Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 4:52 pm  

WiganBurt wrote:

of course, but that is not the point. making such comments does the following things:

A) prompts their current club to consider an increase in their wage if they wish to retain the player - using this kind of comment as a bargaining tool does not sit well with me when they don't yet appear ready to make such a move should it come about.
B) shows that their head isn't 100% in the club
C) shows that they perhaps think more of themselves than is actually evident on form, whether past or present

ultimately, I want players on top of their game being touted by the aussie clubs and then fair enough, what will be will be. I don't like it when the players are openly inviting the prospect well before it is due. they are basically holding the club to ransom.

Don’t you think agents have been doing this for years? Do u think this is something new and exclusive to Wigan?

To come back to your points:

A - Gildart is in the last year of his current contract and is dead right to try and negotiate the best possible deal for himself.
B - The fact that he is trying to secure his future does not mean he won’t go out and give 100% for Wigan, quite the opposite in fact! He knows he has to be on the top of his game to get the best deal he can and whilst this season he hasn’t hit top form, maybe if anything, he’s trying too hard!
C - To say playing in the NRL is a dream does not mean a player thinks more of their ability than they deserve. That’s just your opinion of their form and ability. If an NRL club thinks they’re worth a shot then clearly their opinion differs to yours.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 4:54 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

D) You're reading into it far to much.

not in the slightest... fancy walking into Greggs and saying sorry I would much prefer to go and work for Galloways one day. they'd say right, off you pop then!

i'm all for our players to have aspirations and goals and to achieve them with the club BUT I do not see any positive reason why the likes of Gildart and Williams come out with this rubbish at times. oh hang on I know why... its so they could get a better contract!

simple as. their agents are milking the club when it is not always deserving, that's my point. I want Williams and gildart to excel - at wigan! not elsewhere. contribute to a few years of success here first then i'd have no qualms assuming they warranted a move to Oz then. but for me at present, they don't. so i'm not over-reading into anything.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 4:56 pm  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

Don’t you think agents have been doing this for years? Do u think this is something new and exclusive to Wigan?

To come back to your points:

A - Gildart is in the last year of his current contract and is dead right to try and negotiate the best possible deal for himself.
B - The fact that he is trying to secure his future does not mean he won’t go out and give 100% for Wigan, quite the opposite in fact! He knows he has to be on the top of his game to get the best deal he can and whilst this season he hasn’t hit top form, maybe if anything, he’s trying too hard!
C - To say playing in the NRL is a dream does not mean a player thinks more of their ability than they deserve. That’s just your opinion of their form and ability. If an NRL club thinks they’re worth a shot then clearly their opinion differs to yours.

basically you are saying that GW and OG are ready for the NRL. they are not. simple.

iId like them to concentrate on Wigan, if that is ok for now.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Mar 02, 2018 5:13 pm  

WiganBurt wrote:

basically you are saying that GW and OG are ready for the NRL. they are not. simple.

iId like them to concentrate on Wigan, if that is ok for now.

Again, it’s your opinion and nothing more. If an NRL club wants to offer them a deal then their opinion is different to yours.
Personally I think GW would be at home in the NRL and Gildart certainly has enough potential to succeed out there.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 03, 2018 3:57 am  

I obviously want good players to both play for us and want to play for us. Its hard to see that players at Wigan now seem to dream of a NRL stint. Im realistic though and who can blame them if the pay and lifestyle seems so much better.
The thing that I dont like is the lack of respect for the club and fans that some of these interviews and quotes seem to portray. We are four games in and I have already seen quotes from Budgie, Sutton, Bateman and now Gildart. Budgies in the week leading to our first SL game of the season made me feel like packing his bags for him.... I dont want to feel like that about our players especially ones with the potential and who at their best (and not on occasions) I pay and love to watch. I just wish they would use a simple no comment, or a "Im on a trip with Wigan so I cant come out for a meal with an NRL coach on this occasion."
At least before they start with "future plans" let the season start. What next a Ashton esque picture in a NRL clubs kit a year before they leave??
A little more respect for the club and fans would go a long way.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:26 am  

I’d love it if all the players were happy to stay and give their all through love of the club alone, that’s the difference between a fan and a player.

