genuine question



what is a testimonial worth to a player? I know there is lots done re charities with testimonials, but would £x from a testimonial cover a potential contract & salary increase elsewhere?

No I agree that financially it wouldn't be a game changer. My point was more about loyalty. I know its a short career and they don't get what footballers earn etc but by and large we've managed to keep our top players over the years. Roby was a prime example of someone who could've gone to Australia and didn't. We've managed to keep the likes of Lomax and Walmsley for all their career when I would imagine there would've been interest in both when they were younger.

You’ve been lucky that you haven’t been raided for your talent. Hopefully it doesn’t continue for you. I imagine Welsby will be next to go. We’ve had plenty of years were we’ve lost players to the NRL. I think this is the first we haven’t lost a player.

There's a report going around today that Woolf is looking towards Superleague to rebuild the Dolphins pack for 2026, once guys like Kafusi and Bromwich retire. You'd be surprised if he isn't looking at Saints to see if guys like Lees and Knowles fancy it. There might be that element of not wanting to do too much damage to his old club but he seems a guy who is pretty ruthless and focused on success, so I'm not sure that'll hold him back.

yeah I can see Welsby going within a couple of years. However he is contracted for another 3 seasons so there would have to be a transfer fee paid.

You're still holding a grudge against Woolf for not releasing Saints players for internationals

i agree you've done well to retain your talent in the main. I guess some players are homebirds and i'd put Liam Farrell and Lockers into that category, where like Roby they probably could have gone abroad



with Lomax, you were probably lucky (although unlucky as he was injured) that we seemed to be quite fragile at a younger age, and he's developed some resilience as he's gotten older. There's no doubt he's talented but could probably have played far more games for you

I think geography is a big protective factor for SL. If the NRL was played in Europe I think the floodgates would have opened by now but it's a huge move to go and live in Australia. From personal experience, living somewhere and being a tourist somewhere are two very different things. It'll also be interesting to see how the new franchise in PNG will affect the numbers leaving SL - on one hand living in a compound in PNG does not sound appealing but the tax exemptions will definitely appeal to some.



Saints may have a couple of middles closer to the end of their contract but from a Wigan standpoint it would surprise me if Ethan Havard didn't end up there at some point.

Times are changing though, the new NRL franchise in 2028 will have a big impact on SL. The Aussies will already be talking to agents about deals. Unless Saints are going to come up with the money players are going to go. There is no way they can compete with the NRL unless they maximise the marquee rule and it doesn’t look as though the club has much appetite for that. Welsby will definitely go to the NRL, I expect Lees to go and young Delaney will probably have an offer on the table.

Unless there is a break clause in his contract.

With my Wigan hat on I hope Havard stays here for his career but if I take it off and look at where he is at currently, I think he should go and test himself. He has broken in to the England side now and I think another season here with Wigan would take him to 25 years old and he would have 6 or 7 seasons of first team rugby at the back of him. As much as it always hurts seeing them walk out of the door, I think the lads would be daft not to go if it's something they have an ambition to do and that's the case for them all, including non Wigan players like Welsby, Lees, Lewis etc.

another one on testimonials as i've just seen a picture of Josh Charnley at one of his testimonial do's



are there 2 ways it can be granted ie Club as with Knowles (or an other player who stays loyal to an individual club) or RFL that i'm assuming has granted Charnley one, which is slightly stranger given he buggered off to rugby union too, but still has more than 10 years service to RL?