: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:00 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Please don't tell me this is happening. We are on the verge of signing one of the best centres in SL. He's also, as it happens a Wigan lad with experience at international level and SL and proven to be a success at more than one club.

We are getting this player with a trade in of Mathers, someone who had been consistently bad and Goulding, someone who time and time again hasn't be able to hold on to the chances he's been given in the first team. Look at Sam and Ainscough in comparison, both grabbed the bull by the horns and held onto their places, that is the kind of youngster we need to award to keep standards high.

Goulding has been given many chances, even the number 3 shirt to outline how much faith the club put in him.

For gods sake, enjoy the moment, at this point we've signed a top centre. be happy, for now we have something we've not had for a while, two proven top centres.

hey dont let facts get in the wya of opinion

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:00 pm  

He is rapidly approaching 29

That's brilliant
Oh no, rapidly approaching 29!!,

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:05 pm  

DaveO wrote:

He is rapidly approaching 29 and there is no way you can expect to get five good seasons out of a back of his age who has been in the game as long as he has. I also think four years for Roberts was a mistake.



What makes you think he can? It is far from an odd opinion that backs come to the end of their careers as they hit 30. It's the normal way things are. The fact you can point to three centres who have played on effectively as older players is not the normal precedent. They are exceptions and I just can't see how we have got to the stage where we justify signing a back because he may still be able to hack it at 34 while at the same time getting rid of one who will be 26 by that time and just hitting his peak!!

Dave

For a start we could do with players with some experience and quality. Second, 28 doesnt mean its all over for a players, otherwise on that logic some players will only get about 5 years of a career.
3rd he is a British player, Wigan infact, so you can throw out any of the "age old aussie looking for a holiday" crap that gets shouted every time.

Surely Carmont and Gidley are shining examples of quality players still at 28+..........

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:18 pm  

Gleeson can also fill in at stand off when tompkins needs a rest. Would love this signing to come off

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:20 pm  

Only fans of Wigan RL would find a way to criticise the signing of a 28 year old British international centre.

Why bother supporting the club, DaveO? Every single thing they do clearly makes you miserable. Wouldn't you be happier in your life if you stopped following the club?

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:26 pm  

Exactly.

Good signing for Wigan. Lets look forward to seeing him in Cherry and White, been a long time coming.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:32 pm  

DaveO wrote:

He is rapidly approaching 29 and there is no way you can expect to get five good seasons out of a back of his age who has been in the game as long as he has.
Dave

Kieth Senior is 32 and still in top form so we should be able to get at least 3 and a half seasons out of him plus we have some good young centres coming through better than Goulding its well worth signing him plus he is a Wigan lad and i believe he wanted to come here when Saints sold him but Saints would not deal with us at that time.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:39 pm  

Well i for one will welcome this signing GB internaional you cant ask for anymore.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:49 pm  

Although the gleeson signing would be immense , cant help feel sorry for goulding who i feel has a lot of potential. This would be a good deal for warringtona s they are getting two players now rather than waiting till the end of the season and letting him come to us for nowt.

Saying that though , lenagan should pay the wire to take mathers away

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:49 pm  

I believe everything is ready to go ahead, the only final hurdle is if Gleeson really wants to play in the NRL then he may just see out his contract at Warrington