Re: Rumours and signings v6 (inc Maguire Rumours) : Thu May 12, 2011 11:37 pm  

Been mentioned as a possible replacement for Carmont but Beau Champion has signed a 3 year deal with the Gold Coast Titans from next year. Real lack of centre options on the market unless IL's prepared to pay a fee, or possibly take a chance on Ratchford for the no 4 jersey. The other option of course is to move Charnley inside with Goulding outside Joel.

Re: Rumours and signings v6 (inc Maguire Rumours) : Fri May 13, 2011 6:14 am  

Some posters talking about SL hookers the most impressive one for me so far this year has been Henderson at Catalans, he ripped Wigan to bits at the DW.

Matt Bowen has had a couple of years with bad injuries. He is looking like his old self again this year, he may have mentioned coming to SL to keep his options open. I would be suprised if he is not offered another NRL contract.

Re: Rumours and signings v6 (inc Maguire Rumours) : Fri May 13, 2011 1:11 pm  

Bringing over top quality players from the NRL will be difficult to the point of impossible with the new tv deal they are about to sign.
Each of the 16 NRL clubs will have five news player spots as their squads are going from 25 to 30. That means they will need an extra 80 players for that increase.
There will also be two new clubs from 2013 which will account for a further 60 players between them
So altogether the NRL from 2013 will need 140 extra players than now. That is an awful lot of players to find in 18 months.
Far from us looking for NRL players who's to say they won't come looking over here for our best talent?
The only ones that will come are those seeking to extend their careers and are after one last big contract.
We had better look towards our own players like never before and if there are quality players in SL perhaps go for them.

Re: Rumours and signings v6 (inc Maguire Rumours) : Fri May 13, 2011 1:31 pm  

Father Ted wrote:

Bringing over top quality players from the NRL will be difficult to the point of impossible with the new tv deal they are about to sign.
Each of the 16 NRL clubs will have five news player spots as their squads are going from 25 to 30. That means they will need an extra 80 players for that increase.
There will also be two new clubs from 2013 which will account for a further 60 players between them
So altogether the NRL from 2013 will need 140 extra players than now. That is an awful lot of players to find in 18 months.
Far from us looking for NRL players who's to say they won't come looking over here for our best talent?
The only ones that will come are those seeking to extend their careers and are after one last big contract.
We had better look towards our own players like never before and if there are quality players in SL perhaps go for them.

Agree totally. The plus for ourselves is the fact that we have some of the best kids knocking about. But their only going to hang around for so long, and if a first team chance or at least a few first team games don't come their way. Their going to look elsewhere like Thornley did.

A little OT: Anyone know what the status is with Wigans DR player's. Are the likes of Mellor and Crosby still at Widnes? And likewise is Davies still at Barrow?

Re: Rumours and signings v6 (inc Maguire Rumours) : Fri May 13, 2011 3:24 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote:

Agree totally. The plus for ourselves is the fact that we have some of the best kids knocking about. But their only going to hang around for so long, and if a first team chance or at least a few first team games don't come their way. Their going to look elsewhere like Thornley did.

A little OT: Anyone know what the status is with Wigans DR player's. Are the likes of Mellor and Crosby still at Widnes? And likewise is Davies still at Barrow?

Thornley never earned his chance. I agree with the sentiment, but I think it cuts both ways.

If the RU are daft enough to pay someone like him big money - untried at serious level (for a reason) - then that's up to them. But there's no way in this universe that the NRL would have gone after him.

Re: Rumours and signings v6 (inc Maguire Rumours) : Fri May 13, 2011 4:00 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

Thornley never earned his chance. I agree with the sentiment, but I think it cuts both ways.

If the RU are daft enough to pay someone like him big money - untried at serious level (for a reason) - then that's up to them. But there's no way in this universe that the NRL would have gone after him.

I totally agree that chances have to be earn't that goes without saying, and under Madge it sounds as though those who do put the extra effort in are rewarded.

It would be interesting to know whether Thornley as ever had second thought's about going to Sale. Seeing as we'll have lost both are first choice centre's in less than a year after he left the club. I realize the financial gain was to hard to resist. But playing a poor game in a poor team in front of few people can't be all that rewarding. And that's if he's got any game time, because to be quite honest I haven't a clue as whether he's played for the first team or not.

Plus it would be interesting to know were he to return to RL whether he'd be fall into the category that Lenegan mentioned at the fans forum, of RU youngsters qualifying for a dispensation on the salary cap. I know strictly speaking he's not really a RU produced player, but it would be interesting to know the parameters of such initiatives as a side note.

Re: Rumours and signings v6 (inc Maguire Rumours) : Fri May 13, 2011 4:41 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote:

I totally agree that chances have to be earn't that goes without saying, and under Madge it sounds as though those who do put the extra effort in are rewarded.

It would be interesting to know whether Thornley as ever had second thought's about going to Sale. Seeing as we'll have lost both are first choice centre's in less than a year after he left the club. I realize the financial gain was to hard to resist. But playing a poor game in a poor team in front of few people can't be all that rewarding. And that's if he's got any game time, because to be quite honest I haven't a clue as whether he's played for the first team or not.

Plus it would be interesting to know were he to return to RL whether he'd be fall into the category that Lenegan mentioned at the fans forum, of RU youngsters qualifying for a dispensation on the salary cap. I know strictly speaking he's not really a RU produced player, but it would be interesting to know the parameters of such initiatives as a side note.

I'd be interested to hear answers to those questions as well.

At the time, I heard a rumour that people close to Thornley (I don't know who) were constantly advising him to go to Rugby Union. I'm not sure why, given the new era that was dawning at Wigan. But of all the defectors in recent times, he doesn't seem to be one who had an 'automatic England selection' built into the deal. I've certainly heard nothing about him since he left. But I've said this before and I'll say it again, I don't know what kind of money his agent was demanding to make Wigan turn their backs on him, but as a junior I'd say that he was well behind Stefan Marsh in the selection stakes, and we've all see how tough Marsh has found it to pin down a first team shirt.

Re: Rumours and signings v6 (inc Maguire Rumours) : Fri May 13, 2011 10:27 pm  

During a Cowboys game the other week Matt Bowen was linked with a moved to England, although no club was mentioned. Buderus and Tahu have been linked with a moved back to the Knights. Not sure if has been confirmed yet that Darius Boyd will follow Bennet again, but it was mentioned during either the Knights or Dragons game last week.

Re: Rumours and signings v6 (inc Maguire Rumours) : Fri May 13, 2011 10:40 pm  

Would love Tahu to replace Carmont if he retires as expected.

Hardest centre partnership in the league Tomkins and Tahu.

Re: Rumours and signings v6 (inc Maguire Rumours) : Sat May 14, 2011 12:07 am  

I still think George has one more season in him but he needs to be managed better next season.

He shouldn't play all the games but 70% of them is achievable for him.

The guy gassed it in from 50 meters tonight. He CAN do another season.