Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Feb 17, 2018 12:08 pm  

Grimmy wrote: http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors/sam-burgess-answers-those-rumours-linking-him-with-wigan-warriors-1-9018602 That doesn't read like much of anything to me. But being honest, the odds are so against it that I reckon the best policy is to safely assume it will NEVER happen. Then anything else can only be a nice surprise.

Grimmy wrote: http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors/sam-burgess-answers-those-rumours-linking-him-with-wigan-warriors-1-9018602 That doesn't read like much of anything to me. But being honest, the odds are so against it that I reckon the best policy is to safely assume it will NEVER happen. Then anything else can only be a nice surprise.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Feb 17, 2018 12:43 pm  

Grimmy wrote: http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors/sam-burgess-answers-those-rumours-linking-him-with-wigan-warriors-1-9018602 I recall Sam saying something similar in 2013, a month later an announcement was announced that he was leaving for NZ, words and contracts mean nothing in todays game

Grimmy wrote: http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors/sam-burgess-answers-those-rumours-linking-him-with-wigan-warriors-1-9018602 I recall Sam saying something similar in 2013, a month later an announcement was announced that he was leaving for NZ, words and contracts mean nothing in todays game

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Feb 18, 2018 1:03 pm  

I have no inside knowledge or secret source so this is just my opinion. I can’t see SB happening however, he turns 30 this year and is spending more time on the sidelines now. It is not beyond the realms of reality that Souths believe they have had the best of him and would prefer to free up the cap space for next year. Sam is at the back end of his career and is (I believe) an Australian citizen so free to return to Sydney, like any other aging NRL player to come over here and finish his career and try and pick up a bit of silverware before retiring is not uncommon.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:50 pm  

Looking increasingly like we have a 5 year agreement in place with Hardacre once he has served his punishment.

I’m torn on this one. Obviously he is an excellent player but he has so much baggage and so many issues off the field I’m concerned about the effects it will have on the squad if/when he comes and on the current players.

I also have concerns about the current team if this is true. Escaré isn’t going to exactly be the most motivated player knowing he is going to be replaced in the not too distant future.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:16 pm  

jonh wrote:

Looking increasingly like we have a 5 year agreement in place with Hardacre once he has served his punishment.

I’m torn on this one. Obviously he is an excellent player but he has so much baggage and so many issues off the field I’m concerned about the effects it will have on the squad if/when he comes and on the current players.

I also have concerns about the current team if this is true. Escaré isn’t going to exactly be the most motivated player knowing he is going to be replaced in the not too distant future.

He could be replacing Sam Tomkins for all we know - I think he's out of contract soon.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:19 pm  

Should Hardaker get a two year ban he won't play until the 2020 season.
Anything and most things could have happened to the squad by the end of 2019.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Feb 18, 2018 7:38 pm  

The rumours seem fairly rife about Hardaker but until it’s announced by the club I won’t believe, it just doesn’t add up to me.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:08 am  

MadDogg wrote:

He could be replacing Sam Tomkins for all we know - I think he's out of contract soon.

It would make sense if Sam was to go to Warrington

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:53 am  

The Whiffy Kipper wrote:

It would make sense if Sam was to go to Warrington

Can't see Sam leaving now. I'm fairly sure the captaincy is his once SOL retires. Plus he's looking good this year, and despite other fan's dislike for him on the field, he's never been one to have off-field issues.

Hardaker is a great player, but I cant stand him, or the people who stick up for him regardless of whether he takes drugs, assaults members of the public, shouts homophobic slurs at refs or is kicked out of the England squad for misconduct. As people have said, people giving these players chance after chance rarely pays off.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 19, 2018 11:14 am  

jonh wrote:

Looking increasingly like we have a 5 year agreement in place with Hardacre once he has served his punishment.

I’m torn on this one. Obviously he is an excellent player but he has so much baggage and so many issues off the field I’m concerned about the effects it will have on the squad if/when he comes and on the current players.

I also have concerns about the current team if this is true. Escaré isn’t going to exactly be the most motivated player knowing he is going to be replaced in the not too distant future.

If we were to sign Hardaker (and I hope we don't), he could just as easily be playing centre. If we had him right now, and he wasn't a complete idiot, that's where I'd put him given that we are much stronger at FB than centre.