like this year when wakey were far superior to us? yet we somehow scored the most points of any team in the league?



backs of

1 wellens

2 Foster

3 Shenton

4 Meli

5 Lomax



(swap meli for soliola as required, but id like to see sia in the pack)



isnt the best set of backs in the league, but they're not far off either, and behind what i consider the best pack in the league should be fine

If that first 17 stay reasonably fit 1st is a real possibility

Here's a post I put on the Wigan site.

[urlhttp://viewtopic.php?f=28&t=472784&start=0[/url





And I forgot Ben Davies



A very strong pack SQUAD, add to that a very good set of backs with the likes of Marsh and Charnley as back up, Wigan will be a very difficult team to beat.



Oh before some of you get your knickers in a twist, accusing me of trolling, the title of the thread is 2011 (Not Saints squad 2011)

no twisting here!

As i said on that thread, IMO we have a (slightly) better first 17 on balance, but Wigan's strength in depth is impressive, they could withstand a bout of injuries in most positions quite easily, but yet we still did ok this year so its up for grabs!

Again, IMO Wire and Leeds look weaker (well older and no strengthening) as a whole as well

It may come down to how the new recruits settle in (including your new coach) One concern I have at Wigan is how we will go without Riddell. He has been excellent for us this year and is vastly underrated by a lot of fans .



Then again, how will Saints go without Cunningham?



Let's get Saturday out of the way first though

well we have two international hookers to replace him, and you have one with a world cup medal, so i doubt either team will be in that much trouble!

Moore getting a full run in his preferred position will only improve his game as well

The balance of our squad does look pretty good. I can see Magennis becoming a starter next year. Dean leaving surely means we will be seeing more of Tom Armstrong at some point.



Regarding Tony P, I can see him being a prop in our squad next year on the basis most of our young players coming through are second rowers. Looking at our Props we have Graham who is an automatic starter and Perry who is a specialist starting Prop i.e. he is more a physical player than a yard maker. Given Tonys ability to bust tackles he would be better used later in the game when defences are not as sharp.

OK I'll bite. The relevance of the thread is not the problem it is the relevance of the forum. We have no issue with you talking about Wigan but please at least compare them with St.Helens RLFC (the subject of the forum). Rather than go off on a tangent.



For example, this is what I would say...



Looking at the Wigan squad in comparison to Saints squad both do look pretty strong. Thanks to both sides youth development and some clever signings Saints and Wigan will have the best and most improved squads next year. It would not surprise me if we are looking at a Lancashire 1,2 in the Super league next year.

I agree with Noel Cleal.





And I didn't have any problems with the reasoned replies on the Wigan site to my original post.

Neither of the teams are Lancastrian might be a problem. One is in Greater Manchester and the other firmly in Merseyside, la