: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:01 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

I agree with this Dave. I really like Bails, both as a club man and for what he brings to the team. His performances this year have been very good indeed. However, he doesn't fit in with what the club needs most urgently as we have an abundance of very capable 2nd rowers. Let's not forget that we didn't flinch at letting the likes of Ellery Hanley go when the time was deemed to be right for the best interests of the club.

But even if this guesswork-based assumption that the club is well below the cap were true, we'd be unlikely to be far enough below it to sign the modern equivalent of Ellery Hanley.

I understand where you're coming from - we want the best players in the world in Wigan shirts, but releasing the likes of Bailey wouldn't free up that kind of money.

Don't get me wrong. I think his time should be up at Wigan, likeable guy though he seems to be - I'd like someone better. But the days of signing the likes of Ellery are sadly gone.

[DaveO]

: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:18 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

But even if this guesswork-based assumption that the club is well below the cap were true, we'd be unlikely to be far enough below it to sign the modern equivalent of Ellery Hanley.

I understand where you're coming from - we want the best players in the world in Wigan shirts, but releasing the likes of Bailey wouldn't free up that kind of money.

Don't get me wrong. I think his time should be up at Wigan, likeable guy though he seems to be - I'd like someone better. But the days of signing the likes of Ellery are sadly gone.

The only reason Hanley's name came up was as an example of letting a better player than Bails go if it was right for the team.

As to the days of signing a player like him again being gone that is a different issue and any debate about that it would depend if you mean no RL team could do that or just Wigan.

Dave

: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:23 pm  

DaveO wrote:

The only reason Hanley's name came up was as an example of letting a better player than Bails go if it was right for the team.

As to the days of signing a player like him again being gone that is a different issue and any debate about that it would depend if you mean no RL team could do that or just Wigan.

Dave

Apologies. I miss-read Phuzz's post. Thought he was talking about signing players like Hanley - which I feel would be a non-starter for most SL teams in the age of the cap, but as you say, that's another issue.

: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:31 pm  

We are not making any signings for next season so we may aswell keep as
much squad depth as possible.

rl : Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:58 pm  

Ian Lenagan has not said that we will not be making any signings for next year.
The last time I heard him speak on the matter he said that "We have not made any signings for next year but that does not mean we will not be making any".
It's five months before the start of next season.

[DaveO]

: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:58 pm  

Warrior21 wrote:

We are not making any signings for next season so we may aswell keep as
much squad depth as possible.

There is that but how long a contract would you give him - just the one season?

He may want longer and then there is the injury to consider.

Also players may become available mid-season and signing him up may mean we would not be able to move for them.

If the club re-sign him it has got to be because they think he fits in with the club plans not as some sort of stop gap or because we may as well IMO.

Dave

: Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:27 pm  

FLANAGAN INSPIRED BY AUSSIE OPPORTUNITY http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/09/22/RUGBYL_Column.html "I probably would have re-signed with Wigan if I had the chance but I wasn't getting a chance at the time and there wasn't much contact from them in terms of a new contract so I started to look elsewhere,"

FLANAGAN INSPIRED BY AUSSIE OPPORTUNITY http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/09/22/RUGBYL_Column.html "I probably would have re-signed with Wigan if I had the chance but I wasn't getting a chance at the time and there wasn't much contact from them in terms of a new contract so I started to look elsewhere,"

: Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:40 pm  

the mighty wigan town!!! wrote:

bailey thoroughly deserves his contract extension. its a pity he got injured when he did, he has been in great form this year, one of the clubs players who deserve more credit than he's got from this years performances.

Prior to his injury a 1 year deal would have been fully deserved, but at his age and our current strength in the backrow i personally think it would be a poor move.

It took Locky 2 years to recover from such an injury fully, Bailey has many more miles on the clock and sadly his age is against him, if we are turning down the chance to go for O'Meley because he has dodgey knees then the same surely applies to re-signing our own.

: Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:42 pm  

Personally I would give him a 1 year deal, I doubt he would reject given his injury status IMO.

You do have some very valid points but we could wait and see if a decent player becomes available, but if not and we get hit with lots of injuries mid-season then we would struggle with one less player.

: Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:43 pm  

Catalancs wrote: FLANAGAN INSPIRED BY AUSSIE OPPORTUNITY http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/09/22/RUGBYL_Column.html "I probably would have re-signed with Wigan if I had the chance but I wasn't getting a chance at the time and there wasn't much contact from them in terms of a new contract so I started to look elsewhere," I can't really blame Wigan for not rushing into an extended contract for a backrow forward at the age of 21 that hadn't cracked the first team and hadn't(from what i read) looked anything overly amazing in the u21's(he believe he has been good for the reserves but not a real standout like Sam was). We also had more options in that backrow at the time with Hock playing and Bailey fit so it's not really something we can blame Wigan for. He's taken to the first team like a duck to water which has been great to see and hopefully he can take that confidence with him to Australia and have a good dig over there. His exit should hopefully give Liam Farrell a crack who when i've seen him looks an even better player and a really exciting prospect.

Catalancs wrote: FLANAGAN INSPIRED BY AUSSIE OPPORTUNITY http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/09/22/RUGBYL_Column.html "I probably would have re-signed with Wigan if I had the chance but I wasn't getting a chance at the time and there wasn't much contact from them in terms of a new contract so I started to look elsewhere," I can't really blame Wigan for not rushing into an extended contract for a backrow forward at the age of 21 that hadn't cracked the first team and hadn't(from what i read) looked anything overly amazing in the u21's(he believe he has been good for the reserves but not a real standout like Sam was). We also had more options in that backrow at the time with Hock playing and Bailey fit so it's not really something we can blame Wigan for. He's taken to the first team like a duck to water which has been great to see and hopefully he can take that confidence with him to Australia and have a good dig over there. His exit should hopefully give Liam Farrell a crack who when i've seen him looks an even better player and a really exciting prospect.