Re: Burgess signed: Official : Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:00 am  

MattyB wrote:

Looking at it now that recruitment has been finalised. Was it still a good idea to have retained Clubb?

I'm still not 100% but at least we have a little more balance in the front row.

I just hope that Clubb and Flower can get away from the niggling injuries they seem to pick up regularly and put in hard yards and long minutes.

Clubb was like a new player once his contract was signed but then got injured and it’s that injury record that you worry about. There’s good depth next year mind and his minutes won’t need to be huge so if we can afford him then fair enough.

Re: Burgess signed: Official : Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:30 am  

I just wondered when Clubb was re-signed that he might spend some time in the reserves.
The reserves front row was to me looking like Partington, Byrne, Havard and Kibula. All young and relatively inexperienced. Perhaps an older head in the squad used to the aggression of SL might be good for them. Partington might be in the first 17 next year anyway so Clubby could do a job for a few games in the reserves.
Burgess could transform our pack in 2020. An outstanding signing by IL and Rads.

Re: Burgess signed: Official : Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:39 am  

Awesome signing, The jealousy is oozing out of my Wire and Saints friends on facebook and i am loving it, Just hope we can keep Clubb and Flower free from injury then we will dominate in the front row

Re: Burgess signed: Official : Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:49 am  

Top signing and a great addition to SL - well done IL. Will be good see see a much, much stronger Wigan back in the mix next year.

Just need Leeds to get their act together, Hull to get a top coach and Wire to improve a little (which they are very likely to with Widdop in there) and we'll be back to having a proper SL at the top.

Who else have Wigan signed for next year? EDIT - ignore me, I forgot about Hastings.

Re: Burgess signed: Official : Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:50 am  

The Whiffy Kipper wrote:

Awesome signing, The jealousy is oozing out of my Wire and Saints friends on facebook and i am loving it, Just hope we can keep Clubb and Flower free from injury then we will dominate in the front row

This is one of the biggest problems the club currently faces, but I can't help wondering if, with a lot more competition in the front row now, we might suddenly see less of these strange niggling injuries.

Re: Burgess signed: Official : Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:52 am  

The Whiffy Kipper wrote:

Awesome signing, The jealousy is oozing out of my Wire and Saints friends on facebook and i am loving it, Just hope we can keep Clubb and Flower free from injury then we will dominate in the front row

Not on the wind up, but I think you are still another front line prop and a better hooker away from a dominant front row. GB is a great start though.

Re: Burgess signed: Official : Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:57 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

Not on the wind up, but I think you are still another front line prop and a better hooker away from a dominant front row. GB is a great start though.

I'd agree with that.

The pack as a whole looks promising, but the starting prop opposite Burgess and the hooker position hold us back from being 'dominant' i'd say:

8. Burgess
9. Leuluai / Powell
10. Clark / Flower
11. Greenwood
12. Farrell
13. O'Loughlin / Smithies

I'm very happy with the backrow providing Greenwood is punted to the right-edge, but 9 and 10 are 'average' for us now (i'm to be convinced about Clark still).

No bones about it though, this is a top, top signing and along with Hastings is a step in the right direction.

Re: Burgess signed: Official : Mon Jul 29, 2019 8:14 am  

Father Ted wrote:

I just wondered when Clubb was re-signed that he might spend some time in the reserves.
The reserves front row was to me looking like Partington, Byrne, Havard and Kibula. All young and relatively inexperienced. Perhaps an older head in the squad used to the aggression of SL might be good for them. Partington might be in the first 17 next year anyway so Clubby could do a job for a few games in the reserves.
Burgess could transform our pack in 2020. An outstanding signing by IL and Rads.

I was thinking the same thing myself re Clubb. We've a number of young guys coming through and maybe Clubb has been assigned this role. Personally I don't see him in the starting 17.

Happy with the signings let's hope we have more luck on the injuries front next year.

Re: Burgess signed: Official : Mon Jul 29, 2019 8:50 am  

Father Ted wrote:

I just wondered when Clubb was re-signed that he might spend some time in the reserves.
The reserves front row was to me looking like Partington, Byrne, Havard and Kibula. All young and relatively inexperienced. Perhaps an older head in the squad used to the aggression of SL might be good for them. Partington might be in the first 17 next year anyway so Clubby could do a job for a few games in the reserves.
Burgess could transform our pack in 2020. An outstanding signing by IL and Rads.

Let's not forget that his sizeable salary still counts on the cap. I can't see Clubb signing to play in the reserves. If this was true then why not put him on a rolling contract that is dependant on a minimum number of matches played rather than opting for a two year deal?

Re: Burgess signed: Official : Mon Jul 29, 2019 8:52 am  

I think they are keeping Clubb around as a leader off the pitch more than anything, especially as Lockers hasn’t made his mind up yet.