Re: Fans forum - Tuesday 31 August : Sat Sep 04, 2021 7:30 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

I'd have thought you could get another prop in for that amount- just perhaps not an experienced one. It'd be great if we could find a big unit in the NSW/Queensland Cup with a point to prove.

I think one of the other big issues is the quality of the 3/4 line - I think its well short of what you would want in a title challenging team, even if the quality of the league is poor. I don't understand the Thornley signing at all.

Problem we have now though is we’re running out of quota space. It would probably need to be somebody here but it’s slim pickings.

On the backs I absolutely agree and it could get worse if Hardaker leaves. That situation really needs managing well.

Re: Fans forum - Tuesday 31 August : Sat Sep 04, 2021 7:58 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Problem we have now though is we’re running out of quota space. It would probably need to be somebody here but it’s slim pickings.

On the backs I absolutely agree and it could get worse if Hardaker leaves. That situation really needs managing well.

Hardaker cannot be allowed to leave without a like for like replacement under any circumstances. A centre pairing of Hank/Thornley in 2022 seriously concerns me.

Re: Fans forum - Tuesday 31 August : Sat Sep 04, 2021 8:09 pm  

I remember waiting for Fieldens and Vaelikis contract to run out to free up some money but every year we seem to spend less and have a weaker squad. I would love to know where all the money goes.

We really need a halfback for next season, Smith and Field are supporting halves so we need a dominant half. James Maloney would have been perfect, Mitchel Pearce would aslo be fantastic, I'd gave welcomed Aidan Sezer with open arms too, I'd gave piggy backed George Williams all the way from Australia. We might not have top dollar to spend on a half, if I've got this right we have £70k to spend on a halfback so where the heck has all the money gone? Looks like we will be signing someone from the Championship with that amount on the cap unless we can persuade Kevin Brown to play 1 more year, only get £75k on the cap with him, then we have an old head in the halves? Thoughts?

Re: Fans forum - Tuesday 31 August : Sat Sep 04, 2021 8:13 pm  

post wrote:

I remember waiting for Fieldens and Vaelikis contract to run out to free up some money but every year we seem to spend less and have a weaker squad. I would love to know where all the money goes.

We really need a halfback for next season, Smith and Field are supporting halves so we need a dominant half. James Maloney would have been perfect, Mitchel Pearce would aslo be fantastic, I'd gave welcomed Aidan Sezer with open arms too, I'd gave piggy backed George Williams all the way from Australia. We might not have top dollar to spend on a half, if I've got this right we have £70k to spend on a halfback so where the heck has all the money gone? Looks like we will be signing someone from the Championship with that amount on the cap unless we can persuade Kevin Brown to play 1 more year, only get £75k on the cap with him, then we have an old head in the halves? Thoughts?

The £75k is what is left over after signing a halfback.

Re: Fans forum - Tuesday 31 August : Sat Sep 04, 2021 8:17 pm  

post wrote:

I remember waiting for Fieldens and Vaelikis contract to run out to free up some money but every year we seem to spend less and have a weaker squad. I would love to know where all the money goes.

We really need a halfback for next season, Smith and Field are supporting halves so we need a dominant half. James Maloney would have been perfect, Mitchel Pearce would aslo be fantastic, I'd gave welcomed Aidan Sezer with open arms too, I'd gave piggy backed George Williams all the way from Australia. We might not have top dollar to spend on a half, if I've got this right we have £70k to spend on a halfback so where the heck has all the money gone? Looks like we will be signing someone from the Championship with that amount on the cap unless we can persuade Kevin Brown to play 1 more year, only get £75k on the cap with him, then we have an old head in the halves? Thoughts?

I'd say the most obvious answer is that wages have increased, whilst the caps stayed the same. KR pretty much said the same thing.

Re: Fans forum - Tuesday 31 August : Sat Sep 04, 2021 10:35 pm  

post wrote:

I remember waiting for Fieldens and Vaelikis contract to run out to free up some money but every year we seem to spend less and have a weaker squad. I would love to know where all the money goes.

They literally told you.

Not that it matters to you, because players are still taking the knee so you're done with the club.

Re: Fans forum - Tuesday 31 August : Sun Sep 05, 2021 9:25 am  

post wrote:

I remember waiting for Fieldens and Vaelikis contract to run out to free up some money but every year we seem to spend less and have a weaker squad. I would love to know where all the money goes.

