Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Jun 07, 2021 8:13 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

Gelling has returned home to New Zealand again for personal reasons and been granted release from Leigh. I think that puts paid to the rumours of him returning here.
His career has completely nose dived since leaving us really, he had cult status at Wigan and although he had a fair amount of critics on the whole he was liked and fit our style perfectly.
My feelings on the situation are pretty torn really, I do worry for his mental health a bit and they say it’s the loud ones that can suffer really bad but there was the issue with his missus the muddies my thinking even though he got acquitted.

Good. I’m glad he’s not returning here, it would have been a waste of money given his form since leaving and he would not have been a player we should be looking at seriously with a straight face if we actually want to win something.

I do however have sympathy for his MH state and I hope he gets better soon. Having suffered previously with MH issues I can understand where he is at and can only hope he recovers well and soon.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Jun 07, 2021 8:32 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

Good. I’m glad he’s not returning here, it would have been a waste of money given his form since leaving and he would not have been a player we should be looking at seriously with a straight face if we actually want to win something.

I do however have sympathy for his MH state and I hope he gets better soon. Having suffered previously with MH issues I can understand where he is at and can only hope he recovers well and soon.

I personally think he would have been a good signing at the right price, make the hard yards our props don’t seem capable of and he’s solid in defence and capable of the odd moment of magic (and brain fart).

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Jun 07, 2021 9:22 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

I personally think he would have been a good signing at the right price, make the hard yards our props don’t seem capable of and he’s solid in defence and capable of the odd moment of magic (and brain fart).

Not for me but each to their own.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 08, 2021 7:45 am  

Much as I enjoyed AG's skills on occasion, I really can't see that he would have improved us very much. And I think that's what we need right now.

Re-signing players who were with us previously and were okay but nothing special can't be the way forward.

There are so many weaknesses in the Wigan team at present. Replacing someone like for like just isn't going to cut it.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 08, 2021 8:18 am  

Cruncher wrote:

Much as I enjoyed AG's skills on occasion, I really can't see that he would have improved us very much. And I think that's what we need right now.

Re-signing players who were with us previously and were okay but nothing special can't be the way forward.

There are so many weaknesses in the Wigan team at present. Replacing someone like for like just isn't going to cut it.

There can’t be that many weaknesses, we’ve won 13 of our last 16 competitive games

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 08, 2021 8:45 am  

CobraCraig wrote:

There can’t be that many weaknesses, we’ve won 13 of our last 16 competitive games

but we lost the 2 that matter, the grand final and the quarter final. The first team with decent pack we've come up against managed to beat us 50 bout.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 08, 2021 8:50 am  

CobraCraig wrote:

There can’t be that many weaknesses, we’ve won 13 of our last 16 competitive games

I read most of your posts and you clearly understand the game well enough to know that 13 out of 16 is a stat that doesn't tell the whole story.

Surely it's plain that our pack is far too weak and that without Bevan French, our backline is unlikely to strike fear into anyone. In addition, we lack discipline (and have done for a while) and often seem bereft of attacking ideas. We are also short on mental strength when it comes to big matches.

I'd agree that we've had a lot of unfortunate injuries and that even then it's not all bad. I ought to see who we'll be bringing in to replace to Hastings and Gildart before writing us off completely. On top of that, yes, the days when Wigan only replaced world class players with other world class players are long gone, but in a team so short on star power, I can't see how a cheap fix like Anthony Gelling would help very much. I much preferred the rumours linking us with Toby King, as at least then we'd have been getting someone a little better than those occupying the Wigan 3 and 4 shirts at present.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 08, 2021 11:21 am  

Cruncher wrote:

I read most of your posts and you clearly understand the game well enough to know that 13 out of 16 is a stat that doesn't tell the whole story.

Surely it's plain that our pack is far too weak and that without Bevan French, our backline is unlikely to strike fear into anyone. In addition, we lack discipline (and have done for a while) and often seem bereft of attacking ideas. We are also short on mental strength when it comes to big matches.

I'd agree that we've had a lot of unfortunate injuries and that even then it's not all bad. I ought to see who we'll be bringing in to replace to Hastings and Gildart before writing us off completely. On top of that, yes, the days when Wigan only replaced world class players with other world class players are long gone, but in a team so short on star power, I can't see how a cheap fix like Anthony Gelling would help very much. I much preferred the rumours linking us with Toby King, as at least then we'd have been getting someone a little better than those occupying the Wigan 3 and 4 shirts at present.

It certainly doesn’t tell the whole story but it’s a stat that probably highlights we’re not as bad as some people are making out. (Although how we went 7 from 7 this season I do not know). I’m just trying to add a bit of perspective to the conversation.
We have also had the problem of a lightweight, young, inexperienced front row almost every year for more than a decade but we have managed to win on plenty of occasions in that time and nearly won the grand final last year. Plus the reduction in subs suits a smaller fitter pack.
I believe King has now signed a new deal with Warrington and with the amount of interest in him would have probably cost more than his worth (even though he’s a very good player). Gelling for me would have been a good cap friendly option and I would certainly pick him over Bibby in the centres, his work rate and meter making early on in sets also helps massively with our pack.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:00 am  

I see Oliver Holmes and Peter Matautai have rejected contract extensions at Cas, I’m guessing they’re Wire bound but I think both would be decent signings for us.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:57 am  

CobraCraig wrote:

I see Oliver Holmes and Peter Matautai have rejected contract extensions at Cas, I’m guessing they’re Wire bound but I think both would be decent signings for us.

They have signed for Warrington.