WN83

Clearly not you and you’re entitled to your opinion. Isa, I can get why somebody would question but if you think Ellis hasn’t had a good season, I’m thinking maybe you’ve been watching games on the radio. It makes things more interesting if you actually counter with why you’d release Ellis or why you’re confused that somebody would think he’s had a good season? If a lesser player (at least on a statistical basis) would cost 200k, who would you replace him with?

He was average last year but he's been class IMO this season. In that run of games against Leigh, Saints and Wire he was absolutely outstanding, comfortably breaking 100 metres in each game (120m, 113m and 125m in those 3 games). He's not dropped below 90 metres a game in his last 6 appearances, which are cracking numbers. He came back from a month out in the cup at Leeds and after Havard went down early, he played long minutes and again was fantastic. The lad is as fit as a fiddle, mobile and his workrate is very good. I'm surprised any Wigan fan wouldn't rate him on this seasons form, especially when we can compare him to the chuckle brothers of Mago and Singleton. If we compare him to a player clubs have been willing to shell out 200 grand on in Tyler Dupree, he hasn't hit the 100 metre mark for 11 games now, with one game game him making 36 metres at 4 metres a carry. That comparison is pretty startling when you consider we're one of the clubs willing to part with cash for him!

His brain fade apart Ellis has probably been our best prop this season (tight between him and Havard). Cust can go without any question IMO and so can Mago/Singleton but I'd be extremely disappointed to see Ellis let go.

There has been more than one, in fact he's been good in most of the games he's played. It's his best season in quite a while and I don't think I'm on my own with that view amongst Wigan fans. My worry with him is if injuries are creeping in and they are added to the bans he picks up, then we'd be better placed looking elsewhere.

The deal for Leeming does seem a long one but we need more threat from dummy half and he'll bring a nice balance alongside Brad O'Neill. I've been really happy with his development this season. He's adding a good running threat to his game, he's a good defender and his distribution is getting better. We're clearly adding some more power in the forwards, so having a couple of hookers to take advantage of that will be useful for us.

First two will definitely go but I’m not sure on Isa. He’s had a really good season so far but he’s getting no younger and if we can replace him with an experienced overseas second rower, they might be best served doing it.

I think both might see some time in the back row as well. It feels like we’ve tried to identify a couple of younger forwards to add some depth after losing lads like Nicholson and McDonnell, who are going well elsewhere. We still need an experienced forward now to round things off in the pack but it’s a pleasing start. The next job after that will be to sort the right centre spot out. It’s good to see us on the front foot because it’s not always like that.

The Leeming deal is a bolt from the blue and some. I’ve not seen a single mention of it. I’d hoped we’d move for him before his move to Gold Coast, so it’s good to sort it now. It’ll be the end for Sam Powell you’d imagine and that is a shame but it’s the right call. Now we need a prop and a back rower (in addition to the rumoured signing of Walters) for 2024 and the side will be looking strong.

As a club, we seem to do our upmost to not make absences an excuse and that rubs off on the media who cover the game. In fairness though, we were in better shape than Salford today.

We were good without the ball but clunky with it. We’re clearly still a work in progress with French at 6. We were probably lucky today that Croft and Ackers were out and Brierley went down during the game. It was great to see a good crowd on. I hope next time they give a warning that they’re setting off cannons pre match. Nearly dropped my pint under the stand!

As much as I hope it doesn’t happen, I think the cup final would benefit from HKR getting there. They’d take a huge following and we need that, as neutrals seem to be falling away at the event. I’m hoping it’s a Wigan vs Leigh final with my Wigan hat on but I can’t help but feel the best final for the game would be HKR Vs Leigh. As for the Grand Final, it would be great in so many ways to see Catalans there again and to win it but the drop off in attendance hurts the game. Do the positives of a Catalans appearance outweigh the negatives? It’s so tough to give a definitive answer. What I do know, is that it’s been a cracking season so far and to have winners of both comps coming from outside the usual suspects (Saints, Wigan, Leeds etc) wouldn’t do the game any harm.

