Re: Lee Mossop returns : Fri Nov 14, 2014 7:16 pm  

cherryandwhitedavid06 wrote:

I think Bateman is going to have a massive 2015. With a full Wigan pre-season to bulk him up a little and a year's experience of our systems under his belt, he could be the one to watch across the whole of Super League next season. Fingers crossed!

Yeh I hope SW finds a decent way to rotate Farrell, Tomkins and Bateman within a game. All 3 like playing long minutes and I felt Bateman was a bit underused towards the back end of this season once Joel began starting games and John was playing off the bench.

Re: Lee Mossop returns : Fri Nov 14, 2014 7:21 pm  

Bateman in time will be our best second row IMO. He's just got that attitude that sets players apart from others.

I just hope him not playing many minutes near the end of the year was to offer him a rest rather then it being Wane seeing him as our third choice second row.

Re: Lee Mossop returns : Fri Nov 14, 2014 8:21 pm  

Thought at one point last season Bateman was played at 13 and Waney said he saw a future for him there. Can't remember the precise wording but I remember an inference that Bateman may well replace Lockers when the time comes.

Re: Lee Mossop returns : Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:21 pm  

Father Ted wrote:

Thought at one point last season Bateman was played at 13 and Waney said he saw a future for him there. Can't remember the precise wording but I remember an inference that Bateman may well replace Lockers when the time comes.

He looks the obvious choice at the moment.

He along with Ben Currie are my big hopes to add some depth and quality to the England backrow. I think a little too much was made of how weak we were there in the Four Nations because it's not a vintage time for the Kiwi's or Aussie's in that department either but we can improve for sure.

Re: Lee Mossop returns : Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:15 pm  

TBF we have just come out the other side of a good period for 2nd rows. Ellis, Hock, Burgess, Lockers, Westwood and Sinfield were all quality players.

That's British RL for you. One moment you have an abundance in one position and then you don't.

[DaveO]

Re: Lee Mossop returns : Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:54 pm  

Big Steve wrote:

DaveO - yes you're right, IL didn't have a master plan for Mossop to hurt his shoulder and come back after a year. But, that the only bit you're right about.

He created the right environment and conditions for players to want to come back when they felt ready or inclined to. He probably had a reasonable feeling that some of these players will give it a ty and at some point they will want to come home. And if they do, they will look to Wigan first.

Is that really so difficult to understand and accept?

Well thanks for the reasoned response. I think people are just being a bit naive about it and that IL is milking it as if he were a politician.

An argument when players leave that is often put forward is that this is a short career and sentiment doesn't come into it. That is, while we as fans have a loyalty to the club players have a loyalty to their career first and foremost. It's going to work that way if any of them come back here. When a player leaves all IL can do is keep his fingers crossed if they come back to the UK the offer he puts on the table is good enough regardless of what he said about any possible future return.

It also helps Wigan are a top side which is kind of stating the obvious but you would not expect any of the Burgess bros to return to Bradford right now would you?

Re: Lee Mossop returns : Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:56 am  

DaveO wrote:

Well thanks for the reasoned response. I think people are just being a bit naive about it and that IL is milking it as if he were a politician.

An argument when players leave that is often put forward is that this is a short career and sentiment doesn't come into it. That is, while we as fans have a loyalty to the club players have a loyalty to their career first and foremost. It's going to work that way if any of them come back here. When a player leaves all IL can do is keep his fingers crossed if they come back to the UK the offer he puts on the table is good enough regardless of what he said about any possible future return.

It also helps Wigan are a top side which is kind of stating the obvious but you would not expect any of the Burgess bros to return to Bradford right now would you?

DaveO, it's the only way we can make things work at this time... We just can't compete financially with the other code, or the NRL... Smell the coffee for goodness sake.

Re: Lee Mossop returns : Wed Nov 19, 2014 8:48 am  

DaveO wrote:

It also helps Wigan are a top side which is kind of stating the obvious but you would not expect any of the Burgess bros to return to Bradford right now would you?

Some people would argue this is down to IL as well. They certainly weren't a top side before he took over.