Looking at next seasons squad, im filled with confidence we will have another very good season. People on here have mentioned 'marquee' signings, but im pretty happy with what we have got now. The only slight worry is that im not sure Burgess is completely ready to start most games. But when you look at the strength in depth we can literally field a second string and probably beat the lower placed clubs.

If rumours are to be true about Clubb, Sarginson :

1. Bowen
2. Charnley
3. Goulding
4. Thornley
5. Burgess
6. Green
7. Smith
8. Flower
9. Micky
10. Taylor
11. Hansen
12. Farrell
13. Lockers

14. Pettybourne
15. Dudson
16. Crosby
17. Hampshire

Second team

1. Tierney
2. Manfedi
3. Hughes
4. Gelling
5. Sarginson
6. Williams
7. S. Powell
8. Hopkins
9. L. Tomkins
10. A Powell
11. Lloyd
12. Clubb
13. Burke

14. Greenwood
15. C. Farrell
16. Lever
17. Gildart

I reckon out of the 34 mentioned, at least 25 of them will all get runs in the first team next season. Hopefully, we'll get it right again.

Nah. Tough one next season www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24419836

Nah. Tough one next season www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24419836

Quote Conroy="Conroy"Nah. Tough one next season www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24419836'" Yep - I don't mind if everyone writes us off again!

Quote Conroy="Conroy"Nah. Tough one next season www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24419836'" Yep - I don't mind if everyone writes us off again!

Thats a cracking 2nd string. in fact, that team would put up a decent fight against an awful lot of SL outfits.

My only worry is that wing. That's replacing a former MOS and one of the best Wigan players ever with a youngster who's not played 5 first team games.

Maybe we need to sign a winger? If we don't I'm not going to second guess the club though, they've made the right call by putting faith in youth before so I'm sure it would be the right choice.

I'm also worried regarding that wing. I'd imagine at this moment in time if we had a big game next week we'd go with Thornley and Gelling as a wing/centre partnership but I'd like to see us sign a stop gap signing on say a one or two year deal. Carney from Cas would be the my choice as he'd help our forwards with the hard yards when they're struggling. Plus the the young wingers (Burgess,Manfredi) would still get game time as he seems to get banned pretty often.

Burgess has looked great when he's played in the first team and he's absolutely stormed it in the academy. I don't see the point in producing a player like him and not using him when a spot comes up. If I was Burgess and Wigan signed a winger I would leave, I bet most SL clubs would try to sign him as well. When will people start to realise that our success over the last three years has been very largely built on the back of producing and retaining talented players, not making signings every time a top player leaves? If you're good enough, you're old enough, and history has shown we have had far more sucess with home grown players than we have with signings

I'm sure that between Thornley, Gelling, Burgess, Manfredi and Sarginson we can cover ONE wing spot next season. Speaking to Burgess on Sunday he said "I want Pats shirt next season"

As we should all know by now Wane will give them their chance dependant on how they perform in pre-season and their attitude toward training.

That #5 shirt is there for the taking, it'll be very interesting too see who gets it when the squad numbers are released. It'll give us some idea of the desire shown in pre-season.

That's fair enough and I really do hope that he takes the chance with both hands, nails him name to the 5 shirt and goes on to be a top player. Surely you can see why people have reservations though? To ask a 19 year old with only 2 previous games in SL to come in, replace Pat Richards, and form a partnership with a centre who's only had one full season under his belt, and had is own defensive issues, is a massive ask. Like I said I really hope he does, Charnley took his opportunity in 2011 and never looked back, hopefully Burgess can too.

Crooks and Lineham. both rookies. Dream team members.

Ben Jones Bishop and Zak Hardaker in 2011. Bjb bad been on loan to Quins in '10 came back and in '11 he and Hardaker, who was a rookie(and only played a few games at centre) won SL.

I understand what people are trying to put across, but its a overreaction from people. We have options, we wont be destroying anyones confidence as we can protect them by playing another combination of the players. But why would we not put faith in someone who has been tearing it up in the reserves and impressed at first team level.

Let the kids play, you never learn until you are thrown into the fire. Sink or swim, we will find out. If it is sink, we have options. Lets be perfectly honest, I am not scared by any set of wingers in SL. Leeds have the best set, apart from that I think the wingers at top teams are pretty average, bar doggy at Wire.

I do understand people having reservations of course but when you look at the options available I think he's the obvious choice. All the best wingers are either in the NRL or wanting to go to the NRL, Briscoe excluded of course but we did try to sign him. So you're left with either:
A. Signing a 30odd year old who has to call it a day in the NRL - not the best idea in a position requiring speed, plus in 2 years he retires and Burgess has probably signed for St Helens, leaving us in an even worse position
B. Signing a SL player who doesn't play for a top team already and won't get a gig in the NRL/Union - Can't really think of anyone I'd want who fits that bill. Lineham I suppose but he's tied up. Other than that I'd rather have an inexperienced but talented youngster than experienced average SL player.
C. Give Burgess a go! If he's rubbish give Manfredi a go, if he's rubbish we know Gelling at 4 and Thornley at 5 or vice versa will be at least solid as they have already shown in the last two seasons.

Everyone talks about the risks of giving Burgess a go, I'm more interested in the risks of not giving him a go and letting a potential star slip through our grasp. Aside from the WCC there will be months of fairly meaningless games to test out Thornley, Gelling, Burgess and Manfredi to find the best 4 and 5 combo, I'm confident 2 of those 4 will shine through before summer

That's the 1 positive of the top 8 system, cos the regular season means jack nack, you can try out younger lads knowing if they make a hash and we lose it doesn't matter.