Wigan won the title in 2018 with a spine of #1 Tomkins, #6 Williams, #7 Leuluai, #9 Powell and #13 O'Loughlin.

Escare was back up.



The only change for 2019 is Hardaker for Tomkins, and the addition of Sammut.



What I'm hearing is that in pre season there has been a lot more ball work and field time for the players. I'm not keen on Sammut but he is a better option than Woods IMO, and I'm willing to give him a chance before throwing him on the fire as many seem keen to do.



It seems we at Wigan always need a scapegoat, just look at the Powell, Williams and Sarginson comments from earlier this year.

Decent post.





Sammut is a necesary choice if true theat IL is cutting back a bit and i do not blame him. Either he digs in his pockets again or we the fans dig in and pay more. We still have the best squad in SL.





And Squad wins GF and not 1-13

Fair summary I’d say. I’m not too keen on the signing but you lose nothing and risk little in adding him to the options we have and you never know, he may surprise us all and thrive in a big club atmosphere.



What I would still like is another forward to come in. We’ve lost Sutton and Bateman from the end of last year and Joel mid season. We’ve brought in Greenwood and Joe Bullock so I still feel we’re one light to add depth and competition. You’d have to think Lockers will continue to miss games and that puts pressure on the senior back rowers with us being one injury away from having a youngster on the bench. The likes of Hamlin, Wells and Paisley offer good suppprt but I’d feel more confident with just the one more.

We've arguably lost our 2 best players/biggest contributors since 2018 in Tomkins and Bateman.

But still got Hardaker in and Greenwood. All depends in Hardaker behaving.



Of the 2 Bateman is the bigger lose. Its just a pity we cold not have Tomkins stay and go to 7 would have been a great spine. But Bateman will be missed unless we get someone of his style in. Greenwood is more direct so will be different to Bateman.



Still say our squad is better than Wire or Saints.

I agree with the Tomkins shout. Would have been perfect to have him as a 7 with Williams and Hardaker at 1, all playing under a more attacking creative coach.

The sum of the whole is often greater than its individual parts. This is my hope for next year with Sammut. I have learned to trust IL and Rad to do the right thing for the club and in the vast majority of cases, their judgment has been good.

IL knows far more about running a business than I do and Rad knows more about managing a Superleague team than I do. Both of them are Wigan fans at the end of the day and want what’s best for the club.

I was underwhelmed by the signing but I’m prepared to suck it and see! Hopefully with good players around him, running good lines in a flamboyant style the gets defences on the back foot, he’ll come good.

I thought Sammut came across well in his interview on Wigan TV. Also thought he summarised his current style of play well saying he has all the maverick/off the cuff stuff 'in his back pocket' but these days he's more of a team player and an organiser. Also says he know its important to play different styles at different times.



A classic example for me would be the Million Pound game when Sammut played a very intelligent and conservative game in which he directed the team brilliantly. You certainly wouldn't have recognised the maverick tendencies that people talk about in that game.

True but that's mainly restricted to the loons on the VT.

Agreed, all this talk of him being a creative player/maverick is true but like you say his organisation skills are often overlooked, he looks like he can lead a team round the park, he has plenty of experience and could be a very key signing for us

what if sammut isn't our starting 7 and we start with the super league winning 7.

think thats a fair shout in keeping Sam and getting shut off tommy who has just got a new deal which guaranteres a job after it and off loaded escare as well and maybe a winger.