We really need a halfback for next season, Smith and Field are supporting halves so we need a dominant half. James Maloney would have been perfect, Mitchel Pearce would aslo be fantastic, I'd gave welcomed Aidan Sezer with open arms too, I'd gave piggy backed George Williams all the way from Australia. We might not have top dollar to spend on a half, if I've got this right we have £70k to spend on a halfback so where the heck has all the money gone? Looks like we will be signing someone from the Championship with that amount on the cap unless we can persuade Kevin Brown to play 1 more year, only get £75k on the cap with him, then we have an old head in the halves? Thoughts?

You have not got it right regarding having 73k to spend on a half back. An amount of money has been set aside for this. And if Hardaker goes we will have both a transfer fee and then his wages to spend on a replacement. I personally hope he stays but only if he is happy and wants to be here. Its a fair old commute that 5/6 days a week.

Re: Fans forum - Tuesday 31 August : Sun Sep 05, 2021 10:58 am  

100% Warrior wrote:

I’ve read both articles and it may sound like I’m backtracking here but I’m relieved and encouraged. I’m glad at their brutal honesty at the situation of the club, the future and everything else (I’m not getting into the Edwards saga of which I know little about).

It should have either been live streamed or made available on Wigan TV but it is what it is. Most of my frustration was borne from a poor season topped with the - at the time - closed shop ‘fans forum’.

The future is bright for Wigan. I believe that 100%. We have the squad and set up for it to be so. We aren’t going back to 2005/06. We’ve made signings where needed, looking at signing more and appointing a new Head Coach, which by the looks of what IFL said isn’t Shaun Wane. What we all need to do now is get through 2021 and look forward to 2022. The potential for this team is clear to see.

On what basis is the future bright for Wigan?

[DaveO]

Re: Fans forum - Tuesday 31 August : Sun Sep 05, 2021 4:24 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Disagree. We've literally had a case study of both approaches. 00s we took your approach of sacrificing youth for big signings and won one challenge cup. 10s we took the current approach of sacrificing big signings for youth and won four Grand Finals and two challenge cups. There have been a few recent signings who haven't worked out but the overall philosophy is spot on IMO.

I didn’t say sacrifice youth for big signings. It’s a balance and currently I think the club has got it wrong with too many young players being as Rads put it, being paid the market rate. It’s a jam tomorrow policy and there is no guarantee the likes of Byrne and Partington are going to be worth persisting with. That does not mean getting rid of Harvard, KPP etc.

Too many have come through at the same time to keep them all and have a balanced squad.

I suspect they really all do get the same market rate once they get their senior contract and if they do I think that’s wrong as well. This is pro sport where some players are deemed worth more than others. If the club offered half as much to Bryne than Harvard, so what if Bryne then leaves?

Re: Fans forum - Tuesday 31 August : Sun Sep 05, 2021 7:24 pm  

nathan_rugby wrote:

On what basis is the future bright for Wigan?

The Squad
We have a superb team when you sit back and look at who’s in. Our starting 13 at full strength is superb

1. French
2. Marshall
3. Gildart
4. Bibby
5. Field
6. Smith
7. Hastings
8. Singleton
9. Powell
10. Havard
11. Farrell
12. KPP
13. Bateman

On paper that is a superb side. One that should achieve far more than it has been doing. Granted we’ve had injuries but we still should be getting more and that falls down to one person - Adrian Lam.

Next season we’ll have two powerful props, a promising winger and a little less exciting centre. The squad is there to be optimistic.

Adrian Lam
Thankfully going. If he was staying I’d be nowhere near as confident that the future is bright. Literally has no idea what he’s doing, no attack, baffling selections and his post match comments are becoming a comedy (see his latest after today’s game).

A new coach who is competent and actually has a clue what he’s doing will go a long way. Saints/Catalans despite being far and away the best teams in Super League aren’t that good. We’re not far away, although it seems it.

Finances and Stadium
There is a significant shortfall but that’s not debt against the club as it’s been covered. The stadium rent is going up - no arguments from me - but it’s still cheaper and more sustainable that our own ground in the current climate .

I know you don’t agree and that’s fine but I do believe the future is bright and I do believe we’re not too far away. We just need to sign players where needed (done) and get rid of Adrian Lam (shortly to be done) and we’re halfway there.