: Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:39 pm  

I dont beleive spalshing out on so many world class players is the answer in the modern game, every team needs a superstar to be one of the best, but IMO its much better to have an all round squad. We also dont realise what effect it must have on the dressing room when one player is on £50,000 more than everyone else.

: Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:44 pm  

Ben Roberts, Sam Burgess and Manu Vatuvei

: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:15 pm  

odemwingie wrote:

I dont beleive spalshing out on so many world class players is the answer in the modern game, every team needs a superstar to be one of the best, but IMO its much better to have an all round squad. We also dont realise what effect it must have on the dressing room when one player is on £50,000 more than everyone else.

I assume "the modern game" refers to the years since Wigan's salary cap was reduced to the same as all the other clubs.

: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:21 pm  

I would like to see us look to sign the best youngsters if we are going to spend big.

These players can then form the backbone of the team for years to come. Paying big money for the likes of Lockyer is all or nothing. He will play for two years and leave, so the nvestment is limited in that you have to win something in those two years.

The likes of Ben Westwod have been a fantastic investment for Warrington, and perhaps we need to target the likes of Shenton, Westerman etc.

: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:56 pm  

Can Moran afford Kaka?

: Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:03 pm  

Dave T wrote:

I would like to see us look to sign the best youngsters if we are going to spend big.

These players can then form the backbone of the team for years to come. Paying big money for the likes of Lockyer is all or nothing. He will play for two years and leave, so the nvestment is limited in that you have to win something in those two years.

The likes of Ben Westwod have been a fantastic investment for Warrington, and perhaps we need to target the likes of Shenton, Westerman etc.

Exactly.

In fairness to the club this is probably what they were thinking when they signed Bridge and Bracek, but they haven't turned out to be what was hoped. It is a hard job because there is a limited amount of young English talent, and once the talent is on the books of one of Leeds/Saints/Bradford it is hard for a club like us to persuade them to let the player go. I can't see us getting a positive response if we enquired about signing Roby or Graham, or Sam Burgess.

That leaves signing targets outside the big clubs (eg Westerman, Shenton) or more likely to get the right players when they are still schoolboy age. I am sure the club is thinking on these lines hence the appointment of John Bastian. And to be fair they've put a lot into local junior development so the effort is going in.

The idea was probably to complement this long term strategy with 'loading from above' as Cullen put it, bringing in established internationals to immediately lift the standard of the club (and help us attract the best young players). Sadly this didn't work, some of the players weren't the right ones, and the limitations of the coach mitigated against us too.

: Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:17 pm  

Ian [77] wrote:

Can Moran afford Kaka?

Twice.

: Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:29 pm  

odemwingie wrote:

I dont beleive spalshing out on so many world class players is the answer in the modern game, every team needs a superstar to be one of the best, but IMO its much better to have an all round squad. We also dont realise what effect it must have on the dressing room when one player is on £50,000 more than everyone else.

Its all about getting the right world class player. Look at Saints with Lyon and Gidley. Wigan got Barrett, Leeds with Webb etc.

No matter what anyone says Benji Marshall would be a sensation over here. He would be the best Kiwi import in the Super League bar none.

Lockyer would still be the best player in the Super League, even at his age.

Hunt is better than any full back in Super League also including Webb, Wellens and Greenshields.

: Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:43 pm  

Casual Des wrote:

Its all about getting the right world class player. Look at Saints with Lyon and Gidley. Wigan got Barrett, Leeds with Webb etc.

No matter what anyone says Benji Marshall would be a sensation over here. He would be the best Kiwi import in the Super League bar none.

Hunt is better than any full back in Super League also including Webb, Wellens and Greenshields.

No, no, no. I'd rather have Webb than Marshall or Hunt. Webb is what we want Bridge to be at full back.

If we are going for the real thing, we should go for Slater and/or Thurston.

: Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:11 am  

I'd be happy with pretty much UK recruitment really, maybe get a prop from the NRL, there's plenty in the Bulb/Rauhihi school, somebody who's tough & uncompromising and hard to shift backwards. You could probably throw 30 names on here. Assuming the others stay, ie, Hicks retained etc, I'd be cool with that. Or even one of those french lads, Remi Casty or someone like that, harness his aggression like.

Jamie Lyon being the exception to the rule, if there's even a whiff that this guy will be playing in the UK in 2010 we should pull out all the stops to ensure that it's with us.

I'd be pleased if our recruitment was something like, and this depends on injuries, extensions and such, and others clubs performing and being willing to sell etc, if Huddersfield go well, Wild obviously wouldn't want to leave.

Michael Shenton [Gleeson]
Rob Purdham [V.Anderson/PJ]
Steven Wild [See Above]
Richard Owen [Utility]
Louis McCarthy Scarsbrook / Andy Lynch / AN Other Prop [Rauhihi]