That early season run was never going to last forever but the drop off in performance level has been pretty drastic. Wasn’t it 8 on the spin at the start? So that now makes it 3 wins in the last 8 games, with a cup exit thrown in. I get that last season was a shocker for Powell and it must’ve been tough and then he must’ve been as relieved, as he was pleased with your start but I don’t think things like his pub visit did him many favours. After a season like last year, have a good start but just stay level and keep your head down.

Salford trouble anyone when they’re on and they’ll be well up for Sunday. Croft missing out is a blow but I’m still cautious about the game. If we turn up with the same attitude as last Sunday, we’ll have a decent shot but if it’s the Wigan team of the two weeks previous to that, Salford could run up a score.

I say it most weeks but I’m still stumped as to what Huddersfield’s recruitment was all about in the off season. They needed quality, to add to what was a really solid team last year but they went for quantity. It felt as though Watson had too many players from the off and he’s never had a settled side. He seems to shuffle the side looking for answers but that’s half the issue IMO.

Watson should be under huge pressure but I get the feeling he’ll be ok for a while yet. The outrage by the club regarding the Holbrook rumour makes you think they’ll try and battle through this. I’m not sure he’ll make his 5 year appraisal that a Giants fan on here mentioned though.

Jeez it’s getting boring watching Walmsley trying to referee games every week. Just get on with the game.

Reminds me of when they wouldn’t let Roy Keane buy a ticket for a Latics game so he said he’d have a season ticket. Only at Wigan would Roy Keane get turned away.

I mean as much in how he moves and not just his looks (although granted he’s not wearing well on that score for 30). Ablett gives him a good run for his money mind! The nickname reminds me of a woman at an old workplace that some people (not me obviously) used to call Kronenbourg, because from a distance she looked 16 but close up she looked 64.

I suppose he started young at Leeds but he’s the oldest looking 30 year old player I’ve seen. He’s never looked athletic but if you’d never watched him before and somebody told you he was 38/39 and ready for retirement, you wouldn’t bat an eyelid.

Absolutely correct. Mago not trusted today and Singleton either not fit or not trusted to do more than 5 minutes. They’ll both go and to say we need better replacements is some understatement. Ellis let everyone down but I do like him and it’s just about getting the right support around him and Havard now.

All feels pretty familiar with Lam in a knock out game. We’d have games like this under him, where we’d go in to it in good form and then the wheels would come off when it mattered most. I can’t say I’m hoping for Saints to get York in a cup semi but it would be some story.

Absolutely sensational! The lad is such a good player but I don’t think he knows himself just how good he is and how good he could become. If he realises, believes in himself and really pushes himself, he can be anything.

I see more and more of those knocking around, especially ones who support Saints. I can never work out if they're Wiganers, who support St Helens in rugby or they're from St Helens and support Wigan in football but I suspect they're more in the first bracket. There seem to be a few who knock about together and watch Saints all over the place, including in Australia and France. I find it amusing they've decided to do that, as though they're sticking 2 fingers up at Wigan Rugby. I couldn't care less who anybody supports in Rugby League, as long as they're following the game, so more power to them. Hopefully they continue to bring more friends to games.

The clubs will be more closely aligned, I'm absolutely sure of that. Ian Lenagan won't be front and centre of it but I'm convinced he will be playing a pretty big part in the background. All you hear about Danson is that he doesn't want any sort of publicity and wants to remain private and I think he fully trusts people like Lenagan and Radlinski to run the rugby club and he will get somebody in charge of the football club that not only he trusts but who will work with Lenagan/Radlinski and help bring the clubs together. I'm absolutely chuffed tbh. I think it's brilliant news for the town and both clubs. A joint owner (which he will be at some point) will put an end to a lot of the mud fans of both the clubs like to throw at each other.

It's been something I've desperately wanted to see since I was a child. I watch both clubs (but can't lie-rugby league is my first love) and the ridiculous rivalry has been as damaging, as it is pointless. We are a small town, who has had 2 successful sporting clubs but the town is not big enough for in fighting and it needs to end. I really hope this takeover can help to start a process that leads to it being a thing of the past. People don't need to support both clubs but the hate from both sides is pretty pathetic. I get the feeling in time that Danson will fully own both clubs and there will be a drive to push a one town approach and it can't come soon enough.