Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 12:53 am  

jonh wrote:

Absolutely agree regarding Gildart.

Regards Bateman and Sutton I think we all accept that this will be their last season. I may be in a minority here but personally I’m more than comfortable with that.

I'll miss Bateman, but for the life of me, I can't understand how Sutton has attracted attention down there. He was lousy for us last year - half of the time, he didn't even look fit.

First Sarge did it. Then Sutton. Now there's talk of Gildart.

Perhaps a bigger question is not WHY are all these Wigan lads wanting to go to the NRL, but HOW are they conning their way into it.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 8:14 am  

Cruncher wrote:

I'll miss Bateman, but for the life of me, I can't understand how Sutton has attracted attention down there. He was lousy for us last year - half of the time, he didn't even look fit.

First Sarge did it. Then Sutton. Now there's talk of Gildart.

Perhaps a bigger question is not WHY are all these Wigan lads wanting to go to the NRL, but HOW are they conning their way into it.

There’s enough money in the NRL to take a punt on anyone really which has clearly benefitted guys like Sarginson, Sutton, Jordan Turner, Wardle etc.

I’d look at Gildart differently tbh. He’s had a couple of bad games to start the year but he’s proven himself to be an excellent young player ever since his debut. In between his back injury he was superb last season and he dominated a very good centre in Jack Bird in the WCC. If he’s not just playing the game and we’ve actually never opened discussions over a new deal with him then it has to be the craziest thing I’ve ever come across. It would be akin to Tottenham Hotspur just waiting until Dele Alli had 6 months on his deal and going “anyway Dele, about this contract.....” and he tells them that he’s signed for Real Madrid on a free transfer.

I don’t believe we’re that thick and our Australia trip took that much of the managements focus that they forget some of their best players were coming off contract.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 8:29 am  

Cruncher wrote:

I'll miss Bateman, but for the life of me, I can't understand how Sutton has attracted attention down there. He was lousy for us last year - half of the time, he didn't even look fit.

First Sarge did it. Then Sutton. Now there's talk of Gildart.

Perhaps a bigger question is not WHY are all these Wigan lads wanting to go to the NRL, but HOW are they conning their way into it.

Have to agree with you over Sutton,I just don’t see what people rave about with him,he will last a season in the NRL at best.

As for Gildart he’s just too young for me,he’s not fully learned his trade but he is a player I can see succeeding over there but he needs a couple more years plying his trade over perhaps?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 9:40 am  

hengirl wrote:

Have to agree with you over Sutton,I just don’t see what people rave about with him,he will last a season in the NRL at best.

As for Gildart he’s just too young for me,he’s not fully learned his trade but he is a player I can see succeeding over there but he needs a couple more years plying his trade over perhaps?

Can't recall anyone raving about Sutton...? I like his aggression and he can be pretty difficult to handle on his day. His performances seem to slide the longer he gets a run in the team though. He would probably benefit from being rotated more, he's only young for a prop after all. We have a poor record of bringing them through compared with other positions.

[DaveO]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 10:07 am  

Cruncher wrote:

Perhaps a bigger question is not WHY are all these Wigan lads wanting to go to the NRL, but HOW are they conning their way into it.

I have been thinking the same thing. The Souths game showed the Aussies have a fine production line of young players. I could understand an Aussie club being interested in signing a player of Lockers calibre (not now of course as he is close to retirement but when he was at his peak) and someone like Sam T was an obvious target but I don't really understand the interest in more junior players.

It's almost standard practice now for any young player who talks about the future to talk about going to the NRL. I am sure it's an ambition but I am not sure why it is realistic. Agents probably fuel a lot of it. Agents only make their money by moving players on but I still don't get why the Aussie clubs are interested in the first place.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 10:59 am  

DaveO wrote:

I have been thinking the same thing. The Souths game showed the Aussies have a fine production line of young players. I could understand an Aussie club being interested in signing a player of Lockers calibre (not now of course as he is close to retirement but when he was at his peak) and someone like Sam T was an obvious target but I don't really understand the interest in more junior players.

