Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 18, 2017 2:44 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

It’s not a poor squad but not a top 4 squad either. I’d say ahead of us on paper are Cas, Leeds, Hull and Saints with Wire now not far off. Huddersfield had a good end to their season and Wakefield will probably contend again.

We are in for a tough season unless we can sort our defence out and find a way to win close games again like 2016.

It all depends if we under achieved or not last season for me. I think we did and if so then it is a top four squad without any question because it’s far stronger (with all the bodies back) then the squad we had available to us for a good chunk of 2017.

If the players play to their potential then challenging for honours should be the minimum requirement. The issue has been that we’ve not done that enough for a while now (for two seasons really apart from a spell of about 6 weeks at the end of 2016).

It’s a huge few months for Shaun Wane and us. If it goes badly Wane could be in a really poor spot. He’s so pro Wigan that he’s rubbed a lot of opposition up the wrong way and if he ever leaves the club, it’s tough to see who’d take him on. In terms of the squad, I just want to see them look like they’re enjoying being at the club again. The players don’t look too happy to me in general and haven’t done for a while.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 18, 2017 3:41 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

It all depends if we under achieved or not last season for me. I think we did and if so then it is a top four squad without any question because it’s far stronger (with all the bodies back) then the squad we had available to us for a good chunk of 2017.

If the players play to their potential then challenging for honours should be the minimum requirement. The issue has been that we’ve not done that enough for a while now (for two seasons really apart from a spell of about 6 weeks at the end of 2016).

It’s a huge few months for Shaun Wane and us. If it goes badly Wane could be in a really poor spot. He’s so pro Wigan that he’s rubbed a lot of opposition up the wrong way and if he ever leaves the club, it’s tough to see who’d take him on. In terms of the squad, I just want to see them look like they’re enjoying being at the club again. The players don’t look too happy to me in general and haven’t done for a while.

You're right there with them not looking like they are enjoying it (not so sure about the Wane bit, I'm a critic but I do think plenty other SL clubs would have him, or maybe an NRL team as an assistant). I think all the injuries broke them mentally to be honest, it looked to me like guys who weren't fit were being patched up to go out there, then we went to Cas with the opportunity to go top and it all fell apart with players dropping like flies and them sticking 50odd past us.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:41 pm  

Pemps wrote:

Canberra Raiders have just released Kurt Baptiste, their only fit hooker. Does this pave the way for MM to move there?

A swap on the cards?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:42 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Looking at the squad and options
Fullback - S. Tomkins, Escare, Sarginson
Wing - Burgess, Davies, Marshall, Manfredi*
Centre - Gildart, Sarginson, Higginson*, Bateman, Forsyth
Halfbacks - Williams, Leuluai, S.Tomkins, Sarginson, Shorrocks*, Powell
Props - FPN, Sutton, Clubb, Flower, Tautai, Bretherton
Hookers - McIlorum, Powell, Leuluai, Ganson
Back Row - Farrell, Bateman, J.Tomkins, Isa, Wells
Loose Forward- O'Loughlin, Bateman, Hamlin.

Then the young guns who will probably get some game time this year, Worthington, Field, Partington, Paisley, Kibula, Wood.
The * are players with injury doubts/records.

That doesn't look like a poor squad to me, and I don't see it finishing outside the top six as suggested a few posts back.

What about Navarette?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:59 pm  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

A swap on the cards?

He’s signed for Leigh the Canberra lad.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:42 pm  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

What about Navarette?

Pretty sure he has gone? He's not in pre-season with the rest of the squad. Weird there has been no announcement about him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:47 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Pretty sure he has gone? He's not in pre-season with the rest of the squad. Weird there has been no announcement about him.

Just realised he played for France in the WC didn't he so maybe he'll return after Christmas.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:23 am  

RichieS wrote:

Micky Mc has zero desire to leave the club and as far as I am aware the club have zero desire to let him go.

Gelling announcement will be early new year, however maybe just after xmas. Sau was main target to replace and was keen to join but he wasn't/isn't fit so deal wasn't done, sarge has since come in.

One note, all the rumours regards Gells seem a little off target, it was literally a decision made less than 24 hours ago by the club. No further developments regards incomings/outgoings.

Squad numbers will be released after trip to Wales as competition for shirt places is on. Escare is also doing a lot of work at #6

Has Gelling gone to RU in New Zealand?? That appears to be one of the rumours going around.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Dec 19, 2017 12:13 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Looking at the squad and options
Fullback - S. Tomkins, Escare, Sarginson
Wing - Burgess, Davies, Marshall, Manfredi*
Centre - Gildart, Sarginson, Higginson*, Bateman, Forsyth
Halfbacks - Williams, Leuluai, S.Tomkins, Sarginson, Shorrocks*, Powell
Props - FPN, Sutton, Clubb, Flower, Tautai, Bretherton
Hookers - McIlorum, Powell, Leuluai, Ganson
Back Row - Farrell, Bateman, J.Tomkins, Isa, Wells
Loose Forward- O'Loughlin, Bateman, Hamlin.

Isn't Lewis Heckford back in the fold at Wigan now? He's too old for the 19's too.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Dec 19, 2017 12:47 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

We now seem to live in an age when people take offence seemingly just for the sake of it. But taking offence because we sign an international centre who has already contributed significantly to us winning honours in the past, takes the biscuit. What a poor gentle soul you must be if you feel that the club are treating you with contempt.

Wigan are bookies favourites for next season already. As you never see a bookie catching a bus, I'll trust their judgement over yours. But if you feel free to have a bet on your assertion, I'll offer you even money that Wigan don't finish top 4 I'll even let you have fifth place because it's the season of goodwill!!! In other words, put your money were your mouth is.

Don't really see the need to be condescending towards me but each to their own. I don't know about anybody else's circumstances but i work bloody hard for my wages exposed to the frost, snow, wind and rain etc all day every day and at the end of the week there is hardly any money left for myself. I have chosen to invest that in my home town Rugby League club to give me a nice release at the weekend. To entertain me, however i have been far from entertained the last 2 seasons and the waxing lyrical of IL and SW about "we know what we need to do" hasn't left me feeling like this season will be any different. If i want to be bored to death i will do overtime. I support my club through the good and bad times, if things aren't going well on the putch then so be it, it happens. I was sat at Knowsley Road watching our nearest and dearest hammer us. I understood there was a transition in progress. But now, we have no excuses, its the management that are stopping us progressing. If they want my money then they are going to have to prove worthy of it. Im not just funding the coffers for the sake of it.