: Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:50 pm  

JWP wrote:

For me, the question is, Do I think Darren Lockyer would improve us ? Yep. We all talk about mentality, having winners, cultures in the club etc, I think this bloke would be a great leader.

That's the big thing. Imagine the reputation the name Warrington would have in World Rugby having had Bobby Fulton, Langer, Johns and Lockyer wear the jersey. I dare say that is a more impressive list of Ocker halfbacks than even Wigan can boast.

This is about the hundredth Lockyer thread anyway, so at the risk of repeating myself, if Lockyer was to have a two season waltz through Super League, for any club, how could that not benefit them?
To use ourselves as specific example, young halfbacks like Thompson, Leatherbarrow, Goulding, would be reaching their late teens/early 20s and surely on the fringes of the first team. They would get to share a training ground with Darren Lockyer. They would work with him day in, day out and learn from him.
Any player worth their salt would want to improve their game to show off to the World's best. The halfbacks would have to step up their game to attempt to get a place in the team, while the pack would want to work harder to hit gaps and create field position, space and time on the ball for their mecurial halfback.
On the training ground, in the gym and on the pitch, Lockyer's presence would - or should - be a figurative firework up everyone's Arris.

Plus, the club could make a fortune from Gate receipts (everyone would want to pay to see the World's best player in the flesh), merchandising and sponsorship.

Barring a disastarous run of injuries, everyone's a winner IMO.

: Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:27 pm  

JWP wrote:

We would have had Johns, so I see no reason why age should put us off

And we were very lucky that Andrew Johns had not signed for us, we almost signed him and not long before he was about to join us he broke down with a recurrence of an old injury that ended his career.

We would have been left in limbo had that happened with no time left to find a replacement as all the quality players would have been signed up by other clubs, Lockyer has just come back from a serious knee injury, since then he has had a niggling back injury. I said we should have gone for him 3 to 4 years ago to make our ambitions very clear to everyone, certainly not now with his recent injuries and he will be 32 next year.

He could end up taking SL by storm and showing no signs of his recent injuries but then again it could be another Andrew Johns waiting to happen, its too much of a gamble for the money he would command.

: Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:34 pm  

Bring back Rob Parker, he scored for Salford last night

: Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:49 pm  

People who wouldn't take Darren Lockyer for 2 seasons are deluded. Every club would want him at their team.

: Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:54 pm  

Personally I would prefer the next big thing rather than an ageing one who is only looking for some massive wonga.

I expect Briers to depart at the end of this year, I just hope the club have already identified a suitable replacement.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

: Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:39 pm  

threads merged.

: Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:00 pm  

JWP wrote:

I'd take him for sure, I'd try to get a British halfback first, a young one, like Myler, but if they weren't available I'd happily take Lockyer, providing it wasn't prohibative salary cap wise to chasing other targets. If you were just say, replacing Gleesons salary for instance, then I think it'd be a great move for us.

He'd be the best halfback in the league, he's a leader, he'd command respect from everyone, he's a winner and he's unbelievably talented. We signed Langer in the latter end of his career, he was fantastic. We would have had Johns, so I see no reason why age should put us off, he's 32 sure, but I think sometimes we get caught up in this age thing as though 'once you hit 30 your done', lots of overseas players have come over here 30+ done really well, Renouf, Langer, Lam, Rauhihi, Darren Smith, Brad Drew, Glenn Morrison off the top of my head.

For me, the question is, Do I think Darren Lockyer would improve us ? Yep. We all talk about mentality, having winners, cultures in the club etc, I think this bloke would be a great leader.

So given that you've made the argument for Darren Lockyer that he would be the best halfback in the league, why would you go for Myler first?

What would Myler be, the second best halfback in the league? would you go for second ahead of first?

: Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:34 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

So given that you've made the argument for Darren Lockyer that he would be the best halfback in the league, why would you go for Myler first?

What would Myler be, the second best halfback in the league? would you go for second ahead of first?

Because you'd always look for longevity. The problem with any overseas signing is that it's always a hole that you'll have to backfill relatively quickly, one year, two years etc.

First choice for me, would be to sign a young English halfback, like I said, Myler, who you could think would fill that void for a decade. If he's not available, and the plan is to continue with a policy of one/two year fixes, I'd sign the bloke who I firmly believe would be comfortably the best halfback in SL. Problem you'd have, assuming that Monaghan sees out the duration of his contract, and Lockyer came for two years, is that you'd be looking at replacing your halfback combination all at once.

: Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:48 pm  

Wouldn't go for Lockeyer unless it was on a 'reasonable' salary. Obviously a signing like him would increase massively the commercial opportunities and sell plenty of shirts but we cannot pay too much to him as i wouldn't want the team to lose its balance.

Money could be spent on youth and a young halfback instead perhaps.

: Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:28 pm  

JWP wrote:

Because you'd always look for longevity.

Why?
If you wanted a chance of a trophy pretty sharpish, then signing Lockyer would be a decent way of going about it.
If you wanted to be 'building for the future' (still) then yep a young British half-back would be just the ticket.
I'd go for the former any day of the week. Lockyer is a bona fide RL legend and Wire should move heaven and earth to get him.