Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Jan 16, 2016 9:17 pm  

nidger wrote:

Could it be forward thinking strategy on Waney's part, as to when the substitutions are reduced to 8. Maybe he'll want a more mobile pack then. It will certainly alter the thinking.Just a thought.

If the idea of a more mobile pack is what Wane is thinking , why not go the whole hog ?.

This a great big curve ball what I am going to suggest, if this is indeed Wanes plan, Anthony Gelling has a very big frame (6ft-4 whatever) he thrives on taking the ball up every chance he gets and really getting involved.
Bulk him up slowly and move him to Prop . I just have this feeling that if the game went to having forwards with more mobility and who could do the minutes he may surprise a few people.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 19, 2016 8:15 pm  

Interesting that Bateman has been interviewed and said he doesn't want to play centre. We really need to go out and sign a top class centre. Gildart is the (near) future and Gelling is questionable.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 19, 2016 9:11 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Interesting that Bateman has been interviewed and said he doesn't want to play centre. We really need to go out and sign a top class centre. Gildart is the (near) future and Gelling is questionable.

Think Bateman will see a fair bit of gametime at centre, otherwise why sign Isa? Sarginson and Bateman this season then Sarginson and Gildart next should be fine, that's assuming Gelling doesn't re-find form of course

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 19, 2016 10:11 pm  

Seen Gelling get a lot of stick but Sarg seems somewhat immune from criticism. I thought Sarg was very disappointing last year, really failed to kick on from his displays in the 4 Nations.

Centre is without doubt our weakest position. Gildart for me has established himself as our first choice the fact we have not brought in another centre especially given the positional changes we had to accommodate to cover centre last season seems odd.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:32 pm  

Bateman did say he's happy to fill in where needed but I think he's sending a message that he doesn't see it as his full time position (and nor do many).

I'm pretty happy with the centre spot. I'm happy that on his day Gelling is as dangerous as anybody but he's got to make sure he's threatening the opposition and not us. I think Sarginson had a disrupted year last year but he should be really hungry this year and I could see him having a big season. That leaves us with Gildart who's a great young talent. We shouldn't over burden him this year but he can handle 15-20 games IMO and do a very good job for us.

We're in a much stronger position then the vast majority of clubs.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 20, 2016 12:32 am  

jonh wrote:

Seen Gelling get a lot of stick but Sarg seems somewhat immune from criticism. I thought Sarg was very disappointing last year, really failed to kick on from his displays in the 4 Nations.

Centre is without doubt our weakest position. Gildart for me has established himself as our first choice the fact we have not brought in another centre especially given the positional changes we had to accommodate to cover centre last season seems odd.

I agree about Sarge's form. I also have concerns about his commitment. For months and months now, he's been linked with a move to RU, and there is rarely smoke without at least some fire. Not sure what we can expect from him this season, but if a player is looking to leave, you generally don't get very much.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 20, 2016 8:25 am  

Cruncher wrote:

I agree about Sarge's form. I also have concerns about his commitment. For months and months now, he's been linked with a move to RU, and there is rarely smoke without at least some fire. Not sure what we can expect from him this season, but if a player is looking to leave, you generally don't get very much.

The surprising and worrying thing about that is that for a guy like Sarginson you'd think being at Wigan would be huge for him. He's still very young and has only really played one full season for us. He's built a good reputation but I think we'll admit openly that he's got a lot of improving to do. I think his England performances down under have probably exaggerated his standing a little and maybe got him ahead of himself.

We need him to get his head down even if this is to be his last year. He needs to use Joe Burgess as an example (first month of the season aside) of what level should be expected.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 20, 2016 9:11 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

The surprising and worrying thing about that is that for a guy like Sarginson you'd think being at Wigan would be huge for him. He's still very young and has only really played one full season for us. He's built a good reputation but I think we'll admit openly that he's got a lot of improving to do. I think his England performances down under have probably exaggerated his standing a little and maybe got him ahead of himself.

We need him to get his head down even if this is to be his last year. He needs to use Joe Burgess as an example (first month of the season aside) of what level should be expected.

A good assessment.

To be honest, I'm still adjusting to this new world in which Wigan aren't one of the biggest opportunities going. Mind you, why Sarginson would want to go to RU after the Sam Burgess farce, I don't know. The NRL I could understand (and would respect him for a lot more), though of course that would really and genuinely test him, which he may not fancy. Then of course, you have the likes of Scott Taylor, whose overriding ambition was to play for Hull FC. That's even harder to work out.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 20, 2016 10:25 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Bateman did say he's happy to fill in where needed but I think he's sending a message that he doesn't see it as his full time position (and nor do many).

I'm pretty happy with the centre spot. I'm happy that on his day Gelling is as dangerous as anybody but he's got to make sure he's threatening the opposition and not us. I think Sarginson had a disrupted year last year but he should be really hungry this year and I could see him having a big season. That leaves us with Gildart who's a great young talent. We shouldn't over burden him this year but he can handle 15-20 games IMO and do a very good job for us.

We're in a much stronger position then the vast majority of clubs.

Spot on IMO. I see hooker as our weakest position. McIlorum is solid if lacking in the attacking spark of Roby, Aiton etc, then behind him you've got Powell who's only a half doing a job there and Waterworth who looks a good prospect but hasn't even made his competitive debut. If we had kept Hampshire I'd be looking at Smith being used as an interchange hooker, he was pretty good there when he first signed for us

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:48 am  

I, too, am not impressed with McIlorum. He has no pace and rarely makes a break. He's as hard as nails and really gets stuck in but give me a Piggy, Burrow, Roby type hooker any day of the week.