Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 6:20 pm  

I’d have no issue with one of Thornley or Bibby being in a full strength Wigan back line but I wouldn’t be happy if both were first choice and then being backed up solely by Hanley and Halsall. That then lacks star quality and depth and you have to have at least one of those to compete.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 7:03 pm  

I just can't get why we would ever sign a 30 year old who isn't already a star to be honest, especially in the backs where they peak younger. You aren't going to get an '11th year jump' out of Thornley.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 7:17 pm  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

Whichever way you look at it they are still better players. Behind a good pack they would be devastating. There is no way that Bibby and Thornley should be first choice threequarters at Wigan.

Well who should be and how do we fit them under the cap with a new scrum half, 2 props and probably a fullback? Plus the odd pay rise for a few players.

I agree they don't whet the appetite but the days are gone of having the likes of Dallas, Renouf, Connolly, Robinson

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 7:19 pm  

French
Bibby
Zak
Thornley
Marshall
Smith
Williams

I'd be pretty happy with that 1-7 provided we had a solid pack.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 7:31 pm  

Shaun Johnson and Aaron Woods from Cronulla have been told to find another club. If Williams ends up at Wire Johnson would tick a few boxes, not least goal kicking. Woods is a big lump and has played for Australia. He’s likely add some yards to the pack.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 7:59 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

I just can't get why we would ever sign a 30 year old who isn't already a star to be honest, especially in the backs where they peak younger. You aren't going to get an '11th year jump' out of Thornley.

I must admit I do think he’s playing better than I’ve ever seen him play this season but if we get that out of him could be another matter. He has ran the ball with more aggression than I’ve seen before but is that because he’s playing for a new deal and was it because he was playing against us in a couple of his games I’ve seen? Or has he genuinely found a bit more desire/aggression? I’d probably edge for the first one from our knowledge of him. One thing is for sure though, if you can get a lad of that size and pace hitting the line like that, he’s not easy to handle.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 8:14 pm  

Tell you who I would sign if we were looking for someone experienced from this hemisphere. Josh Griffin. Out of contract, playing really well in a team unlikely to win any silverware. Knocks out hard yards for fun. Never won a Grand Final so may want to tick that off the bucket list.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 9:06 pm  

jonh wrote:

Is it better than a backline containing Isa, Farrell and Hanley?

What's that got to do with it?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 9:10 pm  

jonh wrote:

Who says they will be? To be honest though I’ve no issue with Bibby getting a spot in a full strength backline.

Every year we have this mid season knee jerk about our squad for the following year.

It’s alright pressing the panic button but the point is you or I have no idea if they are being signed and in what role they are being recruited to play.

I have no idea who we will recruit, I was simply passing comment on the threequarters EC posted compared to what we have. One thing I do know though is that if we recruit mediocre players we will become a mediocre team.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 9:56 pm  

Egg Chasing wrote:

Well who should be and how do we fit them under the cap with a new scrum half, 2 props and probably a fullback? Plus the odd pay rise for a few players.

I agree they don't whet the appetite but the days are gone of having the likes of Dallas, Renouf, Connolly, Robinson

That's for Rads to sort. I have no idea, and I suspect that you don't either, how close we are to the cap this year, how much will be freed up when several players leave, what we need to pay salary wise for new recruits and the cost of any pay rise due. What I do know is that if Manfredi, French, Gildart, Hastings, Tommy, Clubb and Bullock leave we will have a fair chunk of salary cap to invest. If we sign Williams he will cost less than Hastings on the cap and therefore we will see another saving. If French does leave then I agree we will need another fullback as I don't believe that Zak has got the requisite skills. I don't think that we will recruit two top props.