Re: Rumours 2 : Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:52 pm  

....back from sci-fi fantasy to out of this world Duck rumour...

There is a very hush whisper that there is a plan to get Widdop over for this season and give St G a big severance.
And getting Chris Evans on the board who wants to pump in some cash.

Re: Rumours 2 : Sat Jan 05, 2019 11:00 pm  

That is out of this world. I didn't know Captain America was interested in RL!

Re: Rumours 2 : Sat Jan 05, 2019 11:23 pm  

Alas it isn't the Marvel marvel...but DJ who was a Tartanagram back on my day.

His son Eli is an absolute Wire...Chris is long time iindustry friends with Simon Moran is rumoured to want in.

Stuart Middleton is certainly driven too and clearly wants Warrington to be the biggest brand in RL...not just SL.

What odds of a Virgin Radio sponsorship deal if Chris Evans joins the board?

Re: Rumours 2 : Sat Jan 05, 2019 11:58 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

Alas it isn't the Marvel marvel...but DJ who was a Tartanagram back on my day.

His son Eli is an absolute Wire...Chris is long time iindustry friends with Simon Moran is rumoured to want in.

Stuart Middleton is certainly driven too and clearly wants Warrington to be the biggest brand in RL...not just SL.

What odds of a Virgin Radio sponsorship deal if Chris Evans joins the board?

We have it available to to become that, I think once we win a grand final in the bank we will go on to win a few within close succession.

Not sure we would get him in this season unless st gearge don't make the playoffs. And would we have cap space if we do. Would be great if true but I would still be content with a confirmed 2020.

With Smith going and price saying a while back we're still looking for cover players can we see anyone else on the way in or would the youth platers be able to get a game.

Re: Rumours 2 : Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:33 am  

I don't know. St George have already signed a quality half and Widdop isn't in the best of condition to make a go of the early NRL season.
With so many teams and so few regular season games, it's vital to start a season well...they could be doing the maths.

This may be why there isn't a signed deal yet??

Re: Rumours 2 : Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:39 am  

I just thought back to an idea the good doc came up with pre the marquee vote...
He suggested that a team ought to be able to rent/buy another teams marquee grant if they wasn't going to use it.
London would be very greatful of a windfall for that!

Re: Rumours 2 : Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:11 pm  

I think if we are going to start thinking about winning not just one but a few in close succession, and being the 'biggest brand in SL' we might need to look at our junior talent pipeline and think is it really going to be producing more than Leeds, Wigan, and enable us to sustain a dynasty...?

I would also have limited expectations about what the name association with Chris Evans would do - maybe we could do what Featherstone Rovers did with Chris Moyles and rename the HJ as the "Chris Evans Stadium" to establish ourselves as a credible global brand.

Re: Rumours 2 : Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:33 pm  

Sally is right with the junior talent pipeline. We need the talented kids in Lancashire/Cheshire (UK wide?) to all want to play for Warrington as first choice. I imagine at the moment we are behind Wigan, Saints, Leeds in that department as they will rightly see that is where you go to win trophies.
Then of course we need to be able to take the talented kids and develop them into Top 4 quality players. Something we have not been very good at all.

So we need to emulate the Man City approach I think. Spend big to get the success, then we will become an attractive club for youngsters.

Re: Rumours 2 : Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:07 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

What odds of a Virgin Radio sponsorship deal

Quite apt, considering our GF record

Re: Rumours 2 : Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:09 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

I think if we are going to start thinking about winning not just one but a few in close succession, and being the 'biggest brand in SL' we might need to look at our junior talent pipeline and think is it really going to be producing more than Leeds, Wigan, and enable us to sustain a dynasty...?

I would also have limited expectations about what the name association with Chris Evans would do - maybe we could do what Featherstone Rovers did with Chris Moyles and rename the HJ as the "Chris Evans Stadium" to establish ourselves as a credible global brand.

Virgin as a brand would be a step in the right direction in terms of sponsorship branding we should be looking for and in terms of their sponsorship budget won't break the bank. Himself if he wants to put his hand in his pocket fair play, it may get a bit of media attention but I think his value as a gateway to virginnmsy well be valuable.

We've seen a continued investment in youth development but it takes time and comes with no guarantees, I see it as a bit of a chicken and egg situation, there's a huge weight of expectation on us to win a grand final that makes giving a young player the time needed to gain sl experience a risk. Once we've won it that pressures lifted a little and we can possibly attract a few better players that will in turn help with player progression. We've not got team at present that can win titles and maybe Carry the inconsistencies of few youth players so for the foreseeable I think we will continue to bring in our top tier players