MattyB wrote:
There may be a number of reasons why Wigan haven't been able to secure GW's signing. One of which may be that we had already agreed deals for our big signings next season (prop + half back) not yet announced. The Mole announced a few months ago that Wigan were in the market for a NRL prop.
I'm not talking about these rumoured signings that have come lately, if there's any truth in these they are likely to be 'top up signings'.
Lets not forget that GW leaving Canberra was a bolt out of the blue, was expected to stay in Aus until 2023 at least.
We'd lost George Burgess at the beginning of the season, Hastings announced he was leaving at the end of this season. Plans were already in place with agents two months ago.
We could simply be just a victim of timing.
I am inclined to agree here. I also believe we won’t know any different if he signs elsewhere and we’ll move on, as we have done already, without him. Plus each player has their worth. Perhaps we didn’t believe he was worth the money Wire were offering, which I can imagine was astronomical.
My only questions to your post would be; why wait to announce it? We knew we were in for a prop weeks ago and props come relatively cheaply - surely that isn’t making it so our budget is so stretched we can’t sign GW?
I can also agree with the point that our recruitment is worrying with 3 Championship quality players allegedly inbound to a club that wants to remain challenging for titles and cups. It’s concerning for me as with the coach we have, the players we have been linked with (if not signed) and the dreadful playing style we have currently; i just can’t believe we’ll be anything other than a 5th-8th place team sooner rather than later if this continues. Far from doom mongering I think some people may need to take their blinkers off and realise the gravity of it.
This isn’t because we haven’t signed GW, even securing his signature I’d still be concerned. Rather the general direction of the club that for my money just appears lost like a ship without a rudder. Some poor recruitment/retention decisions have and are being made which need to be rectified.