup final. To concentrate on the game I expect another feisty, close and hard fought contest between two teams with great skill and toughness who know each other so well.

Wigan also have the wings and centres do a lot of yardage carries early in sets and just look at the brick wall defence in the final month of the season. Payne Haas would be fantastic and has an offload in his game.

For Wigan the biggest upgrade would be James Fisher-Harris as starting prop alongside Luke Thompson

To be fair I was thinking more about overall careers than just a season in isolation. Agree with your forward switch as being very valid as Ellis would definitely be a prop in the 90s when the trend at 13 was for an extra ball player. Brad O’Neill would be very close to making it as well

That is certainly fair as he would bring his immaculate goal kicking along with versatility to plate in the halves or wing and full back. Definitely pushed Wardle hard for the utility/backline cover spot on the bench.

A composite team: 1. Field 2024 2. Robinson 1994 3. Connolly 1994 4. Tuigamala 1994 5. Offiah 1994 6. French 2024 7. Edwards 1994 8. Cowie 1994 9. Dermott 1994 10. Thompson 2024 11. Betts 1994 12. Farrell 1994 13. Clarke 1994 14. Wardle 2024 15. Nsemba 2024 16. Ellis 2024 17. Havard 2024 10-7 to the 1994 team with some positional switches that reflect their careers. 1994 bench balance is bizarre with a centre/wing, full back, second row and a hooker although fairly sure there were injuries in the front row.

I wouldn’t personally. Beating Penrith is bigger for me.

Burgess has done really well as to be honest I thought it could easily turn into a car crash but it seems he is improving players as well as getting better results. All those in the poll are worthy of mention for different reasons. Matty Peet has done an awesome job but even as a Wigan fan I think I would give the award to Willie Peters this year.