Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 5:48 am  

bazdev wrote:

Theaustralian.com.au claiming he has signed a 4 year deal with us.

Dog gone: Thompson heading back to the UK
Bulldogs enforcer Luke Thompson’s stint in the NRL is over after the prop signed a mega deal to join Wigan from 2024. SUBSCRIBE for full story

Now being reported by The Mole and Telegraph Sport in Australia, looks to be gathering a lot of pace.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 6:18 am  

Thats some team wigan are going to have next season!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 6:31 am  

Other than smithies having an Ozzie agent and a contract running out next year is there anything solid regarding him leaving? Seen people making out he will be leaving this off season but are they just jumping on the signs he will likely leave next season, seeing Thompson coming this season and putting 2 and 2 together?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 6:35 am  

CobraCraig wrote:

Other than smithies having an Ozzie agent and a contract running out next year is there anything solid regarding him leaving? Seen people making out he will be leaving this off season but are they just jumping on the signs he will likely leave next season, seeing Thompson coming this season and putting 2 and 2 together?

That is true, unless everything is under wraps about a player or 2 leaving, which is rare but it happens.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 7:04 am  

Not sure how I feel about this to be honest. If they are signing a busted Thompson and he turns out like George Burgess then I'll thoroughly enjoy it. However if they are signing a now fully fit Thompson with a point to prove then there's no doubt its a stellar signing and one that seems to be the "statement signing" that I mentioned on here. The Wigan pack which was once formerly an area of weakness is now no longer that and will be very strong. I still don't understand how 9 props will be used though unless Hill and Chan are loaned out. Even then that's 7 by my calculations.

To save me typing twice, the below is what I've just posted on Red Vee


Seems to be gathering enough pace this that it will be true. A fit Thompson will be a statement signing for them and annoyingly they have made some smart recruitment backed by their billionaire owner. Whilst they haven't bought from Saints directly this has shades of Connolly and Platt where they can blow us out of the water. Granted we are a much more succcessful team than back then but the point stands.

This could be the start of a golden era for them. They have a younger team backed up by them hoovering up all of the best junior talent even from community clubs in St Helens. I just hope we haven't taken our eye off the ball because we have a real transition ahead of us. Makinson, Lomax, Walmsley, Paasi, Hurrell etc all in their 30s, Percival not far away. I know we have some outstanding young lads in the Academy too but I just hope I'm wrong in predicting a golden few years for Wigan

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 8:09 am  

Stu M wrote:

Not sure how I feel about this to be honest. If they are signing a busted Thompson and he turns out like George Burgess then I'll thoroughly enjoy it. However if they are signing a now fully fit Thompson with a point to prove then there's no doubt its a stellar signing and one that seems to be the "statement signing" that I mentioned on here. The Wigan pack which was once formerly an area of weakness is now no longer that and will be very strong. I still don't understand how 9 props will be used though unless Hill and Chan are loaned out. Even then that's 7 by my calculations.

To save me typing twice, the below is what I've just posted on Red Vee


Seems to be gathering enough pace this that it will be true. A fit Thompson will be a statement signing for them and annoyingly they have made some smart recruitment backed by their billionaire owner. Whilst they haven't bought from Saints directly this has shades of Connolly and Platt where they can blow us out of the water. Granted we are a much more succcessful team than back then but the point stands.

This could be the start of a golden era for them. They have a younger team backed up by them hoovering up all of the best junior talent even from community clubs in St Helens. I just hope we haven't taken our eye off the ball because we have a real transition ahead of us. Makinson, Lomax, Walmsley, Paasi, Hurrell etc all in their 30s, Percival not far away. I know we have some outstanding young lads in the Academy too but I just hope I'm wrong in predicting a golden few years for Wigan

It does feel we really have done great recruitment for next year on the back of a good couple of seasons on the pitch and this could be the start of a good era, but one thing that could stop that is a marquee signing (presuming he will be) sitting on the sidelines the majority of the time. It just feels like a risk we don’t need to take, I would rather we went with a few quid to Leeds and tried to sign MIkolaj Oledzki, Tom Holroyd or Cam Smith if this is seen as the long term Smithies replacement.
It also leaves Hill and Chan really on the outside looking in, I heard a rumour Hill wasn’t happy with his current wage, he might not be happy with his route to being a regular now as well (although at 19 I don’t think it’s great to be playing prop every week), Chan I’m also guessing now might be seen as a second rower? His build would suit it more looking at him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 8:42 am  

I wonder if chan and walters are viewed as the long term replacements for Farrell and it’s

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 8:51 am  

I think this season has shown, you can’t have too many props.

Chan and Hill will have another year to get used to the Wigan system/mature then could replace Mago and Cooper.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 8:59 am  

NSW wrote:

I think this season has shown, you can’t have too many props.

Chan and Hill will have another year to get used to the Wigan system/mature then could replace Mago and Cooper.

You know what, that's an excellent point. Over stacked for 12 months, with visible pathways long term.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Sep 25, 2023 9:02 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

You know what, that's an excellent point. Over stacked for 12 months, with visible pathways long term.

It's almost like they have a plan