Warriors get off on the wrong foot

After being forced to slash their wage bill to fulfill salary cap requirements, Stuart Raper's charges enter the fray with what is widely described as their weakest squad in years.

While their rivals have been wheeling and dealing, Wigan have gone into hibernation on the signings front.

Despite losing internationals Harvey Howard, Gary Connolly and David Furner, financial restrictions have left Wigan as the only Super League club with no new recruits.

The national media have hurried to write them off as also-rans , while bookmakers are also quoting them as 7-2 outsiders. And that could prove the perfect Trojan horse for a serious tilt at the title.

Ever since the inception of Super League in 1996, Wigan sides have been shackled by the weight of expectation built by a decade of domination. Now, with the pressure truly off, they can finally lay to rest their ghosts of the past and launch themselves into a brave new world.

To do that you need some quality youngsters bursting through and Wigan have plenty.

Back rowers Stephen Wild and Danny Tickle were only finding their feet last year but are already being touted as future Great Britain internationals.

Prop Danny Sculthorpe, brother of St Helens' Paul, is ready to repay his coach's faith after injury kept him sidelined for all but the tail end of last season, while forward Ricky Bibey can also enhance his growing reputation.

But Raper's real jewel in the crown is 20-year-old stand-off Sean O'Loughlin. Son of former Great Britain ace Keiron, the former Wigan St Patricks ace has a strong rugby league pedigree and looks a surefire star in the making.

His instinctive and incisive creativity make him a mouthwatering prospect at half-back but his height and strength also make him a useful loose forward should his brother-in-law, Warriors skipper Andy Farrell, be unavailable.

He already has international honours under his belt, joining the Great Britain Academy tour of Australia in 2001 and captaining England A against New Zealand last November.

And, if Wigan nurture his talent correctly, it will surprise no-one to see him in a senior Test jersey within two years.

True, Wigan's squad runs out of established big name players outside of the starting 13 and it will take a mighty effort from their youngsters if they are to clinch their first Super League title in five years.

Bradford are favourites to avenge last year's final defeat and take the crown after investing in GB winger Karl Pratt and New Zealand's great young hope Shontayne Hape.

Their powerful forwards will predictably dominate the first half of the season by steamrolling the opposition, making them favourites to lift the new League Leaders Shield at the end of the regular season.

Reigning champions St Helens remain the side for the big occasion and still boast a truly world class spine to their squad in Sculthorpe, Sean Long, Chris Joynt, Keiron Cunningham, Paul Newlove and Paul Wellens.

And Leeds are also looking stronger after snapping up Connolly, Furner and Cronulla star Chris McKenna.

But if Wigan's rejuvenated squad can fulfill their potential, their days as also-rans could prove very short indeed.

WIGAN Warriors embark on their 2003 Super League campaign at Castleford tomorrow with their worst and best chance of landing the game's glittering prize.

After being forced to slash their wage bill to fulfill salary cap requirements, Stuart Raper's charges enter the fray with what is widely described as their weakest squad in years.

While their rivals have been wheeling and dealing, Wigan have gone into hibernation on the signings front.

Despite losing internationals Harvey Howard, Gary Connolly and David Furner, financial restrictions have left Wigan as the only Super League club with no new recruits.

The national media have hurried to write them off as also-rans , while bookmakers are also quoting them as 7-2 outsiders. And that could prove the perfect Trojan horse for a serious tilt at the title.

Ever since the inception of Super League in 1996, Wigan sides have been shackled by the weight of expectation built by a decade of domination. Now, with the pressure truly off, they can finally lay to rest their ghosts of the past and launch themselves into a brave new world.

To do that you need some quality youngsters bursting through and Wigan have plenty.

Back rowers Stephen Wild and Danny Tickle were only finding their feet last year but are already being touted as future Great Britain internationals.

Prop Danny Sculthorpe, brother of St Helens' Paul, is ready to repay his coach's faith after injury kept him sidelined for all but the tail end of last season, while forward Ricky Bibey can also enhance his growing reputation.

But Raper's real jewel in the crown is 20-year-old stand-off Sean O'Loughlin. Son of former Great Britain ace Keiron, the former Wigan St Patricks ace has a strong rugby league pedigree and looks a surefire star in the making.

His instinctive and incisive creativity make him a mouthwatering prospect at half-back but his height and strength also make him a useful loose forward should his brother-in-law, Warriors skipper Andy Farrell, be unavailable.

He already has international honours under his belt, joining the Great Britain Academy tour of Australia in 2001 and captaining England A against New Zealand last November.

And, if Wigan nurture his talent correctly, it will surprise no-one to see him in a senior Test jersey within two years.

True, Wigan's squad runs out of established big name players outside of the starting 13 and it will take a mighty effort from their youngsters if they are to clinch their first Super League title in five years.

Bradford are favourites to avenge last year's final defeat and take the crown after investing in GB winger Karl Pratt and New Zealand's great young hope Shontayne Hape.

Their powerful forwards will predictably dominate the first half of the season by steamrolling the opposition.

But if Wigan's rejuvenated squad can fulfill their potential, their days as also-rans could prove very short.