Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Sep 04, 2021 8:30 am  

Grimmy wrote:

I feel like we've gone about this the wrong way round. Two domestic props and one NRL halfback sounds a much more attractive proposition than the other way around. I'm guessing Williams was the plan at halfback and we're now left searching through whoever is left over.

It’s where you find the domestic props I suppose. I was pushing hard for the idea of going after Chris Hill on here but it never seemed to be on the table. Other than that I’m not too sure where you go looking around the league. There seems to be a real shortage of quality props at the moment around the league. We spoke about Watts for years but he’s been looking a bit Tony Clubb recently. I thought Massey was really impressive on Monday playing prop/loose forward but he’s signed up. I’d love one more experienced prop to get the balance right. A few people mentioned a cheap punt on Adam Sidlow and watching him this season, he would’ve been the Leigh prop I’d have considered and not Nathan Mason. A cheap deal for 12 months as back up/pushing for a bench spot could’ve worked but he’s signed back up at Leigh.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:53 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

It’s where you find the domestic props I suppose. I was pushing hard for the idea of going after Chris Hill on here but it never seemed to be on the table. Other than that I’m not too sure where you go looking around the league. There seems to be a real shortage of quality props at the moment around the league. We spoke about Watts for years but he’s been looking a bit Tony Clubb recently. I thought Massey was really impressive on Monday playing prop/loose forward but he’s signed up. I’d love one more experienced prop to get the balance right. A few people mentioned a cheap punt on Adam Sidlow and watching him this season, he would’ve been the Leigh prop I’d have considered and not Nathan Mason. A cheap deal for 12 months as back up/pushing for a bench spot could’ve worked but he’s signed back up at Leigh.

I just look at the NRL props we have had recently and every one of them has underwhelmed going back years IMO apart from Hamlin whilst we had him. We seem to have a much better hit rate domestically with the likes of Flower, Taylor, Coley, Clubb earlier in his career all coming with far less expectation, presumably cheaper but performing better. Easier said than done, and I don't know who the options where, but I'd have looked to replicate that. Agree about Hill, would have been a great signing for a couple of years.

Halfback is different, I think a mediocre NRL halfback or one who is past his prime is still a better bet than most domestic options. They are just that far ahead of us in that position.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Sep 04, 2021 10:25 am  

Grimmy wrote:

I just look at the NRL props we have had recently and every one of them has underwhelmed going back years IMO apart from Hamlin whilst we had him. We seem to have a much better hit rate domestically with the likes of Flower, Taylor, Coley, Clubb earlier in his career all coming with far less expectation, presumably cheaper but performing better. Easier said than done, and I don't know who the options where, but I'd have looked to replicate that. Agree about Hill, would have been a great signing for a couple of years.

Halfback is different, I think a mediocre NRL halfback or one who is past his prime is still a better bet than most domestic options. They are just that far ahead of us in that position.

I’d agree on the halfback. I think I’d rather they go and take a punt on a Corey Norman or Ash Taylor than go with Lino or Miller. Those two at Wakey aren’t bad players but will they offer much more than Field or Smith? I’m not too sure, especially when Smith and Field (hopefully) get to work in a side being coached to a better level. Having two options already gives us a bit of a safety net when it comes to signing a third half.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Sep 04, 2021 10:54 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I’d agree on the halfback. I think I’d rather they go and take a punt on a Corey Norman or Ash Taylor than go with Lino or Miller. Those two at Wakey aren’t bad players but will they offer much more than Field or Smith? I’m not too sure, especially when Smith and Field (hopefully) get to work in a side being coached to a better level. Having two options already gives us a bit of a safety net when it comes to signing a third half.

Agree, I’d rather we take a punt on an NRL half than go with Miller or Lino.

As you say we have 2 halves already so that security is there.

To be honest non of the names we are being linked with excite me too much, other than Norman, who on his day can be outstanding, however his form and work ethic are questionable of late.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Sep 04, 2021 11:00 am  

Anyone watching the Souths game at the min? Mago is playing and he looks unfit. Granted, he's not been playing recently and he's a big bloke but his body language looks like someone struggling with the pace of the game imo.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Sep 04, 2021 11:16 am  

Had a message off a mate saying Mago looks absolutely shattered and is struggling to even get back in the defensive line. It’s always a worry with big guys like that as to how serious they will be about playing in superleague. Do they see it as a step down and an opportunity to ease up in the off season? On the flip side guys like Ryan Sutton saw it as a step up and got themselves in career best shape. If he struggling now, it’s worrying to think how he’ll turn up for pre season.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Sep 04, 2021 11:24 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Had a message off a mate saying Mago looks absolutely shattered and is struggling to even get back in the defensive line. It’s always a worry with big guys like that as to how serious they will be about playing in superleague. Do they see it as a step down and an opportunity to ease up in the off season? On the flip side guys like Ryan Sutton saw it as a step up and got themselves in career best shape. If he struggling now, it’s worrying to think how he’ll turn up for pre season.

Your mate has pretty much seen it the same way as me then. He's taken some balls in, but he's hunched over a lot too. There was a streaker at one point and the camera focused on Mago for a good 10/15 secs. He was absolutely gasping for air.

Ellis was the 18th man so he didn't play, but from what I've seen of him previously, he seems like a much fitter and high mins player. He doesn't make loads of yards, but seems to have a decent set of hands and solid defence. I wouldn't be surprised to see him play 13 at points for us.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Sep 04, 2021 11:43 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Your mate has pretty much seen it the same way as me then. He's taken some balls in, but he's hunched over a lot too. There was a streaker at one point and the camera focused on Mago for a good 10/15 secs. He was absolutely gasping for air.

Ellis was the 18th man so he didn't play, but from what I've seen of him previously, he seems like a much fitter and high mins player. He doesn't make loads of yards, but seems to have a decent set of hands and solid defence. I wouldn't be surprised to see him play 13 at points for us.

Maybe a decent balance of a 60-80 minute prop and an impact one but work to do on Mago in pre season by the sounds of it. Looking at the stats, Mago won’t struggle to make ground when he’s on but if it’s 10 minute spells, is it enough?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Sep 04, 2021 12:07 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Maybe a decent balance of a 60-80 minute prop and an impact one but work to do on Mago in pre season by the sounds of it. Looking at the stats, Mago won’t struggle to make ground when he’s on but if it’s 10 minute spells, is it enough?

I've just looked at his stats to see how his output matched what I'd seen and they are decent. He's certainly turning out more than our guys do, put it that way and played 40+ mins too. Maybe I was being to critical on his body language?

Like most things Wigan related, I'm hoping the biggest jump we'll see is from having a new coach. Is absolutely critical that, whoever the gaffer is in 2022, they more from Singleton, Bateman & Powell. If those three are firing, then we'll be competitive, niggly and hard to beat. That will massively help guys like Ellis and Mago bed in.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Sep 04, 2021 12:29 pm  

A lot with the lad will depend on just how he’s treating a spell here. Is he coming to play some serious rugby league or does he buy in to a notion that the game is of a lesser standard here and therefore he won’t need to be in top shape? The quality may not be quite as high here but you still need to be supremely fit to play the sport and he’ll be in for a shock if he thinks he’s going to come to this league and get away with being in poor condition.

One thing we need to make clear is that these comments aren’t those you get where people write players off before they even turn out in our shirt. I trust my mate to give an honest opinion and not just look for non issues but he said his condition looked really poor. It sounds like they’ll need to put plenty of work in to him. If he’s prepared to put in the work, then he clearly can make good ground with the ball.