Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Jan 11, 2015 8:51 pm  

Burgess looks to be going. I'd have expected a new deal for him if he wasn't much like the ones handed to Williams and Gildart.

As for Sutton he's another I wouldn't be surprised to see go. Once the rumours started last year he seemed to be pulled back a little from first team duty (although that may have just been to protect him physically) and he didn't go to Florida this year.

We'll see in time I suppose but I'd be more surprised to see them stay then go.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Jan 12, 2015 1:30 pm  

Is it just a rumour? I thought it was a done deal??

Love to see Budgie stay, though.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:16 pm  

I've always thought that Burgess to Aus was a done deal and he won't be with us 2016.
Better get Manfredi ready for regular first team duty. Tierney could be another option too as he played on the wing back end of 2014.
It could get a bit tight if if a number of injuries where to occur to the backs.
Wingers out and it could be Manfredi or Tierney or both.
Centres injured, then either Gildart, or Josh to centre, or both with a wing replacement coming in.
We might be losing experience there but not pace. We do have some fast backs now.
Don't like the idea of Bateman or Joel to centre really. Keep them in the pack to improve their main game IMO.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:26 pm  

Honest question - if you had been signed by a club in your early to mid teens and received coaching and support for the best part of 10 years, would you feel like you owe the club a few years at 1st grade?

I wouldn't feel right about leaving after a year. Obviously he's not doing anything wrong whatsoever but morally I don't think it's great.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:42 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Honest question - if you had been signed by a club in your early to mid teens and received coaching and support for the best part of 10 years, would you feel like you owe the club a few years at 1st grade?

I wouldn't feel right about leaving after a year. Obviously he's not doing anything wrong whatsoever but morally I don't think it's great.

I agree but I suspect he'll have been guided by his agent. Unfortunately I think it's another sign that in the eyes of many even Wigan are nothing more now than a seedbed for the 'real business' of the NRL or England RU. Some come back, I know, but we now seem to have reached a stage where it's a right of passage for all really good players to at least have a go.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:04 am  

MadDogg wrote:

Honest question - if you had been signed by a club in your early to mid teens and received coaching and support for the best part of 10 years, would you feel like you owe the club a few years at 1st grade?

I wouldn't feel right about leaving after a year. Obviously he's not doing anything wrong whatsoever but morally I don't think it's great.

From my understanding they get paid very little on their way up and many are cut loose along the way, often with little or nothing to fall back on. Careers generally last about 10-12 years in the first team, and can also very quickly go downhill either due to injury or poor form. I'd take the money and run.

We shouldn't be looking at the individual players here. We should be looking at the RFL for allowing the chairmen decide whether or not to increase the cap/introduce a marquee player rule, rather than making the decision themselves for the good of the game. The longer they wait to do this, the harder it will be to turn the tide further down the line.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jan 15, 2015 7:20 pm  

We now presume, rightly I think, that Burgess and Bowen will leave at the end of 2015.
With Hampshire and Manfredi likely to get the 1 & 5 shirts then it's important we have cover for those players and positions in 2016.
The obvious candidate to me is Tierney who can play both positions and is now in the last year of his contract. Perhaps this is part of the reason Shaun W has said he will be giving very few debuts this year, in that lads with one or a few appearances will get far more game time this and next year. I'm thinking of Greenwood, Tierney, Sutton, C Farrell & Doran etc.
Shaun has had a lot of changes in personnel since he took over as head coach, perhaps he is now looking to consolidate the squad with the younger players who have already proved they can win Grand Finals, albeit at U19 level.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:45 pm  

I read in the MEN today that Wane is still hopeful that Burgess may change his mind on a move to the Roosters but I'd say it's unlikely.

One thing I don't think we can afford is for both Burgess and Charnley to go.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:01 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Honest question - if you had been signed by a club in your early to mid teens and received coaching and support for the best part of 10 years, would you feel like you owe the club a few years at 1st grade?

I wouldn't feel right about leaving after a year. Obviously he's not doing anything wrong whatsoever but morally I don't think it's great.

In all honesty, If the move suited me financially and I felt I could enhance my profile I would leave.

The career In this game is a short one and I think its wise to take the opportunity when its presented, It might not always be there for you in the future.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Jan 17, 2015 3:04 am  

Well, yeah, but if Burgess is desirable to the Roosters now, he's hardly likely to be less desirable to them if it was left for another twelve months.