Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 11, 2021 10:33 am  

Hampshire is awful. The club can’t claim to be doing their due diligence and homework on a potential halfback signing then bring in a player who struggles to hold down a spot in a very average Wakefield team. He hasn’t got the skill to be a half and offers very little from fullback. Would be a pointless signing.

I believe a fully fit Field is a real threat as a running half and has a lot to offer us. The problem for me is that I’m not convinced that Smith or Tommy are good enough to be the main organising half we desperately need to go alongside a running half.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 11, 2021 10:47 am  

dh13 wrote:

Hampshire is awful. The club can’t claim to be doing their due diligence and homework on a potential halfback signing then bring in a player who struggles to hold down a spot in a very average Wakefield team. He hasn’t got the skill to be a half and offers very little from fullback. Would be a pointless signing.

I believe a fully fit Field is a real threat as a running half and has a lot to offer us. The problem for me is that I’m not convinced that Smith or Tommy are good enough to be the main organising half we desperately need to go alongside a running half.

Don’t agree Hampshire is awful, but I do agree that we have in Field/Hanley and a few others too the versatility and cover we need to not add to our wage bill with Rocky.

I do though think he can do a job for someone in SL, but probably not what Wigan need.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 11, 2021 10:54 am  

The Whiffy Kipper wrote:

We should push the boat out and go after Jordan Abdul

No thank you.

Abdull total running metres 344, only 128 tackles, less try assists than Harry Smith who made 1116 metres and 510 tackles.

Abdull is a better goalkicker and that's about all.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 11, 2021 11:09 am  

Never got the fascination with Abdull. He has a good boot on him but that's about it. He never seems to use it to manage a game like a Kevin Sinfield did.

I remember them playing Saints away and getting to golden point. He kicked on the 4th tackle, 40 yards out and put up a terrible bomb that nobody chased, that wasn't deep enough and Saints went up the other and dropped a goal. Was a terrible play that cost them the game.

All I ever see him do is put up a bomb. Granted he is good at them and gets them spinning everywhere, but it seems to be his only arsenal.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 11, 2021 11:10 am  

I think Wigan were anticipating that Harry Smith would be the replacement for Hastings but have changed their plans due to his poor performances last year and now find themselves behind the 8 ball. Remember when the Hastings departure was announced and Smiths new contract announced the day after - that was as clear an indication as any.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 11, 2021 11:11 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

No thank you.

Abdull total running metres 344, only 128 tackles, less try assists than Harry Smith who made 1116 metres and 510 tackles.

Abdull is a better goalkicker and that's about all.

Wane obviously doesn't just use stats then when deciding his international squad

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 11, 2021 12:14 pm  

For me Abdul has a good all round game, manages it well, has a good boot a good creative eye and is a good ball runner. He’d be a good acquisition IMO but I do take jonh’s point earlier on about him and Smith being too similar.

I find it pretty sad we’re here debating who’s the best option between Miller/Hampshire - I’m half expecting Richardson’s name to crop up as well. Like I said before, if this really is the standard we’re looking at I’d rather we not bother.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 11, 2021 12:19 pm  

We really do not need to be signing Hampshire

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 11, 2021 12:29 pm  

[Gareth] wrote:

We really do not need to be signing Hampshire

I second that!
I would rather go into next season with Tommy and Field as our interchange half, if it works out for Field Tommy can cover 9 when required, if not then Tommy can slot back in again to 'steady the ship' so to speak

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Nov 11, 2021 12:30 pm  

Miller is a far better player than guys like Hampshire and Richardson IMO and would probably have been a better fit to partner Harry Smith than a guy like Abdull. It’s all about balance I suppose and if you had Abdull, you’d probably put him alongside Field. Ultimately though we’ve no chance of getting guys on long term contracts out of fellow superleague clubs at the minute. Hull KR are showing plenty of ambition and like many clubs, seem to have come out of the pandemic more prepared to splash the cash than they were before, which is quite strange. I’m not complaining though, I like to see teams showing ambition.