Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:47 am  

Question please. I think one or two have posted something to the effect that Joe Mellor has signed for us from next season. It had been strongly rumoured for sometime now, but is no doubt "embargoed" until September. Is it generally known from the Wigan end that he has in fact signed for us?

I realise that he is not thought good enough for yourselves, currently, well by Mr Wane at least, whose view obviously counts, but he has been great for us getting better and better until his recent injury.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:16 pm  

We do need signings and in a few positions.
A centre is needed, Lulia at Bradford would be my choice if I had one!

Stand Off is another, Green seems to be rumoured as on his way here.

With Lima and likely as not Fielden not being with us next year we need a prop.
A former NRL South Sea Islander would do for me, Tamata or Kaufusi both at London might fit in nicely. Kaufusi is 6'3" and over 17st, aggressive too.

Whether we go for a 9 as deputy for Mic Mac I don't know. If they want to rest MM or put him on the bench then Smith can go to 9 with Powell to half back.
Powell needs to be given more game time and this would be one way of doing it.

In fairness to Wane, we have had a lot of salary cap that hasn't played for us this year. Fielden and Amos being two. Pat hasn't given us too many games and despite these senior players being out due to injury we are still top of the league.
Wire appear to have the largest squad in SL and the way they outbid other clubs for anyone they want then they must be paying some top salaries. Wane hasn't got that luxury.
If we can get up to the cap and have them available to play Wigan can be competing at the top for years to come.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:01 pm  

WirralViking wrote:

Question please. I think one or two have posted something to the effect that Joe Mellor has signed for us from next season. It had been strongly rumoured for sometime now, but is no doubt "embargoed" until September. Is it generally known from the Wigan end that he has in fact signed for us?

I realise that he is not thought good enough for yourselves, currently, well by Mr Wane at least, whose view obviously counts, but he has been great for us getting better and better until his recent injury.

From a good source Mellor and Marsh have both signed for Widnes .

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:05 pm  

jaws1 wrote:

From a good source Mellor and Marsh have both signed for Widnes .

Thanks for that! I will await the announcement then.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Aug 13, 2012 4:34 pm  

Father Ted wrote:

Kaufusi both at London might fit in nicely. Kaufusi is 6'3" and over 17st, aggressive too.

I'm a huge fan of Kaufusi. His defence is mean and very aggressive. I would love to see him in our pack. That shot on Eorl Crabtree amplifies what I'm talking about. He signed a three-year deal with London back in 2011 so we'd have to pay a fee but you get what you pay for & he would be a top signing.

Kernel wrote:

Galloway please

Another very aggressive player who I would love to see at Wigan. Rumours of him possibly joining Hull FC & if there's a possibility of him coming to Super League I would be all over it.


In a new forward for next year I would like to see someone with lots of controlled aggression like a Kaufusi or a Galloway. Someone who can really belt people in defence and intimidate the opposition without giving away silly penalties.
That Warrington pack bullied us & had far more aggression than we did. Morley, Carvell, Hill, Westwood, Waterhouse, Harrison etc big strong powerful lads & Mossop, Prescott, Lima, Lauaki, Hansen etc aren't really known for belting people in defence and were out muscled (albeit compounded more by our errors and penalties). But with Lima leaving and probably Fielden as well as the absence of senior players like Leuluai, Finch and Carmont we're going to have a young team next year with a young pack and I would just like to see in our recruitment someone who can be a 'pack leader' if you like and really lead by example in not taking a backwards step like a Quentin Pongia or a Craig Smith. A tough competitor but not a nutcase who will concede penalties. If that means paying a fee & getting more assertive in the market then so be it.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:27 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Langley would make an excellent prop 'if' he could stay fit but he's never been able to.

Dudson will be a big plus for us next year but I feel we do need an aggressive ball carrier to be signed as well. Lauaki has been playing pretty well but lacks leg drive and Mossop needs to go back to the drawing board in terms of how he wants to progress his game. I like Prescott but his injury record is poor and his ball retention is a worry.

A prop and a halfback are musts.

Mossop needs to grow a pair in big games and against bigger more aggressive forward aka Morley, Westwood, Carvell, Waterhouse.

He has the potential...I'm just questioning whether he has the heart.

Re Dudson - I'm surprised we haven't seen more of him this season. I rate Dudson and think he would of come on leaps and bounds if he had regular game time. Example being Chris Hill (A 2011 Championship player). We definately must sign a half back and a big, tough, angry, aggressive, doesn't take a backward step prop.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:33 pm  

Heard a little rumor re Paul Wood possibly being a forward thats coming in next year.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:04 pm  

One I heard at work today from a Rovers fan;

You guys have signed Blake Green, and it was a deal that Neil Hudgell did without Blake even knowing. Apparently he isn't very happy as he wants to stay at Rovers.

In terms of how 'in the know' this guy is, I'm not too sure. I know his wife is friends with Phil Lowe's (a Rovers director) wife.
Could all be rubbish though.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:36 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

Mossop needs to grow a pair in big games and against bigger more aggressive forward aka Morley, Westwood, Carvell, Waterhouse.

He has the potential...I'm just questioning whether he has the heart.

Re Dudson - I'm surprised we haven't seen more of him this season. I rate Dudson and think he would of come on leaps and bounds if he had regular game time. Example being Chris Hill (A 2011 Championship player). We definately must sign a half back and a big, tough, angry, aggressive, doesn't take a backward step prop.

We haven't seen much of him because of injury.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:17 pm  

Hasbag wrote:

One I heard at work today from a Rovers fan;

You guys have signed Blake Green, and it was a deal that Neil Hudgell did without Blake even knowing. Apparently he isn't very happy as he wants to stay at Rovers.

In terms of how 'in the know' this guy is, I'm not too sure. I know his wife is friends with Phil Lowe's (a Rovers director) wife.
Could all be rubbish though.

This isn't an American sport, can't transfer a player without him agreeing to it.