Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:11 pm  

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.

His head is being turned by money Stu.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:15 pm  

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.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:18 pm  

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.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 28, 2022 7:46 pm  

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.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 28, 2022 8:19 pm  

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.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 28, 2022 8:25 pm  

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.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 29, 2022 6:55 am  

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?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 29, 2022 7:46 am  

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

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 29, 2022 8:50 am  

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.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 29, 2022 9:12 am  

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.