You do realise Price is 35 and Lockyer is 32 don't you? How are they the answers to the problems we have? What do we do when they leave after two seasons? Sign another player for two seasons and keep switching it round? It hasn't worked in the past and it won't work again SHORT TERM FIXES ARE NOT THE ANSWER WE NEED CONTINUITY!! I'm sick of banging on about Leeds and Saints but the reason they have had the success they have had is they've got a HB pairing with talent which has been together for a number of seasons. It’s not rocket science in seeing what has been working over the course of SL and what hasn’t. We could potentially have one piece of the jigsaw in Tomkins sorted so lets look for another LONG TERM investment.
Hodges if available would be a good shout as he's a quality player but that doesn't always translate into doing it over here ala King. Still it maybe worth a punt? Lyon has to also be in the reckoning.
Why waste cap space on full back when we've got a new winger this season in Roberts on a FOUR year deal and Ainscough ripping it up? Which of these is gonna be wasted or dropped for Pat?
Next seasons recruitment is a major one and if done right could see us return to the top but if we continue down the road we’ve been down for a few years now of players like Fletcher, Moran, Withers, Millard and even Carmont and Trent we aren’t going to be able to see the consistency in our performances that settled teams have.
I couldnt care if they were 40 both are sheer class and would still rip it up, easy two years out of them both.
Current thoughts - Mago out or get running up them plantations, get fit or get rid. Maybe a back up halfback, someone with a bit of experience on a short term deal. Big tall strong running second rower, like a McMeekin or Sironen type back rower.
post wrote:I couldnt care if they were 40 both are sheer class and would still rip it up, easy two years out of them both.
Two years service? Are you actually joking?
So we sign Lockyer for 2010 leaves 2012 and then we're right back to square one, where the hell would that get us? It's all well and good saying "Oh its invaluable experience to Sam Tomkins." but what would it do for the club? It certainly wouldn't bolster our success chances.
The half-back pairing is essential to a teams success, thus it needs to be a long-lasting partnership. Not two/three years.
Last edited by 100% Warrior on Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1- Steve Price is 35 2- Andy Lynch Agreed 3- Mark O'Meley is contracted till 2011 No chance. 4- Petro Civeniceva is 32 - not the answer long term. 5- Kylie Leuluai. Stats don't even match up to Andy Coley we should look to Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook before him. In fact before them all
In that order go for them.
Also we need a stand off -
1- Darren Lockyer would be 32 and would only come for a season/2 tops - how does this allow us to have a cohesive halfback combination? Look at Leeds and Saints same halfback combinations for years and they have had the most success. 2- Karmichael Hunt Would not get a visa plus Union will get him before us. 3- Jamie Lyon - Contracted till 2010 4- Thomas Bosc - Contracted at Catalans. Not sure when till.
I would make a play for Justin Hodges too as a right centre, its worth a go. Contracted till 2011 no chance
Fullback -
1- Sean Briscoe
I dont want Pat wasted at FB, if our half backs had half a brain as soon as we got in their 20 I would kick to the corner for Pate, nobody will out jump him and we would score every time, why dont they do that?
Good call on the fullback situation apart from Briscoe being contracted at Hull KR till 2011 so we can rule that one out.
Back to the drawing board
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Joined: May 27 2003 Posts: 20427 Location: educating League Freak on all things rugby league
We do not need a team that is young across the board an experienced Prop is vital Petro would fit this bill, we do not have to continue building for the future 2 years from Petro would be ideal.
We need continuity in the halves and at 9 generally the rest of the positions it is less important especially Prop, i do not think we should look for anyone that offers only a year but 2 years is fine in some positions in my opinion.
Unofficially the most boring poster on Cherry and White.
