[DaveO]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 23, 2013 12:41 pm  

XBrettKennyX wrote:

I don't think IL is "evil", nor do I believe that he instigated Sams sale (I may be wrong on this, but atm I don't see any evidence implicating him). I do blame the RFL for their managment of the game, the CC especially. They really do think they live in a bubble.

That said, I don't buy this "using transfer money for investing in the future", or investing in infrastructure nonsense. We should be doing this irrespective of "one off" windfalls that come from the sale of star players.

Tomorrow never comes, and Wigan needs star players, not "promising" players. I do blame IL for going down this road.

If we win the GF this year, and let's be honest, that's what we all want more than anything, then I agree we have to give credit to Shaun Wane. Through luck, skill, fortune, motivation, whatever, he would have done all that could have been asked of him. Not in the "future" not "building for this or that" but right here, right now. Personally I like him as a person, he comes accross as a really genuine guy. There are question marks over some of his tactics, but then we are not privy to all the information that he has, so it's difficult.

I agree with this particularly the comments about the here and now. Jam today not jam tomorrow is what the fans want so selling for the future is not a viable argument IMO. If Wane does win the GF he will have done all that can be asked of him in the environment within which he operates and that is within our club itself and the league as a whole despite reservations about tactics. I think it would be quite an achievement as we don't have a monopoly on all the talent.

The concern though is for the future and IL's approach to it whoever the coach is. My overriding impression is that IL thinks that our production line of talent can leave the club competitive despite losing the likes of Sam and worryingly I think this is because he doesn't see a major threat from other clubs in the future. This is not because we are going to produce and retain more Sam T's but because the other clubs won't be producing players as well as us but also and more significantly for the standard of the competition, they won't be signing and retaining top players either.

He has said things along the lines of as the sport as a whole can't afford to go and sign top Aussies those relying on overseas players won't be as well placed as Wigan. That may be true but given the top talent will leave our game what we would end up with is being at the top of a pile of substandard clubs by which I mean clubs who pay low wages for professional sportsmen so can't sign or retain the best of them.

I have dismissed the idea that part of the master plan is the likes of Mossop and Sam will return from Oz in a couple of years as I will believe that when I see it. Mossop seems convinced he will return but he's a young bloke who hasn't yet seen what delights life as a well paid NRL player has to offer. One thing is for sure is if IL can't hold players to contracts that sees them leave he isn't going to be able to hold them to any contract that drags them back here. I think the whole idea of returning players is all pie in the sky.

He also sees no reason to increase the salary cap and this will, IMO, also see us become a sport populated by lower quality players and I think the inevitable consequence of that if it carries on for too long and the cap keeps staying the same is a return to semi-pro status for the game at the top level.

Wigan may still be at the top of such a sport and maybe IL thinks that is the only realistic future the for the game so it's his job to keep us at the top of whatever standard of competition we end up with. Personally I don't think that will work as fans will tire of the best players always moving on.

It's also defeatist in a way. Instead of putting his energies into working out how the sport can increase its revenue and at least start to compete with its rivals he seems more interested in keeping Wigan at the top of the pile however poor a standard that pile is.

We need some visionaries in the game and I don't think IL is one of those and is more club oriented than looking at the bigger picture.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:01 pm  

Is this announcement still supposed to be today? Getting a bit late.....

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:02 pm  

3pm.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:07 pm  

Tuson has signed for hull fc wish he would have stayed been playing well this season

[DaveO]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:11 pm  

Just to add fuel to the fire re Sam, over on Mike forum there is a poster who is an NZW fan who said yesterday Dean Bell was discussing the matter on a sports radio program and said the French RFU and two English RU clubs were putting together massive offers for Sam.

Said it was unusual for Bell to share such information publicly.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:19 pm  

DaveO wrote:

Just to add fuel to the fire re Sam, over on Mike forum there is a poster who is an NZW fan who said yesterday Dean Bell was discussing the matter on a sports radio program and said the French RFU and two English RU clubs were putting together massive offers for Sam.

Said it was unusual for Bell to share such information publicly.

That is because the NZ public aren't too happy about spendind so much of their cap on Tomkins. Kevin Locke is a fan favourite over there. So putting it out there that he is in such demand will be damage limitation by trying to claim they have beat mega money offers for such a talent.

[DaveO]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:23 pm  

bazdev wrote:

That is because the NZ public aren't too happy about spendind so much of their cap on Tomkins. Kevin Locke is a fan favourite over there. So putting it out there that he is in such demand will be damage limitation by trying to claim they have beat mega money offers for such a talent.

Dean Bell be so cynical? Surely not!

I still expect NZW to be where he ends up and if he was offered a Kings Ransom to play RU but accepted less to play for the NZW I'd say Sam had been a smart boy. Just don't think he'd fit in RU.

Tomkins departure announcement : Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:32 pm  

Just heard Wigan are to announce the departure of Sam Tomkins and signing of Matt Bowen at around 3pm this aft.

Makes sense as it will be his last home game Friday so you guys must be hoping for a big send off Friday night!

Here's hoping we can spoil the party

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:33 pm  

DaveO wrote:

Dean Bell be so cynical? Surely not!

I still expect NZW to be where he ends up and if he was offered a Kings Ransom to play RU but accepted less to play for the NZW I'd say Sam had been a smart boy. Just don't think he'd fit in RU.

I think he would be "ok" in RU, but not the superstar that he is in RL.

I just can't see a position for him. Except perhaps a running full back in the style of Serge Blanco, but do they exist anymore?

He would need time to adapt his game, learn to kick, how to fit in defensively etc

Charnley would fit into RU like a glove.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 23, 2013 2:10 pm  

XBrettKennyX wrote:

I think he would be "ok" in RU, but not the superstar that he is in RL.

I just can't see a position for him. Except perhaps a running full back in the style of Serge Blanco, but do they exist anymore?

He would need time to adapt his game, learn to kick, how to fit in defensively etc

Charnley would fit into RU like a glove.

Charnley is expected to join Sam in the NRL for 2015