Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Nov 13, 2020 7:48 am  

[Gareth] wrote:

Ill believe that when i see it

Yeah, it’s a lovely thought and would be gold in regards bugging the Saints fans but I think it’s a pipe dream. The worry for me is that he’s that unsettled he does come back to the UK and he goes back to Saints. I’m sure they could repair any relationships and he’s that good, he’d give any side a massive boost. I don’t think it would be arrogant to say that if a miracle came off and he was in a Wigan shirt for 2021, we’d be favourites for the lot and by quite a distance.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:15 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Yeah, it’s a lovely thought and would be gold in regards bugging the Saints fans but I think it’s a pipe dream. The worry for me is that he’s that unsettled he does come back to the UK and he goes back to Saints. I’m sure they could repair any relationships and he’s that good, he’d give any side a massive boost. I don’t think it would be arrogant to say that if a miracle came off and he was in a Wigan shirt for 2021, we’d be favourites for the lot and by quite a distance.

This may seem like a stupid question, but - would we actually want him?

Now don't get me wrong here, I've not got my cherry and white tinted glasses on & refusing to acknowledge other teams have great players. I know he's a quality player. He'd be the fighting it out with AW as the best prop in the league & no doubt we'd be much stronger (+ we'd get one over on Saints).

On the flip side, look back over the last 10 years, a period of real success for us, and name all the world-class props we've had. We've not had an elite level prop imo, but we have had success.

The only way this comes off, is if GB moves on. That means LT will potentially be a marquee player and that for me doesn't seem like a smart use of a slot. This time next year we might be Hastings and Gilly gone and a free marquee spot will massively come in handy.

Undoubtedly we need another prop, but would we be better served signing a "lesser" player, on a cheaper wage and have more cap wiggle room? We've got some good props and some excellent prospects. If we could add a Leuluai, Coley or Hill (in his prime) type of player we'd be laughing on the pitch and in the bank.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:18 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

This may seem like a stupid question, but - would we actually want him?

Now don't get me wrong here, I've not got my cherry and white tinted glasses on & refusing to acknowledge other teams have great players. I know he's a quality player. He'd be the fighting it out with AW as the best prop in the league & no doubt we'd be much stronger (+ we'd get one over on Saints).

On the flip side, look back over the last 10 years, a period of real success for us, and name all the world-class props we've had. We've not had an elite level prop imo, but we have had success.

The only way this comes off, is if GB moves on. That means LT will potentially be a marquee player and that for me doesn't seem like a smart use of a slot. This time next year we might be Hastings and Gilly gone and a free marquee spot will massively come in handy.

Undoubtedly we need another prop, but would we be better served signing a "lesser" player, on a cheaper wage and have more cap wiggle room? We've got some good props and some excellent prospects. If we could add a Leuluai, Coley or Hill (in his prime) type of player we'd be laughing on the pitch and in the bank.

Yeah I'd want him but not as a marquee. He's not in that bracket IMO and like you say, probably not the position where you ideally want to be using a marquee spot. I don't see it happening anyway to be honest. There seems to be a high correlation between the people saying we'll sign Thompson and the people who think we can just 'get rid' of G.Burgess.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:33 am  

Maybe I’m guilty of rating the guy too highly but I’d absolutely use a marquee spot on him and I don’t think he’d be in the top two props in the league, I think he’d be in the top one. He’s a sensational player IMO and has a much more rounded game than Walmsley. Props win pots they say and in Thompson you’d be getting a World Class one.

Just because we’ve won trophies with Navarette, Clubb and Dudson (in his previous form) in the past, doesn’t mean it’s a given that you don’t need to spend on props. They were coached by a master of getting the forward pack fired up as a collective. I’d go as far as to say I’d use my marquee spots mainly on props and halfbacks. They’re the two most important positions on the field for me. You can find outside backs reasonably comfortably on either side of the world, you can find back rowers, we have Powell locked in at hooker and the ball playing loose forward role is dead. As soon as a team loses a game, the first area looked at is prop. Look on the Wire board after last night, look on here after the Leeds semi and it’s all focussed on the prop position and being dominated in that area.

It’s all a pretty pointless debate though, Luke Thompson won’t be coming to Wigan.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:58 am  

All hindsight but I'd bet good money Thompson is wishing he'd stopped here for this season and joined Holbrook at Gold Coast next year.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:02 am  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

On the other forum a guy is saying that Luke Thompson is a done deal.

Not a cat in hells chance*

*I reserve the right to take this back

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:44 am  

"Heard it from match commissioner at the wire v Hull FC game where I wus working we got talking about players and he said wigan av signed luke Thompson and then jenna brooks said same things 20 mins after when she wus talking to my boss

And that it will be acounsed at the end of the season"

Sounds credible.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:46 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

"Heard it from match commissioner at the wire v Hull FC game where I wus working we got talking about players and he said wigan av signed luke Thompson and then jenna brooks said same things 20 mins after when she wus talking to my boss

And that it will be acounsed at the end of the season"

Sounds credible.

Sounds incredible but it is 2020

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:49 am  

apollosghost wrote:

Sounds incredible but it is 2020

Haha true.

I can't even pretend I wouldn't be absolutely devastated if Thompson signed for you.

I am amazed at someone questioning whether you lot would want him. He would walk into and massively improve any side over here without a doubt.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:50 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

"Heard it from match commissioner at the wire v Hull FC game where I wus working we got talking about players and he said wigan av signed luke Thompson and then jenna brooks said same things 20 mins after when she wus talking to my boss

And that it will be acounsed at the end of the season"

Sounds credible.

Welcome to Wigan