George Carmont 2009 - Mutual option for 2010
Karl Pryce
Thomas Leuluai**
Mark Flanagan**
Release
Richie Mathers 2009 - Wigan option for 2010
Cameron Phelps 2009 - Wigan option for 2010
Tim Smith
Phil Bailey
Andy Coley
** - Signing Leuluai depends on Dobson's availability. He is contracted at Hull KR but I would be tempted to swap Leuluai plus £££ for Dobson. If not extend Leuluai's contract. The reason for this is although I believe Leuluai is a good scrum half he is much better suited to hooker and we have Riddell penned down till 2011 and McIlorum till 2010 - most likely till 2011. So his chances are very limited and so we should consider other options.
** - Retaining Mark Flanagan would be the managements call as I haven't seen anything of him to give a reasonable and accurate judgement on the lad. Does he have a future at Wigan RL? Realistically does he stand a chance of breaking into the first team? Does he have the potential to be a regular super league player?
Recruitment for 2010
A prop forward A fullback (depending on how well Ainscough can adopt to becoming a first team regular) Possibly a centre Possibly a scrum half.
Prop forward I would look to Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook. The lad has got immense potential & it's about spotting players like this before they are snapped up. E.g. Joe Westerman and Sam Burgess. LMS is something special, he is powerful, strong, elusive runner who has a real enthusiasm for the game and lifts his team mates. He is pivitol for the Harlequins side and would be a great signing for Wigan. He will be a future regular England international and could offer us again this sustained stability for 4/5 years that not many overseas players can. With Prescott, O'carroll LMS and Feka I would be very happy with that set of forwards for the future years to come. All could be pinned down till 2011.
If not Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook I would go for Luke Bailey. At only 28 he still has a lot to offer and has plenty of experience in the NRL. If he was signed on a three year contract he would help offer advice/tips to aid both O'carroll and Prescott's development while offering us some strength in depth and keep everyone on their toes having 5 props for next season.Then when Fielden comes off contract in 2010 we can just have Feka Bailey Prescott and O'carroll - as Prescott and O'carroll will have progressed from that year Bailey was here. Also with Fielden coming off contract we have a lot more room on the cap to offer sufficient wages to O'carroll and Prescott and reward them for their progress.
Centre Depends on four factors:
- How well Karl Pryce goes this season. Should he make the impact we are all hoping for there is one centre spot taken/depth because I believe he is better suited to centre rather than wing. Plus we have Richards, Ainscough and Roberts to contest the wing spots.
- If Darrell Goulding can hold down a place in the side.
- If George Carmont agrees to be resigned.
- If there is much quality available. In the UK there is only really Martin Gleeson I can think of off the top of my head. Overseas there is not much quality to speak of coming off contract at the end of this year.
Scrum Half I will not mince my words I would love Michael Dobson. Myler I don't think has the potential and is unproven in super league. Danny Brough is a good kicker but is easily closed down and can go missing. There are no realistic British alternatives for stability but Dobson is an exception to this being Australian. He seems keen to play in super league and I could see him establishing himself here for the rest of his career a bit like Robbie Paul. Dobson does the basics well and does other stuff on top of that which wins you games. He’d be the perfect foil for Tomkins and again we’d achieve continuity in a pivotal position for a number of seasons. It’s a shame that he’s off contract at the end of next season and not this one meaning we’d have to find a alternative for just next season. But we should be moving heaven and earth for players like him rather than Darren Lockyer and Matt Orford. I like Leuluai but he is far more suited to 9.
Rugby Union: When entertainment just isn't your thing.
jonh wrote:We do not need a team that is young across the board an experienced Prop is vital Petro would fit this bill, we do not have to continue building for the future 2 years from Petro would be ideal.
We need continuity in the halves and at 9 generally the rest of the positions it is less important especially Prop, i do not think we should look for anyone that offers only a year but 2 years is fine in some positions in my opinion.
I would agree but to ignore the availability of someone with the potential of Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook would be foolish. Players like this should be signed up before their parent clubs resign them. E.g Joe Westerman and Sam Burgess. Just imagine those two in the same side at club level
But if we were to look abroad I would go for Luke Bailey. He is only 28 and would be coming over at the right age and could offer more in terms of years of service than Petero.
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