Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:49 pm  

jonh wrote:

Interesting position we are now in, in relation to quota spots.

Hastings is obviously going and there are question marks over Tommy, Isa (who I believe has re-signed) and Clark.

We currently have 6 positioned filled with only Hastings confirmed leaving and 3 quota players coming in so next year as it stands we have from a confirmed point of view 8 quota players.

I’d say it’s likely both TL and Clark will retire/move on. I believe Isa is staying one more year so 1 spot left with us probably needing a centre and a half.

Guess it’ll be Thornley and an overseas halfback in that case.

One thing is for sure, it’s the first time in a very long time that we’re having to consider the quota spots. It’s a sign that we’ve got the balance a little wrong in terms of the outs to ins in recent times. When there are so many good quality ex Wigan players (who are English) across the league and not enough here to avoid having to push the quota allowance to it’s maximum, then something has gone wrong.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:35 pm  

FIOS wrote:

Heard a whisper Hardaker possibly going back to Cas

I wouldn’t take any notice of Rugby League IDK.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:15 pm  

I can’t see Hardaker going back to Cas but it wouldn’t surprise me. With the signing of Thornley we’ll have 4 Hardaker Bibby Hankinson and Thornley as our centres, wouldn’t surprise me if we lost 1 and that could be Hardaker

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 23, 2021 12:45 am  

KingRoss11 wrote:

I can’t see Hardaker going back to Cas but it wouldn’t surprise me. With the signing of Thornley we’ll have 4 Hardaker Bibby Hankinson and Thornley as our centres, wouldn’t surprise me if we lost 1 and that could be Hardaker

I hope not he is better than the other three.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 23, 2021 6:57 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Guess it’ll be Thornley and an overseas halfback in that case.

One thing is for sure, it’s the first time in a very long time that we’re having to consider the quota spots. It’s a sign that we’ve got the balance a little wrong in terms of the outs to ins in recent times. When there are so many good quality ex Wigan players (who are English) across the league and not enough here to avoid having to push the quota allowance to it’s maximum, then something has gone wrong.

Yeah was thinking this myself, we won the 2018 GF with no Australians in the side, just Tommy and 2 french lads from overseas.

STomkins, Davies, Williams, Gildart, Sutton should all be in our current/future side if we managed to keep hold of our players like other clubs seem to.

A club like ours shouldn’t have an issue of quota spots.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 23, 2021 7:12 am  

FIOS wrote:

Heard a whisper Hardaker possibly going back to Cas

I know this isn’t happening as Rugby league ITK is a terrible account (just scroll back a bit and look)

But I’d be happy to move Hardaker on, good not great fullback IMO and average not good centre.

Probably one of our higher earning players, I’d like to use them funds for an out and out centre, Jake Wardle please.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 23, 2021 2:29 pm  

FIOS wrote:

Heard a whisper Hardaker possibly going back to Cas

I believe Hardaker has moved back to Ponte
Wouldn’t surprise me if he wants a Yorkshire club.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 23, 2021 2:45 pm  

I’m a little surprised by some people’s memories.

ZH was fantastic last year at centre, ok he may not be a line breaking strike centre but he was a big part of why we got to the Final last year.

He was basically the only thing to get excited about at the start of this season putting in some outstanding performances. Ok the wheels came off after the infamous Tomkins interview and subsequent game but I’ve no doubt it’s a temporary dip.

Given the circumstances in which we signed him I would be shocked if he isn’t on a contract which provides Wigan with very good value for money against his performance.

Given our lack of quota spots I feel he would be very difficult to replace with a player of the same standard and probable salary.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 23, 2021 2:48 pm  

jonh wrote:

Interesting position we are now in, in relation to quota spots.

Hastings is obviously going and there are question marks over Tommy, Isa (who I believe has re-signed) and Clark.

We currently have 6 positioned filled with only Hastings confirmed leaving and 3 quota players coming in so next year as it stands we have from a confirmed point of view 8 quota players.

I’d say it’s likely both TL and Clark will retire/move on. I believe Isa is staying one more year so 1 spot left with us probably needing a centre and a half.

Isa has signed a new contract along with Powell.
TL doing another year which has surprised me. Probably means that we won’t be after another HB.

Centres has for me become our top priority now particularly if Hardaker looks for a move. I did a daily commute from Wigan to Leeds for 8 years and it was awful. Hardaker is struggling with the commute after only a few weeks so I’d be amazed if he isn’t looking for a Yorkshire club

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Jul 23, 2021 2:54 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Isa has signed a new contract along with Powell.
TL doing another year which has surprised me. Probably means that we won’t be after another HB.

Centres has for me become our top priority now particularly if Hardaker looks for a move. I did a daily commute from Wigan to Leeds for 8 years and it was awful. Hardaker is struggling with the commute after only a few weeks so I’d be amazed if he isn’t looking for a Yorkshire club

If TL is going round again I think that means we have no quota spots available so if we are going to let ZH go we would need to replace him with a non quota centre.

I appreciate there if rumours of Thornley but we would need another given Gildart I’d leaving also.

I’m not sure where that player comes from if he isn’t on the quota.