Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Oct 10, 2023 8:09 pm  

apollosghost wrote:

You've just got to admire Roby (even though Barrett was robbed )
Wonder if they present LMS with a Fireman Sam toy

Anybody else's ears burning or is it just mine?

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Oct 10, 2023 9:17 pm  

Zig wrote:

I can’t understand this disliking of a team, I can fully understand wanting to beat them though.

Me too (unless it's Warrington)

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Oct 10, 2023 9:20 pm  

Stu M wrote:

I think its fair to say that French has won given Welsby was still at Prague airport this morning probably very hungover still.

Welsby is there

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Wed Oct 11, 2023 8:20 am  

The tribute video from the Wigan staff and team for James Roby was a class act.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:31 pm  

thesaint71 wrote:

Me too (unless it's Warrington)

Healthy rivalry yes, hate and dislike no. Perhaps I am mellowing in my old age!

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Mon Oct 16, 2023 10:29 pm  

Makes good reading

Magic Super beetle

So having sat down and put some thought into this, I can at least see a glimmer of optimism/ straw to clutch.

Let’s suppose the problem is that Dodd is continuing to agitate for a move to the NRL. I can understand the club halting all other recruitment until it’s resolved. Sure, Mbye drops into the 7 role (I have deep suspicions that was always going to be the plan), but the 14 role is also critical as Clark isn’t an 80 minute hooker, and there’s no one putting pressure on the rest of the spine to perform/ cover any sort of injury (and we have gotten lucky this year with players in the spine). As bad as the option of Bennison/ Ritson is for the wing, that’s still a step up on what? A couple of 18 year olds, yet to make debut, playing out of position in the 14 role? No someone would have to come in to replace Dodd, and spine players aren’t cheap. That’s why we haven’t announced anyone thus far, despite them being well known.

So then there’s a matter of who. The immediate response would be Croft, the only reason we wouldn’t go that route is a) we’re not willing to pay a transfer fee, or b) we want to use our non-fed spot for something else. Given Ackers would also command a fee, and I doubt the amounts are so hugely different that one is doable and one is not, we must clearly still have someone in mind for the other non-fed spot. Of course it’s also possible we distracted Leeds with Ackers to get ahead of them with Croft, as it wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.

Of course who would want Dodd after the stinker of a season he’s just had is a complete mystery to me, especially with Croft, Smith and Williams all running around SL as well, but that’s another conversation. Either Dodd stays, we sign a non-fed winger and the rest of the rumoured players, or Dodd goes, he gets replaced by someone non-fed and have to put up with Bennison/ Ritson on the wing again, but hopefully with significantly more service than last year. Depending on how expensive unknown spine player is, we may or may not bring Whitley/ Eseh in depending on the cap space we have left.

Also, as much as I dislike his Dads commentary, it’s another where I would be getting the ear of O’Connor.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Oct 17, 2023 6:33 am  

They are a funny lot over there

Not one Wigan player good enough to get into their team but they are throwing names around like Jared O'Connor and Joe Burgess as signings they would like

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Oct 17, 2023 7:57 am  

[Gareth] wrote:

They are a funny lot over there

Not one Wigan player good enough to get into their team but they are throwing names around like Jared O'Connor and Joe Burgess as signings they would like

Great read Redvee, it has me in stitches all the time.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:44 am  

[Gareth] wrote:

They are a funny lot over there

Not one Wigan player good enough to get into their team but they are throwing names around like Jared O'Connor and Joe Burgess as signings they would like

To be fair our left wing position is a real issue for most fans. The fact Wellens didn't stick with Bennison or Ritson for any length of time and even picked Hopoate over them both on a few occasions, shows that we have never really replaced Grace.

Joe Burgess wouldn't be my choice but he would be an improvement on either Bennison or Ritson in my opinion. I think if we don't sign someone in that position it will be an underwhelming prospect for next year. Clark I am confident will be a good signing and Matt Whitley will be solid for us and allow Matautia to play in the middle to replace LMS and potentially Paasi. So those two signings are fine but we need more, specifically in the backs.

If we can find a left winger with some size and pace then suddenly the balance of the side looks much better but at the moment it's glaringly obvious to me that that's our weak spot.

O'Connor I think was mentioned as a hypothetical signing if Dodd was to leave and Mbye play at 7. I know we made a move for Ackers so either they think Dodd won't be around much longer or they aren't overly impressed with Mbye at 9.

Croft/Ackers as a duo is streets ahead of Dodd/Mbye so I can understand the frustrations at the minute when the likes of Leeds are making those moves and we seem to be extremely quiet. That's probably why lots of names are getting thrown about by supporters as there's very little speculation in the media and perhaps one or two of us are getting a bit desperate for some movement.

Re: Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE : Tue Oct 17, 2023 3:04 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

To be fair our left wing position is a real issue for most fans. The fact Wellens didn't stick with Bennison or Ritson for any length of time and even picked Hopoate over them both on a few occasions, shows that we have never really replaced Grace.

Joe Burgess wouldn't be my choice but he would be an improvement on either Bennison or Ritson in my opinion. I think if we don't sign someone in that position it will be an underwhelming prospect for next year. Clark I am confident will be a good signing and Matt Whitley will be solid for us and allow Matautia to play in the middle to replace LMS and potentially Paasi. So those two signings are fine but we need more, specifically in the backs.

If we can find a left winger with some size and pace then suddenly the balance of the side looks much better but at the moment it's glaringly obvious to me that that's our weak spot.

O'Connor I think was mentioned as a hypothetical signing if Dodd was to leave and Mbye play at 7. I know we made a move for Ackers so either they think Dodd won't be around much longer or they aren't overly impressed with Mbye at 9.

Croft/Ackers as a duo is streets ahead of Dodd/Mbye so I can understand the frustrations at the minute when the likes of Leeds are making those moves and we seem to be extremely quiet. That's probably why lots of names are getting thrown about by supporters as there's very little speculation in the media and perhaps one or two of us are getting a bit desperate for some movement.

You need to factor in that the core players such as Makinson, Lomax, Percival, Walmsley are on the wane. The rest of the squad will need to improve in order to offset their dip in standards. To be fair they have all set the bar high but age and injuries are not going to be their friends.