[DaveO]

Re: Matt Bowen retiring from NRL, negotiating with Wigan? : Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:28 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

So what would you do? Bearing in mind Sam would likely play half heartedly next season then leave soon after anyway if we forced him to stay against his will.

How do you know he'd play half heartedly? It is the usual excuse trotted out and I think it is well wide of the mark. He can either enjoy his time at the club playing to the best of his ability or damage his reputation by behaving unprofessionally. The latter is a price worth paying to enforce a contract. We seem to be playing hard ball over Hock's contract so I don't see why not here. He signed the deal he did and he could leave in a season and we'd still get a fee. No need to sign a potentially crocked player as a stop gap if we just stuck to the original plan.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:37 pm  

Anyone think we could end up with Gareth Hock back at Wigan if no other club is willing to buy out his contract? Or is it more likely he'll be sent out on loan again? All the indications are the Paramatta deal will be called off.

Also if hypothetically Hock and Wane were to call a truce, would you want him back in the squad?

Re: Matt Bowen retiring from NRL, negotiating with Wigan? : Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:44 pm  

DaveO wrote:

How do you know he'd play half heartedly? It is the usual excuse trotted out and I think it is well wide of the mark. He can either enjoy his time at the club playing to the best of his ability or damage his reputation by behaving unprofessionally. The latter is a price worth paying to enforce a contract. We seem to be playing hard ball over Hock's contract so I don't see why not here. He signed the deal he did and he could leave in a season and we'd still get a fee. No need to sign a potentially crocked player as a stop gap if we just stuck to the original plan.

Obviously I don't know for sure, but I'm sure you will agree it's hardly unheard of. Personally I don't want any players at Wigan who don't want to be there, because even one mistake can lose you a game. The Hock situation's a bit different, we couldn't get the price we wanted so told him to stay and he spat the dummy. I'd hope if we couldn't get the price we want for Sam we would take a similar stance and see how he reacts.

Also, what happens if Wire, Leeds, and Saints don't follow suit? Players get the message - sign a long contract for Wire/Leeds/Saints and you can still go to the NRL if you play well enough, sign one for Wigan and you're stuck no matter what. I know where I would be going if the wage was roughly the same.

Don't get me wrong, I'm as frustrated as anyone, but I blame the RFL for not driving the game into the gutter over the last decade, not the clubs who basically have to make the best of a bad situation.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:45 pm  

I'm sure some clubs would buy him, i would imagine IL wouldn't sell him to certain clubs.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:52 pm  

Thought Hock was Salford bound?
Loan or Perm signing is the interesting one for me!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:53 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Anyone think we could end up with Gareth Hock back at Wigan if no other club is willing to buy out his contract? Or is it more likely he'll be sent out on loan again? All the indications are the Paramatta deal will be called off.

Also if hypothetically Hock and Wane were to call a truce, would you want him back in the squad?

No way he's coming back to Wigan. I wouldn't want him either, he shat on our club, we offered him a second chance, and he shat on us again. I'd loan him to Widnes again unless someone comes in with a decent fee, ideally Salford.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Aug 30, 2013 1:27 pm  

Father Ted wrote:

Thought Hock was Salford bound?
Loan or Perm signing is the interesting one for me!

I thought that but Koukash has twice stated that Hock will not be signing for Salford. Not sure how seriously to take that though.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Aug 30, 2013 1:50 pm  

Hock has had enough chances and has burnt his bridges...I hope anyway. He's a buffoon and a waster and regardless of him being supremely talented he's not worth it anymore.

Hock has never won a major trophy with Wigan. Is that bad timing? Coincidence? Or is it because there's more harmony in the squad when the 'Hock circus' isn't around?

Whatever it is I don't fancy us finding out if we can win things with him. As a club we're now better and stronger then that.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:11 pm  

Bowen i cant believe we are trying to sign a reject

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Aug 30, 2013 5:30 pm  

We signed George Carmont when he had been refused another contract by Newcastle and by your definition rejected.
He didn't turn out too bad did he?