Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:02 am  

Cruncher wrote:

I disagree, to be honest.

I don't think we need a winger (until Charnley finally manages to do enough to get himself noticed by RU - which, let's be honest, won't be much, though it'll be more than he's doing at present), but we definitely need a centre. Goulding is having a poor season by his own standards - don't know what the problem is, but defensively in the backs we've been all over the place in 2014. I'm still not sure about Thornley. Nice hat-trick on Friday, but he's not the kind of game-breaker opponents fear. Since George went, I feel we've been lacking real strike-power in the centres. Still disappointed the Hardaker rumour came to nothing.

As well as Goulding though we have 2 young centres who are seen as with potential and developing in Thornley and Sarginson, we also have another young project centre in Gelling. So with three young centres we are currently developing into better SL players already in the squad why would we look to bring in a fourth who also it seems has a drink problem. If we were looking for someone to do what George did now in the centres (I imagine Sarginson is the one looked at as being most likely to fill that role as he improves) we would want an experienced and proven centre rather than yet another project player. I think the defensive frailties are much more to do with the lack of Hansen and O'Loughlin in the team who would both have plugged gaps that currently nobody is plugging rather than any new deficiencies in our threequarter line.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:50 am  

wiganermike wrote:

As well as Goulding though we have 2 young centres who are seen as with potential and developing in Thornley and Sarginson, we also have another young project centre in Gelling. So with three young centres we are currently developing into better SL players already in the squad why would we look to bring in a fourth who also it seems has a drink problem. If we were looking for someone to do what George did now in the centres (I imagine Sarginson is the one looked at as being most likely to fill that role as he improves) we would want an experienced and proven centre rather than yet another project player. I think the defensive frailties are much more to do with the lack of Hansen and O'Loughlin in the team who would both have plugged gaps that currently nobody is plugging rather than any new deficiencies in our threequarter line.

I don't disagree that we suddenly have a lightweight back three, and need to remedy this ASAP. But none of those centres you mention excite me. I'm very concerned that we are woefully short on real class among our inside backs. I'm not saying, by the way, that this lad with the drink problem is necessarily the answer to that.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:36 pm  

Not a response to a previous post, but was reading this:- http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news ... 34ve4.html Am I right to be concerned? I think Wane is doing a good job and don't want to lose him.

Not a response to a previous post, but was reading this:- http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news ... 34ve4.html Am I right to be concerned? I think Wane is doing a good job and don't want to lose him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Mar 16, 2014 2:29 pm  

Eaststand wrote: Not a response to a previous post, but was reading this:- http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news ... 34ve4.html Am I right to be concerned? I think Wane is doing a good job and don't want to lose him. I'm just wondering when this arrangement we have with New Zealand Warriors is going to be of benefit to us. At present it all seems to be one way. If a bunch of underachievers like NZW can take the coach of a club like Wigan simply by snapping their fingers, we might as well all give up.

Eaststand wrote: Not a response to a previous post, but was reading this:- http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news ... 34ve4.html Am I right to be concerned? I think Wane is doing a good job and don't want to lose him. I'm just wondering when this arrangement we have with New Zealand Warriors is going to be of benefit to us. At present it all seems to be one way. If a bunch of underachievers like NZW can take the coach of a club like Wigan simply by snapping their fingers, we might as well all give up.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Mar 16, 2014 2:34 pm  

Cruncher wrote: Eaststand wrote: Not a response to a previous post, but was reading this:- http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news ... 34ve4.html Am I right to be concerned? I think Wane is doing a good job and don't want to lose him. I'm just wondering when this arrangement we have with New Zealand Warriors is going to be of benefit to us. At present it all seems to be one way. If a bunch of underachievers like NZW can take the coach of a club like Wigan simply by snapping their fingers, we might as well all give up. Yep, its not exactly going brilliantly for Sam atm - 2 convincing defeats out of 2. Richards was the star of the show for Wests though, 2 tries and watch the highlights for the biggest drop out I've ever seen him hit.

Cruncher wrote: Eaststand wrote: Not a response to a previous post, but was reading this:- http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news ... 34ve4.html Am I right to be concerned? I think Wane is doing a good job and don't want to lose him. I'm just wondering when this arrangement we have with New Zealand Warriors is going to be of benefit to us. At present it all seems to be one way. If a bunch of underachievers like NZW can take the coach of a club like Wigan simply by snapping their fingers, we might as well all give up. Yep, its not exactly going brilliantly for Sam atm - 2 convincing defeats out of 2. Richards was the star of the show for Wests though, 2 tries and watch the highlights for the biggest drop out I've ever seen him hit.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:23 pm  

I think the back line will come good in time. If Charnley goes Manfredi is the ideal replacement. The pack is where we need to invest.

I am very comfortable long term with Burgess and Manfredi on the flanks. I am significantly less comfortable with our back row.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:05 am  

jonh wrote:

I think the back line will come good in time. If Charnley goes Manfredi is the ideal replacement. The pack is where we need to invest.

I am very comfortable long term with Burgess and Manfredi on the flanks. I am significantly less comfortable with our back row.

Fully agree. I think you can deal with a bit of a lack of experience in the backs because these lads are exceptional talents and they'll cause anybody problems from an attacking point of view. A top side can't afford a lack of experience or size within it's pack though and we now lack both. We have some outstanding players in that pack who are young and not fully developed but you have to make sure you get the balance right.

I don't think we've got that balance right at the minute and Shaun Wane admitted as much after the WCC when talking about focussing our recruitment plans in different areas.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:23 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Fully agree. I think you can deal with a bit of a lack of experience in the backs because these lads are exceptional talents and they'll cause anybody problems from an attacking point of view. A top side can't afford a lack of experience or size within it's pack though and we now lack both. We have some outstanding players in that pack who are young and not fully developed but you have to make sure you get the balance right.

I don't think we've got that balance right at the minute and Shaun Wane admitted as much after the WCC when talking about focussing our recruitment plans in different areas.

That phrase certainly applies to Burgess and Manfredi, but it certainly does not apply to anyone else in the first team back-line (with the possible exception of Charnley, though his stock is fading in my eyes given the constant stories about him looking for a gig elsewhere).

We've made a rod for our own back in releasing Hansen so soon after losing Hock, especially with Lockers getting another year older. We've gone overnight from having a very strong back row to having a pretty unimpressive one. I totally agree with that. But while we're supposedly awash with cash, I'd feel happier if I knew were looking for a class centre as well.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:33 am  

In the wake of our relationship with the New Zealand Warriors, it would be nice to think we were keeping an eye on the Konrad Hurrell situation.

Cant get a game in the first grade, he is bound to get more and more frustrated as the season goes on if the situation does not improve.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:11 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I don't think we've got that balance right at the minute and Shaun Wane admitted as much after the WCC when talking about focussing our recruitment plans in different areas.

We need to aim for something like we had in Madge's first season. That team had it all in regards to experience, youth, pace, power & size.

Guys like Lockers, Coley, Fielden, Pat, Piggy, Gleeson, Deacon and Carmont were our experienced guys who could close out big matches.

You then had the next wave with HH, Tommy L, Sam, Joel, Mcilorum, Goulding.

I've never seen such a dismantling of a potentially great team in such a short space of time.