Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Dec 21, 2021 3:52 pm  

jonh wrote:

We are being linked with Kyle Flannigan in the Australian media as a replacement for French.

Given the current situation with French I would have be totally against it.

Cust, Flannigan with Field/Hardaker at 1 could be a very good combination.

Ideally French comes back but you have to take into account his personal situation in Australia.

Sounds good on paper, but I'd be worried that, if they are successful, then 3 out of the 4 would be back in the NRL in 2 or 3 years tops & Zak would be at the end of his career too. Throw in Powell's age and before you know it 1, 6, 7 and 9 have all moved on in 3 years time. That's not good.

It might be an unpopular opinion, but for me Smith and Hanley have to be given the 1st crack. Smith needs a big 2022, but bringing in Flanagan would be a step in wrong direction at this time imo.

Same goes for Field vs Hanley. I've been thinking about Field's situation for a while and I can't see an outcome where he stays at Wigan in 2023. If he's injured again, the club will cut loose. If he's a success, then I'm sure the NRL (Dolphin's perhaps) will be looking at him. If he's somewhere in the middle of those two i.e average, then I can't see why the club would let him take up a quota spot? Whilst things might change, I've heard from people very close to Hanley that all he wants to do is play for Wigan. That's a huge positive imo and when looking with a long term hat on - he's a better fit.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Dec 21, 2021 6:01 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Sounds good on paper, but I'd be worried that, if they are successful, then 3 out of the 4 would be back in the NRL in 2 or 3 years tops & Zak would be at the end of his career too. Throw in Powell's age and before you know it 1, 6, 7 and 9 have all moved on in 3 years time. That's not good.

It might be an unpopular opinion, but for me Smith and Hanley have to be given the 1st crack. Smith needs a big 2022, but bringing in Flanagan would be a step in wrong direction at this time imo.

Same goes for Field vs Hanley. I've been thinking about Field's situation for a while and I can't see an outcome where he stays at Wigan in 2023. If he's injured again, the club will cut loose. If he's a success, then I'm sure the NRL (Dolphin's perhaps) will be looking at him. If he's somewhere in the middle of those two i.e average, then I can't see why the club would let him take up a quota spot? Whilst things might change, I've heard from people very close to Hanley that all he wants to do is play for Wigan. That's a huge positive imo and when looking with a long term hat on - he's a better fit.

I have to agree re Hanley and Smith. I think they deserve a huge crack in the new season to cement their places in the team. IMO they are talented players who made mistakes in a team riddled with errors and under performing. I do think they’ll be better in 2022, to be blunt; they have to be. Otherwise they won’t be Wigan players for long.

Kyle Flanagan would be a superb acquisition but if we were to bring him in we’d surely be looking to also offload Field as well as French. I just don’t see where he fits in at all and I too believe he’ll be gone by 2023.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Dec 21, 2021 7:40 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Sounds good on paper, but I'd be worried that, if they are successful, then 3 out of the 4 would be back in the NRL in 2 or 3 years tops & Zak would be at the end of his career too. Throw in Powell's age and before you know it 1, 6, 7 and 9 have all moved on in 3 years time. That's not good.

It might be an unpopular opinion, but for me Smith and Hanley have to be given the 1st crack. Smith needs a big 2022, but bringing in Flanagan would be a step in wrong direction at this time imo.

Same goes for Field vs Hanley. I've been thinking about Field's situation for a while and I can't see an outcome where he stays at Wigan in 2023. If he's injured again, the club will cut loose. If he's a success, then I'm sure the NRL (Dolphin's perhaps) will be looking at him. If he's somewhere in the middle of those two i.e average, then I can't see why the club would let him take up a quota spot? Whilst things might change, I've heard from people very close to Hanley that all he wants to do is play for Wigan. That's a huge positive imo and when looking with a long term hat on - he's a better fit.

I understand the sentiment but we cannot go back to chasing rainbows.

Even with any potential new recruit or challenge to their position in the team all players have to earn their right to be in the match day 17.

After the last few years we can’t keep looking to next season to win trophies.

If any player rips it up they will be NRL targets. Nothing we can do about that. In the era of salary cap players increasingly move. I still think as fans we struggle with that.

If Cust, Flannigan and Field tear it up yes they will be NRL bound, just like Hastings and maybe French are/were destined to, but the benefit is that we maybe get some silverware when they are here. It’s up to our management to succession plan.

In any set up both Hanley and Smith will get their chance. When they do they have to take it and drive up standards.

Trying to get a settled spine is ideal but if you have a successful team it’s a past if life that you can’t, just look at Saints this year, losing Coote and Fages to cap issues.

We can’t wait for some of there lads to develop. We’ve been waiting too long in some cases.

If you are good enough you are old enough if Hanley and Smith are good enough they don’t/won’t need to worry about others.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Dec 21, 2021 8:03 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I really want to see how Hanley goes at fullback. I've seen him play at #1, #4, #5, #6 and #13 at junior, scholarship and academy grades.


At academy level he was better than Welsby and a really good organiser at #1

Big shout that Rogues
Although I must admit that I have to disagree with you as IMO Hanley has never been anywhere close to Welsby's class yet at any level
Let's see if Hanley kicks on to make it in SL but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't tbh as i'm not as impressed with his talents as you are
I hope that he proves me wrong

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Dec 21, 2021 8:08 pm  

The Biffs Back wrote:

Big shout that Rogues
Although I must admit that I have to disagree with you as IMO Hanley has never been anywhere close to Welsby's class yet at any level
Let's see if Hanley kicks on to make it in SL but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't tbh as i'm not as impressed with his talents as you are
I hope that he proves me wrong

Rocky Hampshire and others all over again

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 22, 2021 11:01 am  

jonh wrote:

We are being linked with Kyle Flannigan in the Australian media as a replacement for French.

Given the current situation with French I would have be totally against it.

Cust, Flannigan with Field/Hardaker at 1 could be a very good combination.

Ideally French comes back but you have to take into account his personal situation in Australia.

Flannagan is a prolific goal kicker ane a very good 7, him along with Cust and Field at fullback, if they gel that could be the best halfback/fullback pairing for 20 years.

French needs to be in Sydney, and when the inevitable happens probably needs close family around him. If we can sign Kyle Flannagan for French it fits the team better and ruthlessly is the best option for everyone.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:36 pm  

This would seem to tick a lot of boxes. Would be a very complex deal to sort out.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:36 pm  

This would seem to tick a lot of boxes. Would be a very complex deal to sort out.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:44 pm  

TonyM19 wrote:

Would be a very complex deal to sort out.

No it wouldn't

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:59 pm  

TonyM19 wrote:

This would seem to tick a lot of boxes. Would be a very complex deal to sort out.

Would it?

Replacing a fullback with a halfback?

We already have Tommy, Cust and Smith...

Now don't get me wrong he is a quality addition but I worry about losing French and either 1 of the following happening:

1 - Hardaker to FB and weak at centre
2 - Field to FB and not very good