: Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:33 am  

Cruncher wrote:

Just think, if he comes to us he can add that tennis court he always been wanting.

More seriously, personally I think Orford would be a decent buy. But more interesting - if this article is accurate ( ) it suggests that Wire haven't moved for Myler after all.

Myler to Warrington
Orford to stay where he is.

: Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:08 am  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Ideally we need to concentrate on a SH who is around the 23-25 year old mark. Someone who has experience but who is young enough to play for Wigan for the next 5,6,7 years with Sam.

The only way to make this possible (sadly) is by throwing money at the players club and the player, if they are Aussie, make it worth their while to play for Wigan.

Contracts can be broken if the money is right for the player and the club.

We can't achieve this with Orford, despite being a great player we'll only get two years out of him tops.

So who are the targets? Players who can't play Rep footy, players who can't get into the state team, this doesn't mean they are bad players, just players who aren't as good as, primarily, Lockyer and Thurston.

So who fits this bill?

Dobson
Soward
Finch
Cronk
Herbert
etc

Yes the majority are contracted but contracts will be ended if the money is right. Make Wigan desirable for the player.

Agree with you there.

Unfortunately there aren't any quality half backs around of a good age and we so desperately need a general half back to lead us around the field for us to move forward as a side.

Contracts CAN be broken but the deal has to be a good one for the selling club so we would need IL to reach deep into his pockets for someone of the very top quality.

All of the 3 highlighted would be absolutely perfect for us. Dobson has just signed an extension so it seems unlikely. Maybe if IL could persuade Justin Morgan to be our next coach Dobson may want to follow him? Soward is an outstanding young player with one of the best kicking games in the world, but it would be a suprise to me if he doesn't get to play rep rugby in the near future. Cronk, for me, is ideal, good age, undoubted class, every attribute we are looking for. He's done everything at Melbourne and because he is behind Lockyer, Thurston and Prince at Origin level he isn't going to get a game there, neither for the Australian national side. It would take a really big sum to get him here but there is no doubt he would be worth it.

: Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:22 am  

soward has an italian background .growing up in waggawagga nsw country town , he could play for italy

: Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:56 am  

kirkamania6 wrote:

Agree with you there.

Unfortunately there aren't any quality half backs around of a good age and we so desperately need a general half back to lead us around the field for us to move forward as a side.

Contracts CAN be broken but the deal has to be a good one for the selling club so we would need IL to reach deep into his pockets for someone of the very top quality.

All of the 3 highlighted would be absolutely perfect for us. Dobson has just signed an extension so it seems unlikely. Maybe if IL could persuade Justin Morgan to be our next coach Dobson may want to follow him? Soward is an outstanding young player with one of the best kicking games in the world, but it would be a suprise to me if he doesn't get to play rep rugby in the near future. Cronk, for me, is ideal, good age, undoubted class, every attribute we are looking for. He's done everything at Melbourne and because he is behind Lockyer, Thurston and Prince at Origin level he isn't going to get a game there, neither for the Australian national side. It would take a really big sum to get him here but there is no doubt he would be worth it.

IL would really have to work his magic to sign Cronk, but he would be exactly what we need.

I have stated before that I think Finch or Head are more likely, but not as good as Soward or Cronk.

: Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:59 am  

I really can see us with Tommy at 7 next season.

He's just signed a new contract and we already have McC and Riddell cover 9.

I personally don't want this, but I see it as the likely future.

: Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:02 am  

I've said it more than once and I'll say it again - Wigan won't win a thing whilst Leuluai is at 7.

: Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:04 am  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

IL would really have to work his magic to sign Cronk, but he would be exactly what we need.

I have stated before that I think Finch or Head are more likely, but not as good as Soward or Cronk.

Do you think Finch or Head would be good enough? not seen a lot of Head this year but Finch has still been overshadowed by Cronk.

If we couldn't get someone who fits the bill would it be worth waiting until the end of next season and sticking with Tommy at 7 so there is more likely to be the right player available?

If Myler stays at Salford he will be off contract and then him and Sam could be old enough. I don't know which NRL half backs are off contract but there is bound to be a few about

rl : Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:02 am  

Wasn't Matthew Head at Hull FC a few years ago?
Sure there was someone of that name playing for them.
Went back to Aus as he was always injured and hardly ever played.

Re: rl : Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:04 am  

Father Ted wrote:

Wasn't Matthew Head at Hull FC a few years ago?
Sure there was someone of that name playing for them.
Went back to Aus as he was always injured and hardly ever played.

he was there for a short spell, went back to aus to the tigers i think?

Re: rl : Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:12 am  

Father Ted wrote:

Wasn't Matthew Head at Hull FC a few years ago?
Sure there was someone of that name playing for them.
Went back to Aus as he was always injured and hardly ever played.

Yeah youre right. the only thing i remeber about him was him saying pre match about how he was not going to let his friendship with Barrett interfere with his performance etc etc. Barrett said nothing in the buildup and duely Smashed Head into next week with a massive shot!