Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Oct 05, 2021 1:08 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

What's your thoughts on Briers as a coach? I know he wasn't the main guy at Wire, but whilst he was there they've had loads of good 'on paper' HB's that haven't worked out.

From the outside looking in, he seems the weakest of all our coaching appointments. I'd have definitely looked at Richard Marshall as an option before Briers.

I'll be happy to be proved wrong tho.

I honestly don’t have any thoughts on him as a coach as I don’t know enough about him.

He could be fantastic or woeful but his ability totally affected by his former head coach.

All I can say is he was a very intelligent halfback and it’s a good starting point, parallels with Lam though and we know how that turned out.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Oct 05, 2021 1:55 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Some fans are/were clamoring for Wigan to sign Jordan Abdull. Harry Smith is a far better halfback than Abdull was at the same age. Smith needs to be given time to develop. Give him a decent front row and a settled spine and I think he'll be ok.

See I always rated Abdull even when he was younger and at this current moment in time he’s a much better player than Smith so I don’t think it’s an unfair comment for people to have Abdull above Smith. I have certainly not given up on Smith but it’s a lot to put on his shoulders to be our chief attacking creator next season off the back of what wasn’t a great first full season as a regular. My fear is even if he is good enough in the long run this will be more than he can chew.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Oct 05, 2021 2:10 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Not sure we can say he's been particularly effective at Warrington.

Yeah, the 2 halves at Warrington have gone backwards.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Oct 05, 2021 2:27 pm  

Interesting to read that we have a years option on ZH for 2023. IL has certainly been open and honest about where the club's stands in regards to him and what they expect. https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors-chief-reveals-zak-hardaker-concerns-3408208

Interesting to read that we have a years option on ZH for 2023. IL has certainly been open and honest about where the club's stands in regards to him and what they expect. https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors-chief-reveals-zak-hardaker-concerns-3408208

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Oct 05, 2021 2:46 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote: Interesting to read that we have years option on ZH for 2023. IL has certainly been open and honest about where the club's stands in regards to him and what they expect. https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors-chief-reveals-zak-hardaker-concerns-3408208 So either no team in Yorkshire has A, cap space B, willing to pay a fee C, think he's worth the risk he won't implode Looks like he's going to have to suck it up regards his commute but that's been his decision, let's up for his sake moving back to where all his troubles started doesn't backfire on him

sergeant pepper wrote: Interesting to read that we have years option on ZH for 2023. IL has certainly been open and honest about where the club's stands in regards to him and what they expect. https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors-chief-reveals-zak-hardaker-concerns-3408208 So either no team in Yorkshire has A, cap space B, willing to pay a fee C, think he's worth the risk he won't implode Looks like he's going to have to suck it up regards his commute but that's been his decision, let's up for his sake moving back to where all his troubles started doesn't backfire on him

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Oct 05, 2021 3:33 pm  

Struggling to understand why the club have put that statement about Hardaker out. Those things are best kept behind closed doors IMO, especially as he is still going to be playing for us.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:12 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Struggling to understand why the club have put that statement about Hardaker out. Those things are best kept behind closed doors IMO, especially as he is still going to be playing for us.

Maybe so that other clubs know his availability but I would have thought that would have been done through agents. It does seem strange

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:24 pm  

apollosghost wrote:

So either no team in Yorkshire has
A, cap space
B, willing to pay a fee
C, think he's worth the risk he won't implode

Looks like he's going to have to suck it up regards his commute but that's been his decision, let's up for his sake moving back to where all his troubles started doesn't backfire on him

I think you can dismiss point A.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:29 pm  

Have i missed the official announcement about Thornley???

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:32 pm  

[Gareth] wrote:

Have i missed the official announcement about Thornley???

I don't think so, or I maybe I have too.

Kinda like Jake Bibby. All I can find is a comment from Lam saying he's re-signed, but there's nothing official? Again, unless I've missed it?