Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:18 pm  

The Powell move is a strange one really;

Positive move for RL in general as it's gonna generate publicity. If the Daily Mail article is anything to go by at least some media outlets will at least to start to mention we've got a world cup at the end of the year. Powell is a well known RU player who's toured with the Lions and won Grand Slams with Wales. He's a high profile player that can't be doubted.

From a Wigan POV he's 31 and will be 7th choice prop and with some talented, in form youngsters who are hungry for sucess blocking his path into the match day squad. I still have my doubts about Wane but I'll never knock him for his principal of playing guys who've earned a shot. IF Powell signs for us and does play I think he'd have proven himself to Wane. You can't ask more than that.

He'll probably end up at South Wales and he'll put bums on seats there and that will do our partnership and standing in the community no harm.

All at the end of the day it depends on cash. I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get an allowance off the RFL for him. Simply because of the publicity he will generate for the world cup. By highlighting Powell hopefully it will also shed light on guys like Lloyd, Flower or Dudson who are all proper Welsh boys plying their trade in RL.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:49 am  

Sounds to me as though this could be a PR signing. We can call him up if we need too, but primarily I think we'll see him down at S.Wales trying to promote the game down there and then obviously the World Cup.

I'm all for anyone/anything that promotes both Wigan RL and RL in general.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:45 am  

I wonder of Lauaki is not going to come through to play again for us again. At 29 he is our senior prop so this signing (if true) would make sense from a pR and playing p.o.v.

My RU playing son-in-law reckons Powell could make a very good RL prop as he is big, mobile and has good hands.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:55 am  

I think Powell has a lot to offer in terms of talent, it just depends how quickly he can adapt to RL. I think (apart from his off-field issues) his main weakness is he often runs the ball with blinkers on and wants to run over the top of everyone but if he can make good yards I don't see this being a big issue.

Never been a big fan of Lauaki so if the rumours are true I don't see it being a huge apart from being a prop down initially.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:04 am  

I've always like Powell as he's a tough guy BUT I certainly don't think he's the ball carrying force he once was.

I just can't see him forcing himself into the squad but as I said before if he does we can know he's earned it.

Hopefully he's matured as he's got BIG GAME experience but he's also been a liability at some points.

A lots up in the air but i guess we've looked around for other players and gone for him. I'll certainly give him a fair shot and only judge when he's been given a good shot.

Can't see some RL and Wigan fans doing the same sadly

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:41 am  

This moves probably come 2-3 years too late for him to be an outright success on the field IMO but there's obvious long term benefits regardless.

More to this signing (if it happens) then meets the eye IMO. It's as much a marketing gimmick and a driver for our link up with Welsh RL as it is us signing a player to add to the squad.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:51 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

This moves probably come 2-3 years too late for him to be an outright success on the field IMO but there's obvious long term benefits regardless.

More to this signing (if it happens) then meets the eye IMO. It's as much a marketing gimmick and a driver for our link up with Welsh RL as it is us signing a player to add to the squad.

That's a fair synopsis.

I just hope that if we do sign him then instead of the normal BS about signing for the biggest RL side in England, club history etc Powell talks up the Welsh link. He can point out the Welsh contingent we've already got and the money we've invested in South Wales.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:29 pm  

Powell would be useful for the cross-code game against Saracens at Wembley.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:45 pm  

Paul Youane wrote:

Powell would be useful for the cross-code game against Saracens at Wembley.

These opportunities tend to arise when you support the biggest and most famous rugby club in the world.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 07, 2013 7:21 pm  

Wigan assistant coach Iestyn Harris has distanced the club from reports that they are to sign former Wales rugby union international Andy Powell. Reports surfaced over the weekend suggesting that Powell, 31, was set to leave the 15-a-side code to join the Warriors from Sale. But Harris, who conducted the post-match press conference following the 44-24 win over Wakefield on Sunday instead of Shaun Wane, was quick to dismiss any link. The Wales coach said: "I don't know anything about that. It would be great for Wales but as for him coming to Wigan I don't know anything." http://sportinglife.aol.co.uk/rugby-league/news/article/22883/8624287/harris-dismisses-powell-talk

Wigan assistant coach Iestyn Harris has distanced the club from reports that they are to sign former Wales rugby union international Andy Powell. Reports surfaced over the weekend suggesting that Powell, 31, was set to leave the 15-a-side code to join the Warriors from Sale. But Harris, who conducted the post-match press conference following the 44-24 win over Wakefield on Sunday instead of Shaun Wane, was quick to dismiss any link. The Wales coach said: "I don't know anything about that. It would be great for Wales but as for him coming to Wigan I don't know anything." http://sportinglife.aol.co.uk/rugby-league/news/article/22883/8624287/harris-dismisses-powell-talk