Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:20 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

The long term deal always need to be there but this pretence that lads being cherry picked by the NRL/Union is some sort of shot in the arm for us and a pat on the back needs to be rid of. The same goes for the line we trot out when a lad moves to the NRL about them coming back to Wigan because that's been blown to pieces by Tomkins and Mossop within the last two weeks.

That's were my frustration lies. Us being a selling club and wanting to make profits is fine as long as we still have a good side but it's the spin that gets put on things that grates at me. There is no need to sugar coat it because people aren't clueless. It's the times we're in that means the club needs to be run this way but just be upfront.

As soon as we have a bad trot the club will get all sorts thrown at it from frustrated fans because of this spin.

I think people need to accept that there will always be a certain amount of PR spin when it comes to stuff like this. Would people rather IL came out and said "Player X has signed a 5 year deal but we expect them to leave after 2" or would it be better if these players only signed 2 year contracts so at least when they leave they've seen out their contracts, albeit at the expense of the club being able to demand a transfer fee?

The same with Mossop, did anyone really expect him in his first interview with his new club to say that he's planning to return to Wigan after a couple of years? We'd go mad if we signed a player from the NRL and they turned round and said something like that! The truth is he won't know how long he's going to stay for, he might love living in Australia and want to see out the rest of his career there, he might get homesick and be looking to come back next year. Likewise with Sam, he's not going to say he never wants to play RU becuase if he gets a massive deal thrown at him like Burgess has he knows it will be difficult to turn down. There's no guarantees either will come back to Wigan, because professional sport doesn't work like that, but if either does return we'll have first refusal to sign them.

I hate seeing our best players leave, but in the current climate I think the club are doing about all they can to make the best out of a bad situation. People need to stop feeling personally betrayed everytime a player wants to leave.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:54 am  

WARRIORCRAIG wrote:

I think people need to accept that there will always be a certain amount of PR spin when it comes to stuff like this. Would people rather IL came out and said "Player X has signed a 5 year deal but we expect them to leave after 2" or would it be better if these players only signed 2 year contracts so at least when they leave they've seen out their contracts, albeit at the expense of the club being able to demand a transfer fee?

The same with Mossop, did anyone really expect him in his first interview with his new club to say that he's planning to return to Wigan after a couple of years? We'd go mad if we signed a player from the NRL and they turned round and said something like that! The truth is he won't know how long he's going to stay for, he might love living in Australia and want to see out the rest of his career there, he might get homesick and be looking to come back next year. Likewise with Sam, he's not going to say he never wants to play RU becuase if he gets a massive deal thrown at him like Burgess has he knows it will be difficult to turn down. There's no guarantees either will come back to Wigan, because professional sport doesn't work like that, but if either does return we'll have first refusal to sign them.

I hate seeing our best players leave, but in the current climate I think the club are doing about all they can to make the best out of a bad situation. People need to stop feeling personally betrayed everytime a player wants to leave.

I agree with most of this, but as long as it appears mainly to be Wigan who are losing their big stars, Wigan fans are going to want to know why.

Only now is it really dawning on me how big a loss both Mossop and Sam T are going to be. In one fell swoop, we have basically lost one of our strongest forwards and our most dangerous back; on top of that, we are constantly hearing that our next most dangerous back may be going too. Now okay, I agree that these kinds of losses are irreversible as long as the game overall has no money, but I'm really baffled as to why Leeds's stars never even seem to figure in these discussions. I know they've lost some kids, but their big-hitters look very secure at Headingley, and yet you'd have thought the likes of Watkins, Hall and Hardaker would be ideal for RU.

I don't know how they do it - maybe they just ask really, really silly transfer fees - but I wish, on this matter at least, we could take a few tips from them.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 26, 2014 2:42 pm  

To change thing up slightly, if you could sign any 3 players from a rival superleague club (minus Saints, Leeds, Wire and Hudds) who would you have?

Danny Kirkmond for me. Work horse, bags of experience and would offer the pack some leadership when Lockers isn't playing.

The maybe Clark to interchange with McM.

Possibly Scotty D from Cats? Carney from Cas?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:27 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

To change thing up slightly, if you could sign any 3 players from a rival superleague club (minus Saints, Leeds, Wire and Hudds) who would you have?

Danny Kirkmond for me. Work horse, bags of experience and would offer the pack some leadership when Lockers isn't playing.

The maybe Clark to interchange with McM.

Possibly Scotty D from Cats? Carney from Cas?

Clark must be one of the hottest properties in the game at the moment. Outstanding hooker, would love to see him at Wigan.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:37 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

I don't know how they do it - maybe they just ask really, really silly transfer fees - but I wish, on this matter at least, we could take a few tips from them.

Morley, Mathers, Harris, Chev Walker, Lee Smith, Dave Doherty, Jordan Tansey, Baldwinson, and Tonks have all been signed by RU, or an NRL club over the years. It's not something that's exclusive to Wigan.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:51 pm  

[Gareth] wrote: Apparently Dr Kockrash is after Tuilagi http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12040/9185302/super-league-salford-coach-brian-noble-hails-golden-ticket-plan Seems a meeting today could vote in a player exempt from the cap. Would even things out a bit and slow down the drain of talent away from SL.

[Gareth] wrote: Apparently Dr Kockrash is after Tuilagi http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12040/9185302/super-league-salford-coach-brian-noble-hails-golden-ticket-plan Seems a meeting today could vote in a player exempt from the cap. Would even things out a bit and slow down the drain of talent away from SL.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 26, 2014 4:00 pm  

tank123 wrote: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12040/9185302/super-league-salford-coach-brian-noble-hails-golden-ticket-plan Seems a meeting today could vote in a player exempt from the cap. Would even things out a bit and slow down the drain of talent away from SL. Really like this idea. And of course teams buying other golden tickets to boose their own needs We need to do things like this to develop the game, promote it and see stars in league.

tank123 wrote: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12040/9185302/super-league-salford-coach-brian-noble-hails-golden-ticket-plan Seems a meeting today could vote in a player exempt from the cap. Would even things out a bit and slow down the drain of talent away from SL. Really like this idea. And of course teams buying other golden tickets to boose their own needs We need to do things like this to develop the game, promote it and see stars in league.

[Wigan6/Leeds1 Andy]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 26, 2014 4:27 pm  

tank123 wrote: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12040/9185302/super-league-salford-coach-brian-noble-hails-golden-ticket-plan Seems a meeting today could vote in a player exempt from the cap. Would even things out a bit and slow down the drain of talent away from SL. The luddites won again. No off-cap marquee players or golden tickets for anyone.

tank123 wrote: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12040/9185302/super-league-salford-coach-brian-noble-hails-golden-ticket-plan Seems a meeting today could vote in a player exempt from the cap. Would even things out a bit and slow down the drain of talent away from SL. The luddites won again. No off-cap marquee players or golden tickets for anyone.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 26, 2014 4:53 pm  

Wigan28/Leeds18 Andy wrote:

The luddites won again. No off-cap marquee players or golden tickets for anyone.

Will be interesting to see how the votes were cast, on the face of it, tail is once again wagging the dog.

[Wigan6/Leeds1 Andy]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 26, 2014 4:57 pm  

jonh wrote:

Will be interesting to see how the votes were cast, on the face of it, tail is once again wagging the dog.

Wigan
Salford
Wire
Widnes
Whinos

were the only ones who voted in favour.