: Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:15 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

And having stars such as:

Peacock
McGuire
Burrow
Danny B
Webb
Seinfield
Senior

Plus a quality squad of many more realistic? YES. They're called Leeds.

Fact of the matter is when the cap is worked well a team of great players is still very doable.

Remember

Bailey-Big contract
Fielden-Massive contract
plus
Coley
Mathers
Phelps
plus maybe others.

The cap at Wigan still isn't worked well.

You've got to remember though that of the Leeds players mentioned 3 have come through the academy system (in key positions, they also had Diskin through the youth system) there and I think Senior was signed pre salary cap if memory serves.

Point I'm trying to make is Leeds had a good spine which enabled them to compliment it with signing the likes of Peacock and Webb etc and enabled them to get rid of the dead wood.

For me Wigan don't have this spine yet but if we're patient I can see Sam Tomkins and Shaun Ainscough coming through to compliment the likes of Hock, Lockers etc which will mean we will have quality players who won't be on massive salaries which will enable us to sign the superstars required to turn it into a championship winning side.

: Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:15 am  

Smith was poor against Castleford. His defence was aweful. Sam Tompkins deserves a chance and might just take it like Ainscough did. And this will also serve to put pressure on Smith who needs to know that unless he performs then Tompkins is ready to replace him.

: Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:45 am  

Senior was signed pre-salary cap? His wages still have to fit into the CAP each season.

Regardless if some of the top players at Leeds were or were not brought through the club they are still top players who will be wanting a good wage.

Are you getting confused with transfer fee and players wages?

Fact remains, when a cap is worked properly you can have a team of stars. As Leeds do.