: Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:58 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

We could moderate the cap. Instead of putting forward ideas about recruiting from Union, we could suggest discounting Academy players from the salary cap for the duration of the time they spend at their club.

That would encourage us to develop more kids ourselves, and give us some flexibility with regard to the youngsters who are currently being taken for expensive dinners in Cheshire (and that applies to several of Wigan's current bunch).

I don't want to get into another salary cap debate though. It's more depressing than Wigan's present form.

That will change tomorrow night though.

rl : Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:07 am  

There isn't a hope of changing the cap.
The clubs who don't develop their businesses and aren't even spending the £1.6m yet, will never agree to change as it will leave them further behind than they are now.
Ian Lenagan is an admirer of the salary cap so from a Wigan perspective there's less hope now and for the future than I expected from a new owner.
The NRL made a success of their salary cap the RFL/SL clubs have made ours a disaster zone! As the World Cup proved.
Ian Lenagan didn't give us his thoughts at the FF on the WC or more importantly the reasons why.
Don't think the threat of Union will worry the SL or RFL as some of the GP clubs are losing money hand over fist. They won't be offering their players very big deals and will looking to unload in the near future.
No doubt part of the reason Brian Noble mentioned bringing Union men to League. Some may well become available sooner than they thought.
Lets see what this report says that the RFL are having done as to the reason why the World Cup was such a disaster.
Place your order for the whitewash now!

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:31 am  

Cadoo! wrote:

Rumour on the other forum that Northampton are looking at Sam Tomkins.

Disaster if this kid leaves and what a waste it would be. Although I could hardly blame him as its a short career and he isn't get any opportunities at Wigan.

in some papers it said he was, but he knows nothing about it.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:53 am  

MC.FINCHY wrote:

in some papers it said he was, but he knows nothing about it.

I hope that's true. But we can expect a lot of this kind of stuff over the next few weeks.

Having gleefully exploited its spending power at the expense of SL over the last few years, the English RFU is now suddenly panicking because the French RFU is gleefully exploiting its spending power at their expense.

A few commentators have mumbled that if they continue to lose young talent to France, they'll have no option but to replace it by pillaging young talent from RL.

Great, being at the bottom of the food-chain, isn't it?

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:20 am  

yeah definatly true he wouldnt lie. i can see speculation like this coming alot though but he has a great love of wigan

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:21 pm  

odemwingie wrote:

That would be a great signing, just the sort of player we need.
It was a shame us missing out on Ryles though.

Could be out for the rest of the season with damaged shoulder, I believe one of the reasons he wasn't signed was his poor injury record over the last few years.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:53 pm  

twosevenzero wrote:

Could be out for the rest of the season with damaged shoulder, I believe one of the reasons he wasn't signed was his poor injury record over the last few years.

Not sure I new that when I posted, but still doesnt mean he would of got injured playing for us, he has just been unlucky.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:01 pm  

odemwingie wrote:

Not sure I new that when I posted, but still doesnt mean he would of got injured playing for us, he has just been unlucky.

True, but maybe we learned something from the Luke Davico episode.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:05 pm  

twosevenzero wrote:

True, but maybe we learned something from the Luke Davico episode.

Yeh that was a real shame Davico was a quality player and he was ace when he went playing for Newcastle.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:19 pm  

twosevenzero wrote:

Could be out for the rest of the season with damaged shoulder, I believe one of the reasons he wasn't signed was his poor injury record over the last few years.

I believe the only reason was that we were outbid - again.