Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2022 12:44 am Posts: 124 Member forL 0 years
Stu M wrote:
Staggered by this to be honest. I know exactly how highly rated he was at Wigan and how excited they were when they signed him when to all intents and purposes he was Leeds bound.
Seems like he has had his head turned with who is in front of him. Farrell and Bateman won't be going anywhere for a couple of years and it seems like Nicholson feels like he is ready to play first team now.
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2022 12:44 am Posts: 124 Member forL 0 years
jonh wrote:
Already farmed out 1 in Butler and brought in Amor as a short term replacement, and trying to offload the others.
You don’t bring in 5 props in the course of 1 offseason if you are happy with your middles. Dudson, Cassisno, Vaughn, Maguire and Mikael are not joining to be bench players.
In regards the last sentence that is exactly the point I am making.
Powell dictates the culture and he is quite vocal about his views on it others agree and Powell is overhauling the squad accordingly.
I didn’t say that he was happy with his middles and Powell is right to move players on if they do not fit into his plans but, to label Cooper toxic is not something I buy. After 14 years at the top level I am sure other coaches would have moved him on if that was the case.
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:38 am Posts: 27374 Location: WIGAN Member for 18 years
It sounds to me like he’s got a pretty big influence on the squad at Wire, which after so long playing there is hardly surprising. He won’t be the top dog when he comes here and will need to settle in and get to know everyone. We will still have guys like Powell, Faz and possibly Leuluai leading the group and I’m sure he’ll fit in fine. The playing group seem to absolutely love Briers and presumably he’s endorsed this move.
Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:12 pm Posts: 3032 Member for 16 years
Zig wrote:
His head is being turned by money Stu.
He has the same agent as Smithies (Craig Harrison). Guessing Harrison’s wants to have both the long term Wigan 13 and wire 13 on his books.
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Wire_91 wrote:its your first final in about 8 years and now you ravin and rantin about it F**k off, and ill be going old trafford tomoz cheering on the saints and ill be writing on this forum givin you loads of shi* when your drying you eyes and the wire fan will be here handing out the tissues in the thousands, thats if you do take that many fans cause now it looks like its your fans who have jumped on the band wagon now your in a final, this time last year there was only 1000 people in the jjb and now its fillin up cause youve won the league hahaha proper true supporters you are
Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 3:21 pm Posts: 18911 Location: educating League Freak on all things rugby league Member for 19 years
Zig wrote:
I didn’t say that he was happy with his middles and Powell is right to move players on if they do not fit into his plans but, to label Cooper toxic is not something I buy. After 14 years at the top level I am sure other coaches would have moved him on if that was the case.
You are totally missing the point.
He is regarded as toxic by some at Wire because he is not happy with the new culture and direction.
Similarly Edwards and Bell were toxic in the environment that Dorahay created at Wigan.
It doesn’t mean he will be negative in other environments however in his current environment under the new direction he isn’t happy and is regarded as toxic by some sections at Wire internally because of his negativity and the influence it has on certain sections within the club due to him being a big personality and character within the playing group.
It does not mean it will be the same at Wigan.
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 3:21 pm Posts: 18911 Location: educating League Freak on all things rugby league Member for 19 years
NickyKiss wrote:
It sounds to me like he’s got a pretty big influence on the squad at Wire, which after so long playing there is hardly surprising. He won’t be the top dog when he comes here and will need to settle in and get to know everyone. We will still have guys like Powell, Faz and possibly Leuluai leading the group and I’m sure he’ll fit in fine. The playing group seem to absolutely love Briers and presumably he’s endorsed this move.
Absolutely. He will have sat down with the coaching staff and had conversations to ensure he is happy.
I’m sure he was happy at Wire pre Powell but he isn’t under his leadership.
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Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:51 am Posts: 296 Member for 3 years
Zig wrote:
His head is being turned by money Stu.
Exactly this. I think we would have seen Ratchford at Wigan if he wasn’t offered so much at Wire. I imagine this is one of his biggest regrets not playing for us.
Wigan were stupid not to tie him and other players down to a long contract, 5 years at least.
Speaking of youngsters when are we shipping Hanley off?
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:16 am Posts: 1176 Member for 7 years
NickyKiss wrote:
My first thought on seeing this news was that we’re over stocked now but that was the case back in 2017/18 when we had Marshall, Manfredi, Davies and Burgess on the books, battling for the wing spots and things can change very very quickly. They changed to the point that in the last couple of seasons we’ve had none of them when Marshy has been injured.
I’d rather have Nicholson for 4 or 5 years than KPP for 1 more year but things might not be that simple. Ultimately we just produce so many players we’ll get burned now and again. It’s a tough one to take this though.
Have to agree with you but as you say sometimes Wigan just have to take it on the chin
Joined: Thu Oct 17, 2002 12:07 pm Posts: 32114 Member for 20 years
A very good signing for Wire, I've watched Nicholson coming through the scholarship and academy at Wigan and he is a great prospect. I'm not sure if he is best suited to 2nd row or loose forward. From a Wigan p.o.v. I'm really sorry to see him go but he has a lot of competition in front, around and pushing him. Farrell, Bateman, Isa, Smithies, McDonnell, KPP and Nsembo are also fighting for those places, so he probably has an easier pathway to 1st team at Wire. Really disappointed to see him leave but good luck to him.
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Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 9:43 am Posts: 267 Member forL 0 years
Rogues Gallery wrote:
A very good signing for Wire, I've watched Nicholson coming through the scholarship and academy at Wigan and he is a great prospect. I'm not sure if he is best suited to 2nd row or loose forward. From a Wigan p.o.v. I'm really sorry to see him go but he has a lot of competition in front, around and pushing him. Farrell, Bateman, Isa, Smithies, McDonnell, KPP and Nsembo are also fighting for those places, so he probably has an easier pathway to 1st team at Wire. Really disappointed to see him leave but good luck to him.
I think you have nailed the reasons well. He is thinking that during the two years he would be fighting for his place at Wigan, he could be playing first team at Warrington (and obviously the salary to match)
From Wigan's point of view, my understanding is that they see him as a better back rower than loose forward.
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