Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 23, 2020 9:27 am  

We'll be able to field a full 17 of props soon. It's a shame there's question marks / caveats over pretty much all of them.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 23, 2020 10:01 am  

CobraCraig wrote:

Any rumoured signings? I see Tolman has been released, i think he would go well over here but with Clubb staying on next year and Burgess I guess we probably don’t have room for another prop?

Can't believe that they have released Tolman as he is brilliant at what he does

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 23, 2020 10:03 am  

[quote="Ruddy Duck"]


I can’t remember the exact year it stopped, possibly 13/14. They tried to keep it going as an end of season comp but clubs just weren’t interested in playing on a freezing cold weekday night, nor were spectators interested in watching either. I played in it from 2006 up until it finished with my club and absolutely loved it. Crowds were big and passionate, it was a tough but enjoyable comp to play in, especially for those in the NWC rather than National as we played clubs we’d never usually play against. Lads looked forward to it at seasons end but as soon as we moved to summer that feeling died.

IIRC they tried to have it as a ‘pre season’ comp but had the same issues. A total lack of interest.

Your point was about players from Wigan not signing for Wigan. You’ve gone off on a right tangent here to prove a point that was never there. Times change and move on. The Ken Gee Cup was fantastic to play in and watch but it’s time has come. It’s no indication as to the level of interest in RL at junior level, there’s 000’s of kids playing and passionate about playing the sport at whatever level. Just because Wigan haven’t signed that many (relatively) from WN clubs doesn’t mean that that passion or participation isn’t there.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 23, 2020 11:40 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I’ve just watched an interview with Lam on Wigan TV and he absolutely loves Clubb. You would think he was describing Jamie Peacock in his pomp and there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that he’s in Lams first choice 17.

Let's face it - that doesn't surprise me at all. TC is one of the lads and that's what Lam still wants to be too. Those with longish memories will quite rightly remember Lam as a great player, but will have also heard stories about his behaviour too.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 23, 2020 11:54 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

He’s somebody I’ve watched over the years and thought would go well over here. Even at his age now he was playing very well this season but as you say without Clubb or Burgess following Flower out the door, I don’t think we’ll bring any other props in.

Agree mate, Tolman has been quality. Looked a class above Luke Thompson - I know he's had his issues though.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 23, 2020 3:07 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I’ve just watched an interview with Lam on Wigan TV and he absolutely loves Clubb. You would think he was describing Jamie Peacock in his pomp and there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that he’s in Lams first choice 17.

Bloody hell! I don't always bother watching Lam's interviews, and I reckon I'll pass on this one too. Tells you all you need to know, very depressing

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 23, 2020 3:17 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Let's face it - that doesn't surprise me at all. TC is one of the lads and that's what Lam still wants to be too. Those with longish memories will quite rightly remember Lam as a great player, but will have also heard stories about his behaviour too.

There's some footage knocking about I believe!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 23, 2020 3:30 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Agree mate, Tolman has been quality. Looked a class above Luke Thompson - I know he's had his issues though.

Tolman for me is the workhorse prop. The type that will grind out the hard yards and make the big defensive efforts and go under the radar. The type of prop who you don’t really notice when he’s playing, but really miss when he’s not. He’d be a cracking signing but as others have said we’d need Clubb & Flower to exit.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 23, 2020 4:08 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

Tolman for me is the workhorse prop. The type that will grind out the hard yards and make the big defensive efforts and go under the radar. The type of prop who you don’t really notice when he’s playing, but really miss when he’s not. He’d be a cracking signing but as others have said we’d need Clubb & Flower to exit.

We’ve been crying out for someone like that for a while, someone who makes 8/9 yards a carry and can take it in 12/15 times a game. Not a tackle breaker as such but someone to wear the opposition down 100 meters made every week almost without fail and that helps with others who can come on for short stints and be effective. We have an abundance of aggressive props who either can’t stay on the pitch for long enough or who are great in defence but on the whole fairly ineffective in attack.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 23, 2020 5:33 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

We’ve been crying out for someone like that for a while, someone who makes 8/9 yards a carry and can take it in 12/15 times a game. Not a tackle breaker as such but someone to wear the opposition down 100 meters made every week almost without fail and that helps with others who can come on for short stints and be effective. We have an abundance of aggressive props who either can’t stay on the pitch for long enough or who are great in defence but on the whole fairly ineffective in attack.

Completely agree. A pack of Tolman, Bullock, Singleton and Havard with Oli and Bryne backing up is a real strong one IMO and on paper would be the best in SL. I’d love to have G Burgess included in there but as has been discussed time and time again, he ought to retire for the good of himself more than anything.