Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:00 pm  

Father Ted wrote:

Looked at the 2012 squad on Bilko's site and of the first 20 players listed 15 have now left the club, in two years. That's just massive!
In that number was Amos Roberts and Fielden who I don't think played that year but losing that number came as a bit of a surprise although not a shock.

If we make a signing we need an experienced player no matter what position, we need someone who has played over 150 or so first team games. Whether thats prop, back row, centre or anywhere else we now need experience.
We have so many talented younger players that they need an experienced man around them to talk, ask and listen to.

To me it's getting to the point we can't afford to promote any more younger players as they won't have the game awareness to get them through big matches.
It has been treated as a given that Blake Green will leave end of 2014. Also it seems a given on here he should be replaced by Powell or Hampshire.
It's coming to the stage for me that we should go for a 27 or 28 + year old either from the NRL or SL. We need an experienced spine.
Should Green leave as well as Bowen to be replaced by Powell and Hampshire respectively we'd only have Goulding and Smith over 26 in the backs and halves. We have so much talent but it has to be trained and nurtured.
I know many won't agree with me but I feel 1 more senior departure replaced by an U19s player could prove the tipping point between being towards the top and ending up mid table.

Another Mark Cannon required then, he has been scoffed at on here but he had a first season which seemed to settle the team.
A journeyman but to the English game at the time he stood out.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:13 am  

Charlie Sheen wrote: Ryan Hall has signed for Gold Coast You sure? http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... eds-rhinos

Charlie Sheen wrote: Ryan Hall has signed for Gold Coast You sure? http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... eds-rhinos

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:24 am  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

Ryan Hall has signed for Gold Coast

Not according to The Mole [@RLW_Mole]

Moley has an INTERNATIONAL scoop, peeps - Ryan Hall set to knock back NRL interest to sign new deal with @leedsrhinos

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 18, 2014 9:30 am  

Leeds seem to have players who want to stay at the club or there chairman wont sell no matter what!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:06 am  

chip wrote:

Leeds seem to have players who want to stay at the club or there chairman wont sell no matter what!

But how many would you want to buy?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:08 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote: You sure? http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... eds-rhinos We need to learn from whatever Leeds are doing to keep these guys.

The Yellow Giraffe wrote: You sure? http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... eds-rhinos We need to learn from whatever Leeds are doing to keep these guys.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:21 am  

Wigan Peer wrote:

But how many would you want to buy?

If it was a simple case of which players would get into our team I'd say:
Hall or Briscoe, Hardaker, Watkins, Burrow, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan and Sinfield. Surely the first 4 are all big targets for the NRL

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:48 am  

McIlorum signs a new 4 year deal and all our fans say "it means nothing, it's just a way to get a transfer fee for him when he does go" etc. etc. Hall signs a 5 year deal with Leeds and all our fans say "we need to know how they do it and keep hold of our players like they do"

There's no doubting that there will be NRL interest in players like Hall, Briscoe, Watkins and Hardaker, and they're all still young enough that they could still go if the right offer came along. It may be though, that Leeds aren't doing anything special to keep these lads and they just don't fancy moving to Australia.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:45 pm  

WARRIORCRAIG wrote:

McIlorum signs a new 4 year deal and all our fans say "it means nothing, it's just a way to get a transfer fee for him when he does go" etc. etc. Hall signs a 5 year deal with Leeds and all our fans say "we need to know how they do it and keep hold of our players like they do"

There's no doubting that there will be NRL interest in players like Hall, Briscoe, Watkins and Hardaker, and they're all still young enough that they could still go if the right offer came along. It may be though, that Leeds aren't doing anything special to keep these lads and they just don't fancy moving to Australia.

Hall re-signing is a closer comparison to retaining tomkins then MM imo. An England regular is more likely to get the attention from aus, than one who is on the fringes.

A player has his head turned by an aus club part way through a contract (and let's be honest it's clearly affected his form given he was dropped last week!) and Leeds are able to retain him without melodrama of will he won't he.

Regardless of how you feel towards Leeds, they do a good job of not losing players. All clubs can learn from that

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:20 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

Hall re-signing is a closer comparison to retaining tomkins then MM imo. An England regular is more likely to get the attention from aus, than one who is on the fringes.

A player has his head turned by an aus club part way through a contract (and let's be honest it's clearly affected his form given he was dropped last week!) and Leeds are able to retain him without melodrama of will he won't he.

Regardless of how you feel towards Leeds, they do a good job of not losing players. All clubs can learn from that

I'm not comparing the anouncement with respect to the calibre of each player, but more a lot of the Wigan fans' attitude towards one of our players signing a long-term deal compared to a player from another club. I agree Leeds have been excellent at keeping hold of their players, but when the likes of Peacock, Sinfield, McGuire, Burrow, JJB etc. were at an age where the NRL clubs may have been looking at them, the cards weren't stacked as high in the NRL's favour as they are now. It'll be more interesting to see what happens when offers for the likes of Hardaker and Watkins come in. How do we know Leeds haven't just tied down Hall so they can demand a fee if the NRL come calling?