We look for reasons every season as to why we have this mid season lull but it's just a case of motivation and a lack of excitement in this middle phase IMO and not that we massively need signings in any particular position (we do need either a prop or a second rower for next season IMO, depending on what we do with Walters).


If anything, things are probably going better then usual at the moment, because unlike in other seasons, we've yet to lose in this period. That will change on Friday though unless there is a turnaround in approach. 

Weird but the game felt like a loss but we are one game behind the KR.


On forwards, just shear numbers will be down as we lose Byrne and Hill and maybe others. Dupree is a real puzzler - so hit and miss this season you have to question if we would offer a new deal (we may have to).

This off season is going to be an interesting one as from memory we have Chan, Dupree, Mago, Walters and Eseh off contract at the end of 2026 (note things may have changed but i think thats where we are

so we lose Byrne and Hill this year, and the potential to lose 5 more forwards at the end of next season.


I have trust that the club is on top of it, as they have been getting recruitment and retention right over the last few seasons, but all it takes as we have seen with losing Byrne and Hill a decent offer from another club, who can pay more /offer more than Wigan and a player can be off


I'd like to see Walters offered a long term deal. Mago something similar to what we have done with him, 2+1 for example to keep him motivated. Dupree is a strange one as i think he is suffering from not being a starting prop and struggling at times to make an impact, but he aint going to start ahead of Thompson, Havard or Walters, plus this season Byrne. Eseh will be the interesting one, as Wigan dont have a long time to make a decision on him. He'll be back with us for pre-season, but i think Hull will make a play for him when they can, and then the lad has a decision to make. 12 months ago it would be a no brainer, stay at Wigan and fight for a 1st team spot, but Hull have progressed massively on and off the pitch, so it wouldnt be a bad move for him if he decided to move on. that leaves Chan, he's seemed be going well when i've seen him at Salford but i dont know if he's a prop /backrow, but i know the coaching team will have an idea what they want from him if he stays


in other posts on here and Warriors fans, we are still well stocked next year at prop (Thompson, Havard, Walters, Dupree, Mago, Eseh etc) but potentially losing 3 of those makes a massive difference unless we recruit and are in control of it. 2nd row also a priority as one way or another we need to be replacing Faz / giving him less game time but we need another Junior to come through and take that spot from him

It still feels like Dupree is suffering as much as anything from a lack of minutes. He ran at 8 metres a carry on Saturday and that's more than acceptable but he's hardly ever on the field. I must be missing something with Byrne at the minute and why he's a starter. There's no impact with the ball and not much in defence. 

Going in to next season, I've gone from thinking Eseh would be no loss, to now being excited about what he can bring to us. If Walters stays at prop, then a second rower is an absolute must. I'm not as down on Faz as some but he shouldn't be playing 80 minutes every week and we need the option to rest him, both in games and by sitting him out of some. 

i agree re Dupree, but dont see how he's going to start before Thompson, Havard and Walters if all 3 are fit. I know Matty Peet has tried Thompson off the bench when he was coming back from his calf injury, and that worked better than others coming off the bench as he was able to get up to speed and offer impact. Its a conundrum from MP, but a good one to have. The other option is to try Walters 2nd row with Junior to give Faz a couple of weeks rest (but thats on the basis all our other props are back and fit). You could then start Dupree with Havard and have a bench of Thompson, Mago, Byrne / Hill with Walters, Junior and Ellis backrow. That gives us a solid starting pack, and some serious impact off the bench with Thompson and Mago offering different skills

Re Eseh, and i posted similar on the FC forum. Its an interesting decision thats coming up as we wont have had him play a game, but may need to offer him a new contract as Hull are likely to be in there for him