It's almost standard practice now for any young player who talks about the future to talk about going to the NRL. I am sure it's an ambition but I am not sure why it is realistic. Agents probably fuel a lot of it. Agents only make their money by moving players on but I still don't get why the Aussie clubs are interested in the first place.

I think another poster hit the nail on the head when he suggested that the NRL is so awash with TV cash now that Aussie clubs can afford to pay British youngsters peanuts to provide back-up to the first-grade and they'll still be earning more than they do over here.

I have no doubt that sports agents are instrumental in this (it would be interesting to see how many of these young Wiganers who've gone are with the same agency). They'll have contacts in Aus who they can persuade to take a punt on these youngsters, while the youngsters will go because the agents can fill their heads with tales of Sam Burgess-type success stories and argue that, even if that doesn't happen, they'll still be getting more money.

But it makes you wonder on whose side these agents really are. You just break into the goldfish bowl that is the Wigan first team, and then you voluntarily relegate yourself to to the relative obscurity of the Souths second team. More money or not, is that really helping your career?

Perhaps they should ask Sarginson or Mossop, or even Budgie, who is still a long way off regaining his former star status.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 1:02 pm  

how the likes of Gildart and Williams even have the audacity to mention the NRL considering the way they are playing of late is beyond me. Williams has not been the same since he signed on as a Marquee player. don't give me all of that oh he was trying too hard or he was suffering because our pack was poor rubbish... and Gildart clearly thinks he is the mustard when he is currently playing more like 10 day old KFC chicken gravy retrieved from the bin.

both of them have a lot of work to do for wigan before they should even considering making comical remarks like that again.

the wigan club these days seems to be seen by some players as more of a stepping stone club than one to achieve your ambition.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:29 pm  

WiganBurt wrote:

how the likes of Gildart and Williams even have the audacity to mention the NRL considering the way they are playing of late is beyond me. Williams has not been the same since he signed on as a Marquee player. don't give me all of that oh he was trying too hard or he was suffering because our pack was poor rubbish... and Gildart clearly thinks he is the mustard when he is currently playing more like 10 day old KFC chicken gravy retrieved from the bin.

both of them have a lot of work to do for wigan before they should even considering making comical remarks like that again.

the wigan club these days seems to be seen by some players as more of a stepping stone club than one to achieve your ambition.

Surely all they've said that it would be a dream to play in the NRL? What's so bad about that? Who wouldn't. Oz sunshine lifestyle playing the game you love at the top level. Who wouldn't fancy that.

I know I would. Heaven forbid they find the Gold Coast more tempting than Wigan Pier.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 4:07 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Surely all they've said that it would be a dream to play in the NRL? What's so bad about that? Who wouldn't. Oz sunshine lifestyle playing the game you love at the top level. Who wouldn't fancy that.

I know I would. Heaven forbid they find the Gold Coast more tempting than Wigan Pier.

of course, but that is not the point. making such comments does the following things:

A) prompts their current club to consider an increase in their wage if they wish to retain the player - using this kind of comment as a bargaining tool does not sit well with me when they don't yet appear ready to make such a move should it come about.
B) shows that their head isn't 100% in the club
C) shows that they perhaps think more of themselves than is actually evident on form, whether past or present

ultimately, I want players on top of their game being touted by the aussie clubs and then fair enough, what will be will be. I don't like it when the players are openly inviting the prospect well before it is due. they are basically holding the club to ransom.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 4:43 pm  

WiganBurt wrote:

of course, but that is not the point. making such comments does the following things:

A) prompts their current club to consider an increase in their wage if they wish to retain the player - using this kind of comment as a bargaining tool does not sit well with me when they don't yet appear ready to make such a move should it come about.
B) shows that their head isn't 100% in the club
C) shows that they perhaps think more of themselves than is actually evident on form, whether past or present

ultimately, I want players on top of their game being touted by the aussie clubs and then fair enough, what will be will be. I don't like it when the players are openly inviting the prospect well before it is due. they are basically holding the club to ransom.

D) You're reading into it far to much.