: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:47 pm  

chapster wrote:

was it mathers plus 125,000?
think that about rates mathers around 50 - 75 k
max.

looks like merely offloading a salary to me

Daylight robbery springs to mind

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:28 pm  

jonh wrote:

I love to know how everyman and his dog are experts on how much Wigan players are paid and also how much cap space they have left.

The Chairman has been saying for some time now there is room to bring in a new signing, we have also released Mathers, if you loom at the ins and outs over the off season, the question you should realistically ask is why would you believe the we had no cap space left?

Chairmen of RL clubs do not always nor should they tell it as it is, to expect any different is naive and unrealistic.

Says the oracle of all things Wakefield - I think wmost will join me in thinking that to be a bit pot calling the kettle

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:50 pm  

vastman wrote:

Says the oracle of all things Wakefield - I think wmost will join me in thinking that to be a bit pot calling the kettle

Difference is I am usually right

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:01 pm  

Atkins
Shenton
and Lee Smith are the ones getting all the votes as a replacement on the Wolves site.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:10 pm  

jonh wrote:

Difference is I am usually right

In your very humble opinion of course.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:14 pm  

The Clan wrote:

Atkins
Shenton
and Lee Smith are the ones getting all the votes as a replacement on the Wolves site.

Smith is off to Union, with Atkins and Shenton (who Cas would be mad to let go regardless of the offer) mid contract cannot see any of those being realistic.

Much more likely they will consolodate this year in my opinion and go for one of the bigname NRL players who are off contract for 2010, unless they manage to lose a quota player in which case they may get someone in for 09.

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:42 am  

jonh wrote:

:lol:

Can you name a centre who has been in the top 20 in SL for the last 3 seasons in Try Assists, Offloads and Clean Breaks and (whose winger has been in the top 20 for Tries) in 2006, 2007 and 2008?

Certainly not what you would call going through the motions in my opinion.

It is an interesting signing and fills a void at Wigan that has needed filling for the last few years.
He is clearly not without his bagage but he looks in the best shape he has been in for some time and was one of the few players that could walk away from the World Cup without any shame.

Simply to get rid of Mathers is a great boost for Wigan.

Lets be clear about this then, what you are saying is that you now realise what a shrewd operator and a good coach Noble is

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:58 am  

chissitt wrote:

Lets be clear about this then, what you are saying is that you now realise what a shrewd operator and a good coach Noble is

It is funny that most on the Wigan board that support Brian Noble have been slamming the Chairman for his recruitment policy and not spending the cash, but when he does Noble takes the credit for pulling the move off.

Sadly my views on Noble will never change i fear.

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:55 am  

The best I have ever seen Gleeson play is under Noble in a GB shirt, and the same for Mathers under Smith at Leeds, and so maybe it is a good move for both players. The one thing that would concern me about Atkins is that it would give him a chance to shine under the nose of the national coach, and that could be tempting for him. We saw how Noble preferred his own players when he was GB coach.

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:24 am  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

The best I have ever seen Gleeson play is under Noble in a GB shirt, and the same for Mathers under Smith at Leeds, and so maybe it is a good move for both players. The one thing that would concern me about Atkins is that it would give him a chance to shine under the nose of the national coach, and that could be tempting for him. We saw how Noble preferred his own players when he was GB coach.

Personally doubt he will be the National Coach beyond the period of his current contract which expires at the end of the season.

The RFL made it clear no his appointment a fulltime coach was the way forward, doubt very much they will extend his deal now he has taken the Warrington job.