Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:16 am  

Cruncher wrote:

No real arguments with any of this, though I would apply the bit I've underlined to going to the NRL, not going to RU.

I've played both sports - as have many on here no doubt, so I'm not claiming exclusive knowledge - but it was only after switching from RU to RL that I found out how good I was (or wasn't).

That's if an NRL club wants you.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Mar 04, 2021 1:14 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Fair enough as long as he's happy. I do wonder how many players in the NCL, or not playing the game at all, could have been had great careers if we had a better system in place. We're already facing the barrier of having 1/5 of the population of Australia to pick from, without throwing away a lot of the talented players we do manage to unearth before they are fully grown. I'm not saying he would have spearheaded us to a World Cup, but the more of these lads you throw away at 18, the more chance we have that we've made a fatal mistake without ever knowing it.

By better system in place are you referring to an u21s or reserve competition?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Mar 04, 2021 4:15 pm  

nathan_rugby wrote:

By better system in place are you referring to an u21s or reserve competition?

I don't know to be honest. I get that money is tight but I definitely think we need some way of not having to make a call on a player at 19 years old. Look at Peacock, the most decorated player in the SL era, and he only made his SL debut at 22. In today's system he would probably have been let go years before that and ended up part time or amateur. Liam Byrne isn't the same calibre but I happen to know a minor miscommunication very nearly saw him never get a chance to go pro.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:52 pm  

Hastings has given an interview to the Aussie Telegraph essentially saying he wants an NRL return ASAP. Comes as no surprise mind and I’m certainly not criticising him. He’s made no secret of that since he’s been in SL and in all honesty I find that quite refreshing that he’s so honest about it.

Won’t do him any favours with the critics though. I can just about see the lighting of the torches and raising of the pitch forks from my house.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Mar 04, 2021 11:16 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

Hastings has given an interview to the Aussie Telegraph essentially saying he wants an NRL return ASAP. Comes as no surprise mind and I’m certainly not criticising him. He’s made no secret of that since he’s been in SL and in all honesty I find that quite refreshing that he’s so honest about it.

Won’t do him any favours with the critics though. I can just about see the lighting of the torches and raising of the pitch forks from my house.

We talking for 2021 or 2022?

I don’t think anyone expects him to be here come 2022, so if it’s for then, I have absolutely no issues with it and I doubt anybody will. If he’s anchoring for a move straight away then people will be less understanding but ultimately it’s a weird and challenging world we’re living in and if he’d like to be back at home then who are we to question him. It would be awful timing mind.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:32 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

We talking for 2021 or 2022?

I don’t think anyone expects him to be here come 2022, so if it’s for then, I have absolutely no issues with it and I doubt anybody will. If he’s anchoring for a move straight away then people will be less understanding but ultimately it’s a weird and challenging world we’re living in and if he’d like to be back at home then who are we to question him. It would be awful timing mind.

It doesn’t really say but reading it, it’s a come get me plea for 2022.

I’ve no problem with that.

Getting his future sorted now means we can get on with finding a replacement or look at allocating the cap in other areas.

The key to that plan though also probably relies on Bevan French letting us know where he stands too in relation to 22.

If he goes too we probably need a half with Field replacing French at 1 if he stays we can look to strengthen elsewhere.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:36 am  

The second an NRL club wants him he will go. No issue with that as long as his focus while he's a Wigan player is on being a Wigan player.

Ben Barba for example went from a 10/10 to a 6/10 at best once he signed.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 05, 2021 10:06 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

The second an NRL club wants him he will go. No issue with that as long as his focus while he's a Wigan player is on being a Wigan player.

Ben Barba for example went from a 10/10 to a 6/10 at best once he signed.

I don't see a problem.

If Hastings goes at the end of this season he will have played for three and a half seasons in the U.K. That's more than most Aussie players tend to stay.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 05, 2021 10:35 am  

Hastings will do his final year in SL this year and hopefully win a trophy that’s eluded him so far.

Hopefully George Williams has had enough of down there and fancies a return to replace him.

1.) Field

6.) Williams
7.) Smith

2022.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 05, 2021 10:35 am  

No issue with the interview or his NRL ambitions - I don't think its unreasonable though to think that he and Bevan really should be in Wigan now. Outside of those players waiting for Visa approval (e.g. Dean Whare at Catalans), I think you'd struggle to find another SL overseas player who is still back home at this point.