Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 08, 2025 12:38 pm  

[quote="MadDogg"][quote="Zig":3mn42q9i]To be honest I see all of those players, and Eckersley, being first team regulars in three years and I think they are aware of that.[/quote:3mn42q9i]

They could be but my point is it would require other players to leave and Wigan will likely have some tough decisions to make. Some of the decisions might be made for them if certain players opt for NRL moves. Maybe on some level Kris Radlinski might think it would make things a little easier if some players do make that decision to open up some spots. E.g. Jack Farrimond can't be a first team regular unless one of French or Smith leave. Forber would need O'Neill or Leeming to go. Zach Eckersley will have an eye on what Wigan decide to do with Adam Keighran. Hill or Eseh likewise with the current front rowers.

I appreciate its a squad game and opportunities open up throughout the season. But ultimately I think we have a number of players who will soon be too good to be satisfied with being squad players who only play when injuries occur or when the regulars need a rest.[/quote]

I understand your point MD. I believe that players will move on but also, some of these players will be selected on their ability and displace the current incumbents.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 08, 2025 12:57 pm  

We do appear to have an abundance of talent. Fitting them all in with game time to suit each player will be difficult.

What we have heard of though is that in seasons to come players will be time limited on the number of minutes they play. Those with there shortest one would presume would be prop forwards. Hence the reason we have so many and at young ages too.
Whether these time limits have been published I don't know but again I presume the initial draft proposals will have gone before clubs by now.

As for 2025 season no one knows the number of injuries and suspensions the squad will suffer but we are starting our season without our number 9. We have two very good replacements who helped us win trophies but Brad is one superb player who is always missed.

The club is being very wise to have so many quality players in the squad and with time limits soon to arrive they have done some exceptional recruitment.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 08, 2025 1:11 pm  

Father Ted wrote: We do appear to have an abundance of talent. Fitting them all in with game time to suit each player will be difficult. What we have heard of though is that in seasons to come players will be time limited on the number of minutes they play. Those with there shortest one would presume would be prop forwards. Hence the reason we have so many and at young ages too. Whether these time limits have been published I don't know but again I presume the initial draft proposals will have gone before clubs by now. As for 2025 season no one knows the number of injuries and suspensions the squad will suffer but we are starting our season without our number 9. We have two very good replacements who helped us win trophies but Brad is one superb player who is always missed. The club is being very wise to have so many quality players in the squad and with time limits soon to arrive they have done some exceptional recruitment. The new limits around minutes players can play must be a nightmare for coaches to adhere to. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ex ... -from-2024 I definitely don't have the headspace or motivation to keep track of it but I'm sure we and other clubs have had backs playing more than 25 games? If anything it means you're punished for going longer in the two domestic competitions. Might it mean we have to rest our first teamers more this year because we won all the trophies last year?

Father Ted wrote: We do appear to have an abundance of talent. Fitting them all in with game time to suit each player will be difficult. What we have heard of though is that in seasons to come players will be time limited on the number of minutes they play. Those with there shortest one would presume would be prop forwards. Hence the reason we have so many and at young ages too. Whether these time limits have been published I don't know but again I presume the initial draft proposals will have gone before clubs by now. As for 2025 season no one knows the number of injuries and suspensions the squad will suffer but we are starting our season without our number 9. We have two very good replacements who helped us win trophies but Brad is one superb player who is always missed. The club is being very wise to have so many quality players in the squad and with time limits soon to arrive they have done some exceptional recruitment. The new limits around minutes players can play must be a nightmare for coaches to adhere to. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ex ... -from-2024 I definitely don't have the headspace or motivation to keep track of it but I'm sure we and other clubs have had backs playing more than 25 games? If anything it means you're punished for going longer in the two domestic competitions. Might it mean we have to rest our first teamers more this year because we won all the trophies last year?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 08, 2025 2:05 pm  

Definitely competition for places going on. Imagining in the near future places will come available with the likes of Miski, Farrell and isa leaving. Then players going to NRL

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 08, 2025 2:42 pm  

The only player you sort of worry about opportunities opening up for is Farrimond. I say 'sort of' because you can't really worry that he wouldn't get a chance, as that would probably mean French finishing his career here and Harry Smith continuing his career at Wigan for a number of years. Even then, I'd imagine a chance will crop up, be that through one of those two moving on to the NRL or even Field going back and then French being moved in to fullback again.

Guys like Eckersley, Douglas and Hill have realistic targets to try and get past (Miski, Keighran, Byrne, Dupree etc) and if they're good enough, they'll manage it and will nail a first team spot. In terms of Eckesley/Keighran, I get the feeling Wigan may hold off on any offer for Keighran and promote Eckersley for 2026 but we'll see.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 08, 2025 3:23 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

The only player you sort of worry about opportunities opening up for is Farrimond. I say 'sort of' because you can't really worry that he wouldn't get a chance, as that would probably mean French finishing his career here and Harry Smith continuing his career at Wigan for a number of years. Even then, I'd imagine a chance will crop up, be that through one of those two moving on to the NRL or even Field going back and then French being moved in to fullback again.

Guys like Eckersley, Douglas and Hill have realistic targets to try and get past (Miski, Keighran, Byrne, Dupree etc) and if they're good enough, they'll manage it and will nail a first team spot. In terms of Eckesley/Keighran, I get the feeling Wigan may hold off on any offer for Keighran and promote Eckersley for 2026 but we'll see.

Every now and then I think we should take advantage of the pace of guys like Eckersley and Douglas on the right wing (usually after Miski gets in space and can't finish off a chance). But then you see Miski eat up the metres and resemble a defensive brick wall in a big game and you're reminded what he brings to the team.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 08, 2025 4:55 pm  

MadDogg wrote: The new limits around minutes players can play must be a nightmare for coaches to adhere to. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ex ... -from-2024 I definitely don't have the headspace or motivation to keep track of it but I'm sure we and other clubs have had backs playing more than 25 games? If anything it means you're punished for going longer in the two domestic competitions. Might it mean we have to rest our first teamers more this year because we won all the trophies last year? Are these limits effective from 2025? Maybe I’ve missed the announcement but if the announcement hasn’t been made then it’s absolutely ridiculous if this proposal is still “up in the air” so close to the start of the season.

MadDogg wrote: The new limits around minutes players can play must be a nightmare for coaches to adhere to. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ex ... -from-2024 I definitely don't have the headspace or motivation to keep track of it but I'm sure we and other clubs have had backs playing more than 25 games? If anything it means you're punished for going longer in the two domestic competitions. Might it mean we have to rest our first teamers more this year because we won all the trophies last year? Are these limits effective from 2025? Maybe I’ve missed the announcement but if the announcement hasn’t been made then it’s absolutely ridiculous if this proposal is still “up in the air” so close to the start of the season.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 08, 2025 5:41 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Are these limits effective from 2025? Maybe I’ve missed the announcement but if the announcement hasn’t been made then it’s absolutely ridiculous if this proposal is still “up in the air” so close to the start of the season.

According to the article it began last year.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 08, 2025 9:51 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

According to the article it began last year.

I thought they were deferred?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 08, 2025 10:02 pm  

Zig wrote:

I thought they were deferred?

Was under the impression that it was the change to tackle height that was deferred.