Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 28, 2021 8:12 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I think I’m correct in saying that the first time he left he went to RU but the second time we released him

Second time?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 28, 2021 8:38 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

Second time?

I can never tell if you're being sarcastic...

This will be the 3rd time (including his youth deal) that he's signed with the club. He went to RU in 2010 & we brought him back in 2012.

I'm sure I remember him having some kinda big injury when he was here?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 28, 2021 8:40 am  

Left the academy to go to Sale, came back to play first team, left to go to HKR and now comes back after a few years away.

I’ve backed him above, I think he’ll go well but he’s a lucky lad to be afforded a third chance at a club like Wigan. I hope he realises that and I sense he will.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 28, 2021 8:42 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

Second time?

Yeah as an academy player he left for RU (before he debuted in the first team I think). We got him back, played first team for us, then he went to Hull KR. I'm against this signing, I know it's not the end of the world but IMO he's not good enough that he should be starting for us, and longer term we would be better using Halsall as our reserve (or KPP at centre which I still think could have some merit even though it hasn't happened yet). If we give Halsall more games now then we could have a much better player in a couple of years time. If we give Thornley those games he is unlikely to improve at this stage in his career, and will be retired in a couple of years anyway.

Having said all that, I don't think the fact we let him go previously is relevant. We already had Gelling, Sarginson and a young Gildart at the time he went.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 28, 2021 8:54 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

I can never tell if you're being sarcastic...

This will be the 3rd time (including his youth deal) that he's signed with the club. He went to RU in 2010 & we brought him back in 2012.

I'm sure I remember him having some kinda big injury when he was here?

Wasn't being sarcastic no. I had it in my head he left for Sale in 2014.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:01 am  

I knew he'd suffered a series of big injuries during his time with us; https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12215/9454437/super-league-serious-knee-injury-sidelines-wigan-warriors-iain-thornley Wigan Warriors centre Iain Thornley will miss the remainder of the Super League campaign after suffering a serious knee injury in training. Thornley had only just returned to the first team after recovering from a torn pectoral muscle injury picked up back in April. The 22-year-old underwent scans on Tuesday which confirmed the severity of the injury, which could keep him sidelined for up to eight months. Also, it's surprising what you forget. It looks like we did offer him a deal, but he chose to move for more money. IL wasn't happy either; https://www.eurosport.com/rugby-league/warriors-hit-out-at-thornley_sto4846337/story.shtml Chairman Ian Lenagan said: "Despite offering him a similar deal to the one he was on, Iain made the decision that money is the single most important facet of what he is looking for and he's entitled to do that. "From our point of view we're a little bit irritated at the lack of loyalty having taken care of him so well over the last 18 months but players have to look after themselves as well and he's made this decision.

I knew he'd suffered a series of big injuries during his time with us; https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12215/9454437/super-league-serious-knee-injury-sidelines-wigan-warriors-iain-thornley Wigan Warriors centre Iain Thornley will miss the remainder of the Super League campaign after suffering a serious knee injury in training. Thornley had only just returned to the first team after recovering from a torn pectoral muscle injury picked up back in April. The 22-year-old underwent scans on Tuesday which confirmed the severity of the injury, which could keep him sidelined for up to eight months. Also, it's surprising what you forget. It looks like we did offer him a deal, but he chose to move for more money. IL wasn't happy either; https://www.eurosport.com/rugby-league/warriors-hit-out-at-thornley_sto4846337/story.shtml Chairman Ian Lenagan said: "Despite offering him a similar deal to the one he was on, Iain made the decision that money is the single most important facet of what he is looking for and he's entitled to do that. "From our point of view we're a little bit irritated at the lack of loyalty having taken care of him so well over the last 18 months but players have to look after themselves as well and he's made this decision.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:06 am  

So injuries could have been why we let him go. He shows he is over those elsewhere and we bring him back knowing his abilities?

I have no issue with that.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:24 am  

IF Hardaker and French stay, then it's possible that Bibby and Hardaker would be first choice centres. I'm not oversold on Thornley but let's give him a chance before hanging him out to dry.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:58 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

but let's give him a chance before hanging him out to dry.

That was pretty much my point the other day.

We have no idea what our side will even look like next season (we all have opinions of course) nor do we know what changes Peet will implement and how they will work.

We can make predictions and maybe even say things like "we'll struggle" but to come out and slag off the club and certain players before we've even kicked a ball seems a bit strange.

We went from also-rans in 2009 to champions in 2010. I'm not saying that will happen again, but it's an example of how a coach can turn you around if he gets certain things right and so far all I have heard from Peet is about him putting those things right which they clearly haven't been for 3 years and it hasn't taken a genius to work out.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 28, 2021 10:37 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

IF Hardaker and French stay, then it's possible that Bibby and Hardaker would be first choice centres. I'm not oversold on Thornley but let's give him a chance before hanging him out to dry.

I hope that French returns as he is one the few SL players to get me off my seat.
He seems a decent sort so I’m hopeful he will be back and we will be a better team for it.

For me we can’t afford for Hardaker to spit his dummy out part way through the season so if we can ideally we should offload him sooner rather than later.
Ideally I’d like to keep Hardaker too as on the pitch he is always committed and although not a natural centre he is usually pretty decent defensively. Too keep him could a ticking time bomb so on balance I’d move him on.