Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sat May 26, 2012 9:05 pm  

FIOS wrote:

If finch leaves we need 2 halfbacks a Centre and a prop for next season. The Jamie Soward rumour just wont shift will it. Hope its true.

I very much doubt we will sign a new centre. You get the impression that we signed Thornley to fill that space as i know Wane rates him very highly.

We do need to replace Lima as he's been a rock this season and it's worrying that whilst Mossop and Prescott are of a similar quality they are both far to injury prone.

If Lynch hadn't resigned with Hudds i'd have signed him because simply he's Mr consistent who plays well every week without hardly getting any injuries.

Dudson should and hopefully will step up to the plate.

What about Burgess at Bradford?

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sat May 26, 2012 9:19 pm  

If Bradford go into administration then all their players may find themselves out of contract. One or two, no more, could be useful additions if we haven't already got replacements signed up.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun May 27, 2012 9:05 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Kevin Brown off to Widnes next season.

Best news I have heard for a long time. Why we were ever in for him in the first place is beyond me.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun May 27, 2012 10:36 am  

Brown just wasn't the type of player we needed. One thing I would say though is it lessens the chances of getting Brough if we were after him.

Can't see Huddersfield being prepared to let him leave as well.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun May 27, 2012 11:02 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

I posted it on the previous page but i complete agree with your comments on Sam moving to HB and only spending cash on quality British players.

We find ourselves in the unique and unfortunate position of being in the market needing not one but two HB's for next season (*If Finch leaves of course*)

I've only really heard the names of Soward, Brough, Gaskell, Chase and Brown mentioned as possible recruits for us. Out of those 5 Sam is already a better HB than Gaskell, Chase and Brown and they'd signify a significant step down in class from Finch as well. Soward and Brough would be good players but won't be signing for peanuts. Signing Brough would also require a transfer fee which makes me a little wary due to his age.

I'd rather we brought Soward in partner him with Sam. We can then look at our FB options.

I said on a previous thread that quality FB's are a lot easier to come across than Quality HB's.

In the NRL alone you've got the top tier of FB's like Slater, Stewart, Boyd and Duggan and then you've got loads of other quality players who'd light SL up like Hayne, Barba, Hoffman, Locke, Bowen, Gidley etc

For some reason the NRL and SL seem to produce a lot more star FB's than they do HB's. If we are in with a shout of signing a SOO quality player like Soward who's to say we couldn't try for a top FB as well?

If the club doesn't want to go down the NRL route there are also options in SL. We've got Russell who is doing really well at Hull FC and showing a bucket load of promise. There is Eden at Hudds who looks like he could be fine player. I'd be much more comfortable paying a fee for him rather than Brough.

If the club stuck with Matty Russell but thought he wasn't quite ready we could even at a push sign a veteran like Webb or Patten for a season and manage one of theirs and Russell's game time to suit us. You've seen it happen at Wire with Hudds and if as long as it brings Russell on i'd be more than happy for it to happen.

A very good and sensible post.

2-3 weeks ago i would have been gutted to see finch leave and whilst i would still dearly like him to stay at Wigan. It is not the absolute end of thee world if he does go.

I like Sam at FB, but i would also be very interested to see how having 3 pivots of him, Soward and Russell (if ready) would go.

I am neither pro Sam at Fullback or pro Sam at 6.

It would do injustice to a player of his standard to say he could only play 1 particular role in a side.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun May 27, 2012 1:20 pm  

Apart from Soward I would sooner see us use our cap on up and coming UK talent, in this I mentioned Briscoe. How can we possibly future proof our team when players are contracted to be here for 3 seasons only to complete 2 years of said contract? Aussie players seem to add disruption to the team leaving before their contracts are up. This isn't the case with everyone (Richards/Carmont etc) but it is something that needs to be examined.

Personally I do like the idea of exploring the signings of British talent.
I feel Matty Smith would be excellent in a good team, a signing.
And sticking my neck out there, I feel regardless of how good Briscoe is on the wing, I think he is wasted, as a FB with his pace and explosive skill he would cause a team so many problems attacking on both sides of the pitch. We all already know his positioning is top notch as well as his ability under the high ball.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun May 27, 2012 2:12 pm  

why are certain fans so adamant about moving Sam to 6? these fans are rattling on about aussies leaving and we need stability with a long term half back pairing and yet Sam is probably going to do the same in 2/3 years time (we all know it) so what is the point of moving him from his best position in the first place

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun May 27, 2012 2:34 pm  

Famous wrote:

Best news I have heard for a long time. Why we were ever in for him in the first place is beyond me.

My understanding is that we never were. It was wishful thinking by Brown's agent.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun May 27, 2012 2:50 pm  

Baked Bean Boogie wrote:

why are certain fans so adamant about moving Sam to 6? these fans are rattling on about aussies leaving and we need stability with a long term half back pairing and yet Sam is probably going to do the same in 2/3 years time (we all know it) so what is the point of moving him from his best position in the first place

People are talking about Sam to #6 because there is a serious lack of other HB options.

There are no ready made HB's at the club and other alternatives include a Saints reject in Gaskell, a Dennis Moran MK2 in Chase or paying a fee for a 29 year old in Brough.

There are real alternatives for a good FB tho. Either give it to Russell or pay a fee for a promising younger like Eden.

That to me looks like long term planning.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Sun May 27, 2012 3:58 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

People are talking about Sam to #6 because there is a serious lack of other HB options.

There are no ready made HB's at the club and other alternatives include a Saints reject in Gaskell, a Dennis Moran MK2 in Chase or paying a fee for a 29 year old in Brough.

There are real alternatives for a good FB tho. Either give it to Russell or pay a fee for a promising younger like Eden.

That to me looks like long term planning.

but it isn't long term planning is it when Sam will bugger off in 2-3 seasons and we will be left looking for another halfback, we need a halfback pairing that is going to last 5-6 years, not move a player out of his best position because it fills a gap, IMO i doubt we would be as successful with Sam at 6, he has more freedom to work his magic from FB