Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 19, 2021 7:36 am  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

Strange if true, why would Saints not choose to spend that money on Coote?

Maybe Woolff is sick of him slowing down the play by feigning head injuries, every tackle that's made on him.....

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 19, 2021 8:30 am  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

Strange if true, why would Saints not choose to spend that money on Coote?

Coote is getting silly money at Hull KR, no way we were going to pay that with Welsby waiting in the wings, regardless of if we sign Hurrell or anyone else. We offered Coote less than what he is on currently, to reflect he's getting on a bit etc. Hull KR are paying him roughly £50k a year more than his current deal, close to £100k more than what we offered for him to stay.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 19, 2021 8:52 am  

If Hurrell does go to Saints (I can't see it happening) then I would try and get Josh Simm form Saints, he's an extremely talented young centre, still a bit raw but well worth the investment.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 19, 2021 9:09 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

If Hurrell does go to Saints (I can't see it happening) then I would try and get Josh Simm form Saints, he's an extremely talented young centre, still a bit raw but well worth the investment.

I just can't see it personally unless Woolf thinks he can turn him into an impact 2nd rower. Even then it's far fetched and most likely to be clever work on the part of his agent. Or perhaps he was on the shortlist prior to us signing Hopoate. Either way, he won't be signed to play centre now, I'm certain of that.

Simm should be our "next in line" back next season, similar to what Welsby has been for the last couple of years. I expect him to play 10+ games next year covering 1-7 either directly or indirectly, with Hopoate moving to 1 to cover Welsby, and Welsby moving to the halves if we get an injury there.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 19, 2021 9:46 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

I just can't see it personally unless Woolf thinks he can turn him into an impact 2nd rower. Even then it's far fetched and most likely to be clever work on the part of his agent. Or perhaps he was on the shortlist prior to us signing Hopoate. Either way, he won't be signed to play centre now, I'm certain of that.

Simm should be our "next in line" back next season, similar to what Welsby has been for the last couple of years. I expect him to play 10+ games next year covering 1-7 either directly or indirectly, with Hopoate moving to 1 to cover Welsby, and Welsby moving to the halves if we get an injury there.

I'm surprised how little Simm appears to have played this season, he seems to have fallen out of favour, or maybe he's played more than I think, I can hardly recall him being selected.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 19, 2021 9:59 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I'm surprised how little Simm appears to have played this season, he seems to have fallen out of favour, or maybe he's played more than I think, I can hardly recall him being selected.

This isn’t a jibe at Saints but lads like that struggle to get games because of the lack of injuries they get. I guess it can’t be luck given the run they’ve had now for 3 or 4 years but other than the odd isolated one here and there (like Fages for a spell, Bentley for a spell), they steer well clear of any sort of injury crisis and it’s allowed them to dip their very best youngsters (Welsby and Dodds) in and out but has lead to a lack of real opportunity for a few others.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 19, 2021 11:30 am  

I’m not sure why everyone is so down on Hurrell, was he not Leeds player of the season last season and made the dream team? (Could have been the year before). I’m not saying he’s a world beater (although at times when he’s on he can be almost unstoppable) but I think he’s better than a lot of centres in the league and would get in Wigans 13.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 19, 2021 11:42 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I'm surprised how little Simm appears to have played this season, he seems to have fallen out of favour, or maybe he's played more than I think, I can hardly recall him being selected.

Wouldn't say he is out of favour, just got better/more senior players currently in front of him. It's not like we have played any other younger lads in his place. Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace and Welsby are the only players to have played 2-5 this season I think.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 19, 2021 11:50 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

This isn’t a jibe at Saints but lads like that struggle to get games because of the lack of injuries they get. I guess it can’t be luck given the run they’ve had now for 3 or 4 years but other than the odd isolated one here and there (like Fages for a spell, Bentley for a spell), they steer well clear of any sort of injury crisis and it’s allowed them to dip their very best youngsters (Welsby and Dodds) in and out but has lead to a lack of real opportunity for a few others.

As well as those players you have mentioned (Fages out for several months, Bentley for months) Matty Lees has also missed a big chunk of the season, as has Percival. Jake Wingfield would have played much more if it weren't for injury too.

I think we strike a good balance between giving players opportunities and not becoming over-reliant on kids and putting pressure on them too soon. One of the biggest gripes I read on here is about the need for some old heads and experience especially in the pack and I think that's where Saints tend to get it right in terms of not overloading the side with kids all at once. I don't think there's many, if anyone at all, at Saints who you could say is deserving of an opportunity/1st team ready and hasn't had one.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 19, 2021 11:58 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

As well as those players you have mentioned (Fages out for several months, Bentley for months) Matty Lees has also missed a big chunk of the season, as has Percival. Jake Wingfield would have played much more if it weren't for injury too.

I think we strike a good balance between giving players opportunities and not becoming over-reliant on kids and putting pressure on them too soon. One of the biggest gripes I read on here is about the need for some old heads and experience especially in the pack and I think that's where Saints tend to get it right in terms of not overloading the side with kids all at once. I don't think there's many, if anyone at all, at Saints who you could say is deserving of an opportunity/1st team ready and hasn't had one.

The point I make regards injury is you haven’t had a spell in the last few seasons where you have 5+ injuries to first 17 players all at once. It seems like there is never more than one or two at a time, so it’s tough to give natural opportunities to anyone outside your top 20/21 players. Wigan alongside many other clubs have had loads of periods of 5,6,7 + first choice players missing and then loads of kids get thrown in. You’re right on your squad balance/depth being good and ours is well off but yours has very rarely been tested to breaking point. I’ll give it as a credit to your conditioning staff over ours. We’ve lost three lads with extremely serious hamstring injuries, so something seems to be off here.