Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Thu Oct 24, 2024 9:14 pm  

Cherry_Warrior wrote:

Saints have given new contracts to Davies and Bennison. They have signed a winger in his mid 30s and another who has been injured for 2 years. Not learning are they? They will bomb out again next season.

Don’t say that! According to redvee saints will be challenging wigan next season!! Lmao

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Fri Oct 25, 2024 6:38 am  

Zig wrote:

I had to laugh when someone posted on Red Vee that Wigan have not strengthened, why would we need to buy players? Our young squad will continue to develop next season which should make us even harder to beat. Plus we will have Isa and O’Neill back in the fold.

There are some whoppers on Red Vee but you’ve been extremely selective here.

The vast majority admit that Wigan are the benchmark and praise them for the succession planning in assembling a young squad with key players tied down on long term contracts.

Others like me fear that they are going to dominate for a long time given the money of Danson and the Academy which has always produced quality players.

The rest of SL may be playing for 2nd place which is great if you are a Wigan fan but not good for the sport.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Fri Oct 25, 2024 8:28 am  

Stu M wrote:

There are some whoppers on Red Vee but you’ve been extremely selective here.

The vast majority admit that Wigan are the benchmark and praise them for the succession planning in assembling a young squad with key players tied down on long term contracts.

Others like me fear that they are going to dominate for a long time given the money of Danson and the Academy which has always produced quality players.

The rest of SL may be playing for 2nd place which is great if you are a Wigan fan but not good for the sport.

We still have to work within the salary cap just like anyone else...

I suppose what this would allow us to do is offer very high salaries to our 3 marquee players?

Other than that, what are you referring to?

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Fri Oct 25, 2024 8:44 am  

nathan_rugby wrote:

We still have to work within the salary cap just like anyone else...

I suppose what this would allow us to do is offer very high salaries to our 3 marquee players?

Other than that, what are you referring to?

Yes you do but the investment Danson is making into the scholarship/Academy- means that an already strong youth set up will get infinitely stronger.

If the likes of Nathan Cleary decides that he does want a couple of years in the UK to be near his girlfriend then really there is only Wigan that can compete. Even Warrington may struggle.

When we had our 4 in a row we only won one CC whereas Wigan have won is it the last 6 trophies available?

The only issues Wigan may have is the younger players wanting to be paid commensurate with their trophies and then you will have SC issues. We had similar with the likes of Knowles and Lees becoming important players and wanting the big wage rises

Danson's wealth means that there will be minimal NRL clubs that can compete with him. It's a whole other level to anyone in SL.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Fri Oct 25, 2024 8:51 am  

Just to add by the way I'm not saying that Danson's wealth is the sole reason Wigan are the top dogs at the moment.

Matty Peet has proved a masterstroke and Radlinski has grown into his CEO role and is doing a fantastic job of running the club really well.

When you add the wealth of the owner and his willingness to invest into the above then its going to be really difficult for the rest of SL to catch up.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Fri Oct 25, 2024 10:40 am  

Wigan's success may in part be due to Danson but a lot of it is down to Ian Lenagan surely? He laid the foundation for the success we now have. His recruitment of McGuire in 2010 was a masterstroke. He also placed his faith in Kris Radlinski who over time has created a club ethos and culture which all seem to have bought in to.

Although it is 10 years since we were beaten by the Roosters in Sydney when we put our defeat down to the pack being too small compared to theirs. It has taken time but we now have a huge set of forwards. We've gone from Singleton, Isa, Faz & Lockers to Havard, Thompson, Nsemba, Faz, Walters and Ellis. Collectively they are huge.That is some transition. It has taken time but wow!

Where Danson may come in is that we could afford NRL players under the marquee rules. Also offer the best young UK talent terms to join Wigan which few can compete with.

As a Wigan supporter I want the club to go from success to greater success. Other clubs can and will compete and the RFL/SL just never ever do themselves any favours in managing the sport. The IMG gradings just announced are absolutely bewildering to average fans like me. Cas & Wakey grade A when Hudds and HullFC grade B. Are facilities for the paying customer not taken into account? Hull & Giants have excellent facilities for the paying customer. Castleford's and Wakefield's grounds are an insult to those who pay to watch Rugby League. Absurdity it its finest!

The end of term report for Wigan, Wire, Saints Leigh is excellent. The same report for the RFL/SL/IMG should read "Massive Improvement required"

Super League's club scene is improving and will continue to do so. The sport's management needs to improve.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Fri Oct 25, 2024 12:11 pm  

Stu M wrote:

There are some whoppers on Red Vee but you’ve been extremely selective here.

The vast majority admit that Wigan are the benchmark and praise them for the succession planning in assembling a young squad with key players tied down on long term contracts.

Others like me fear that they are going to dominate for a long time given the money of Danson and the Academy which has always produced quality players.

The rest of SL may be playing for 2nd place which is great if you are a Wigan fan but not good for the sport.

I don’t disagree that the majority have the same view as you hence I did say someone. That someone is one of the main posters by the way. However, the vast majority of posters also believe that Wigan’s success is down to SL being very poor. It’s funny how they think it was so competitive during 2019-2022 but now it seems to have fallen off a cliff

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Fri Oct 25, 2024 12:19 pm  

Zig wrote:

I don’t disagree that the majority have the same view as you hence I did say someone. That someone is one of the main posters by the way. However, the vast majority of posters also believe that Wigan’s success is down to SL being very poor. It’s funny how they think it was so competitive during 2019-2022 but now it seems to have fallen off a cliff

You're always going to get that

A few Wigan fans said that our 4 in a row was due to Covid and a poor quality SL

No doubt it is now top quality

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Fri Oct 25, 2024 1:56 pm  

The general quality of superleague is pretty poor compared to some other eras but you can only beat what's in front of you and you can only spend what you can spend under the cap. Some Saints fans always had an issue with people pointing that out but I've no issues with stating that it's still the case now, just as it was during the 4 in a row for Saints.


It might not go down well with Stu and the like but I do think the quality has been a little better in the last couple of years than the previous 4 or 5, with an improved Wigan, Wire, HKR, Leigh etc but it's still short of the late 90's through to around 2015 IMO. It really started to dip after that but there are some signs of recovery. Look at Salford and a poor Leeds team making GF's against Saints. We also made one and were so far off our current level.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Fri Oct 25, 2024 2:18 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

The general quality of superleague is pretty poor compared to some other eras but you can only beat what's in front of you and you can only spend what you can spend under the cap. Some Saints fans always had an issue with people pointing that out but I've no issues with stating that it's still the case now, just as it was during the 4 in a row for Saints.


It might not go down well with Stu and the like but I do think the quality has been a little better in the last couple of years than the previous 4 or 5, with an improved Wigan, Wire, HKR, Leigh etc but it's still short of the late 90's through to around 2015 IMO. It really started to dip after that but there are some signs of recovery. Look at Salford and a poor Leeds team making GF's against Saints. We also made one and were so far off our current level.

HKR and Warrington I'll give you but you can also argue that the Catalan of 21-23 were much stronger and really dropped off this year. That 2021 Catalan side that we beat in the GF was a good one and we only just won that game.