These are professional athletes who have a short career, they will look to maximise earnings and will also have professional ambition. Ignoring the larger contracts on offer as a pro most will have the desire to test themselves in what is considered a far superior competition. These players who express an interest in the NRL don’t decide to go and tell everyone for the fun of it. They are asked the question by a journalist and answer honestly. Walmsley did the same but ultimately decided it wasn’t right for him at this time. A player would be stupid not to at least consider it as an option, whether they’d get a contract is a different question.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:36 am  

Trainman wrote:

I’d love it if all the players were happy to stay and give their all through love of the club alone, that’s the difference between a fan and a player.

These are professional athletes who have a short career, they will look to maximise earnings and will also have professional ambition. Ignoring the larger contracts on offer as a pro most will have the desire to test themselves in what is considered a far superior competition. These players who express an interest in the NRL don’t decide to go and tell everyone for the fun of it. They are asked the question by a journalist and answer honestly. Walmsley did the same but ultimately decided it wasn’t right for him at this time. A player would be stupid not to at least consider it as an option, whether they’d get a contract is a different question.

I don’t recall Walmsley saying it was ‘a dream’ to play in the NRL. I would also say Walmsley is far further on in his development then say Gildart is and he’s also playing for a club I presume he didn’t grow up with an ambition of playing for since being a small child. You can also add in the fact that when the Walmsley rumours were going round, he was probably in career best form and not limping along as a few of our lads have been doing.

I have no issue with these lads wanting to test themselves and wanting to live the lifestyle the NRL will offer but they need to show a little more respect to the club and the supporters for me. Things may be going on behind the scenes with these lads but they could just bat the questions away. I’m sure the NRL clubs wouldn’t sit there and listen to one of them saying ‘I’m just concentrating on Wigan’ and think ‘well we may as well leave that then’.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 05, 2018 9:34 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I don’t recall Walmsley saying it was ‘a dream’ to play in the NRL. I would also say Walmsley is far further on in his development then say Gildart is and he’s also playing for a club I presume he didn’t grow up with an ambition of playing for since being a small child. You can also add in the fact that when the Walmsley rumours were going round, he was probably in career best form and not limping along as a few of our lads have been doing.

I have no issue with these lads wanting to test themselves and wanting to live the lifestyle the NRL will offer but they need to show a little more respect to the club and the supporters for me. Things may be going on behind the scenes with these lads but they could just bat the questions away. I’m sure the NRL clubs wouldn’t sit there and listen to one of them saying ‘I’m just concentrating on Wigan’ and think ‘well we may as well leave that then’.

Great post!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 05, 2018 9:38 am  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

Again, it’s your opinion and nothing more. If an NRL club wants to offer them a deal then their opinion is different to yours.
Personally I think GW would be at home in the NRL and Gildart certainly has enough potential to succeed out there.

GW has not even been at home in a Wigan shirt since signing on as a Marquee player. in the future, he certainly has the potential yes I do not disagree, but he is nowhere near ready at present.

and OG is even more far off. one good season doesn't make you NRL potential. he needs to replicate that this season and then some.

and again, I don't disagree with players wanting to fulfil dreams and aspirations but do you not think they should actually put in the performances that warrant their desires continually before putting fans on a downer by making these want-away comments - 4 games into the season might I add?!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 05, 2018 9:55 am  

A rugby league career is short, you cannot blame any individual for wanting to experience different climates and sporting environments. I would expect both George Williams, Gildart, Ryan Sutton and even Tom Davies for that matter to want to play professionally within the NRL.

A contract is a commitment from the individual to play for/represent the club. As far as I am concerned Gildart gives his all and honors that contract week in week out, as his deal is expiring he is entitled to say whatever he pleases regards what happens when that contract ends, it does not change his commitment to his current contract. I would be more concerned if he signed a new deal then immediately started saying he wants to play in a different continent.