If King isn't the highest earner at Wire and the hughest earner is on less then 200k you did unbelievably well to get him for that price when you did.

I honeslty can't see that being right but you know more then me.

That may well be all well and good, but you also seem to forget that other clubs were also hotly chasing his signature. The above hypothetical situation assumes you were the sole bidder when you were not.

I have my doubts any SL club could sign a current established Australian Rep player for anything less than £200 k prior to add ons, just my opinion.

That's the point. IL did bring in Gleeson, but also has missed out on one or two other signings that would have been great for our club.

Considering this, at this stage, do you have faith that he'll come through with the signings?

Exactly, at the time of his arrival, he was a rep player, a good age, and had the potential to rip up SL. Instead we signed Carmont and got a better deal!

Is Willie Manu off contract?

It is my understanding that when it came down to the 11th hour, we were the only ones to have put a contract in front of him.

No.

The firm offer of a contract may only have come for you, but negotiations certainly came from to my knowledge 2 other clubs for his services.

I won't dispute, as I am sure other clubs would have certainly sounded him out. But what I was told, as I stated; the only contract on the table was ours.

King signed for Warrington before IL was in charge at Wigan iirc.

How can I know? He's been in charge of the club for only a year and a half. We haven't signed any world-beaters, I agree, but there's plenty time yet. I'm guessing the guy will be here for a quite a few years yet.

Plenty people use the phrase "He's in the bag" but they don't say "He's signed". Carvell was in the bag at Saints!
After the Kearney embarrassment the Aussie agent saying he was dealing with a club but couldn't say due to the confidentiality agreement smacked of Wigan RL. Anyone could see Wigan going that way after Kearney.
I now don't think we'll get an clue who we've signed until the club announce it.
There may not many signings either, as there is the possibility of a new coach coming in he may want a year to look at players and how they respond to him and play for him.
Instead of loaning players out perhaps we could look at bringing one in on loan 'til the end of the season.