Loan Signing

do we need a hooker?

seems a bit unfair on else and hulme

do we need a hooker? seems a bit unfair on else and hulme

I would imagine they will share shifts. Else must have had a bad knock and the club are allowing him decent recovery time. I thought that he was looking promising and I hope that he will continue.

O'Neil's experience etc was missed and we only have a few games to go. We never know if injuries will strike so an extra half back/hooker isn't a bad idea.

Good move for me especially with us fielding wingers on the bench in recent games, he seems to be down the pecking order at wigan too  if he turns out to be half decent maybe a potential permanent signing

I think this must be genuine two week loan to cover for Else. Otherwise, I would have thought that Else and Hulme could cover the hooking role for the rest of the season.

Also if we are short of forwards generally I’d imagine Hulme could do a half decent job in the second row.

21 so perhaps someone who may be available for next year as mentioned previously.

Good luck to the lad and gives more bench options.

Aiden Roden joins Widnes Vikings on an initial two-week loan.
Young hooker already has Betfred Championship experience after playing on loan at Whitehaven earlier this year.
Roden: “I’m excited at the prospect of getting more game time and showing everyone what I can do.”
Wigan Warriors can confirm that young hooker Aiden Roden has joined Betfred Championship club Widnes Vikings on an initial two-week loan deal.
The former Hindley ARLFC junior was part of Wigan’s Academy from 2017 up until 2019, where he became a double Under-19s Grand Final winner (in 2018 and 2019).

Blackpool born Roden represented Lancashire in the 2018 origin series against Yorkshire, as well as against the Australian Schoolboys in the same year.

The 21-year-old also has first team experience having featured in Wigan’s pre-season friendly against Salford Red Devils in March, as well as playing for Whitehaven RLFC in the Betfred Championship whilst on loan there earlier this year.

On joining Widnes on loan, Roden said: “I’m excited at the prospect of getting more game time and showing everyone what I can do. I’d like to thank Wigan and Widnes for the opportunity. I can’t wait to get started.”

Wigan Warriors assistant coach, Sean O’Loughlin, said: “This is another great opportunity for Aiden to test himself in the Championship and to get regular game time. We have seen the success of Brad O’Neill going to Widnes on loan and hopefully it can be similar with Aiden. We wish him well in his time there.”

Did OK against us playing for Whitehaven.

Another much needed forward, that’s got to be good news. And, after reading his “pedigree” I’m sure he will be a good loan signing, as long as he isn’t recalled to Wigan before the season ends.

Looking further ahead, these are the sort of signings we will have to make as our remaining Academy lads grow older. SL clubs don't use all their junior products and we have to make sure that we are an attractive option.

Maybe there will be some consideration to starting the Academy again in the longer term. A question to ask at the Fans' Forum.

I think a changing of the rules to allow clubs to run part-time academies would be our best hope on that score. It’s clear we can’t afford to run a full-time one under current protocols.

I think a changing of the rules to allow clubs to run part-time academies would be our best hope on that score. It’s clear we can’t afford to run a full-time one under current protocols.

Good call MT.

There could be a link up with amateur sides that could benefit both maybe.

There has to be scope for good amateur players to make the transition to part time professional clubs if they are up to it and up for it. I haven’t watched any amateur RL in Widnes for years tbh but when you look at Lewis Hulme who was playing amateur earlier this season you’d have to assume there are a few players knocking about who could at least provide useful emergency back up for us.