Re: George Williams : Tue Jun 02, 2020 1:47 pm  

In the Daily Star today there is an article with Shaun Wane discussing the cancelled Ashes series and the idea of the Exiles game,at the end of the interview he goes on about George and how he wouldn't have been 100% happy with last weekend's display had they both still been at Wigan.I think George had to leave Wigan as he had gone stale and needed a new challenge,i really hope that he can really make it in Australia as English halves don't tend to do well down under

Re: George Williams : Tue Jun 02, 2020 2:05 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

In principle Jukes its hard to argue with a lot of that.
Where I get disappointed with players is were they don’t kick on and step up to the next level.

I’d put Charnley and Burgess when they first came on the scene to be 2 of the best wingers I’ve ever seen at Wigan.
For me both have regressed as they have got older. There are lots of other examples throughout the game

I don’t know why this is the case. Maybe inadequate coaching/mentoring or maybe being too accepting of their levels of attainment.

I personally don’t mind players going to Australia to gain the experience and no doubt an improved contract I just wish that the game in the uk couldsupply this

This is the sort of constructive point I referred to when I said people should be allowed an opinion that isn’t always singing players praises. We’ve produced so many good players over this past decade but you’re right that some just seem to hit a brick wall in terms of development. It’s not just at Wigan though, you only need to look at Saints and how guys like Makinson and Lomax found an extra gear under a good coach like Holbrook. They were good players before he come, no more and no less and they didn’t look like lads who had much development left in them but once Holbrook came in they went up a couple of levels. They both reached a level of performance and consistency I’d not seen before. Maybe that proves that good coaching can bring that out of players.

I look at two lads in the same positions in Joe Burgess and Williams and I saw at the end of 2019 two lads in a similar position to what Lomax and Makinson were in just prior to Holbrook coming over. Two good players, one playing well but not at his absolute best and one not in great form but still a good player. I thought and still think in the case of Burgess that they have so much more to give. The move for Williams looks to be dragging it out of him but what will spark Burgess up? He’s far too good to be playing back up at any superleague club but how can he find that old spark? The coach plays a part but he’s got to show a desire to want to get it back and to kick on to become what his talent warrants. He’s got everything to be one of the very best in the world IMO but does he want it as desperately as somebody like Tommy Makinson? He’s more talented than Makinson IMO but does he have that desire? I’m not too sure.

Re: George Williams : Tue Jun 02, 2020 4:12 pm  

Jukesays wrote:

And Why should the Aussies worry about that when our own fans run down our own players and game as much as we do?
With regards to George in particular - He's been an England international from the age of about 22, He's played in 4 GF's of the last 7 winning 2 of them, Played in 2 x WCC's winning one (Earning praise from Andrew Johns and not sure if also MOM?) and his own fans, not even opposing fans, give him more stick than anyone

It happens over and over again, Young player comes through
Gets Hyped up and then they expect him to perform like a seasoned professional week in week out (Ryan Sutton big example)
Player gets improved contract - Wigan fans (In particular) starts to slag said player off - How dare he want more money, he should count himself lucky to be playing, despite the fact said player would walk into any team in the country AND the fans would be prepared to go and "Sign" another player from SL or NRL and give them as much if not more!
Form dips for a couple of games, gets branded rubbish
Poster/fan/armchair expert defends critic of player by continuing to rubbish player irrespective of what happens because they'd rather be proved right than admit they're wrong
Player leaves, performs well at another club and suddenly it's better coaching etc. etc.
Said it over and over again, if Wigan fans (And British fans in General) spent as much time being positive, look at the positives and promote our strengths as they do Rubbishing the game and it's players we would be in a much healthier position.
Keep telling people that every player is rubbish, every team is Rubbish, our league is rubbish and guess what
Everyone will think that it is rubbish - Surprise surprise

Its not so often you are wrong but you are right again. Absolutely nailed it.

Re: George Williams : Tue Jun 02, 2020 4:19 pm  

If we keep producing players good enough to be signed up by nrl clubs then we will continue to be successful along the way. I am not sure why people see it as such a negative, we should be proud to watch these lads plying there trade at the very top.

We need to continue developing your Smiths, Hanleys, Havards, Kilners, McDonnells ect.... its what we do better than any other club and it must continue.

Re: George Williams : Tue Jun 02, 2020 5:07 pm  

JonnyBroad wrote:

Its not so often you are wrong but you are right again. Absolutely nailed it.

I'm yet to find an occasion on which he hasn't been wrong

Re: George Williams : Wed Jun 03, 2020 7:43 am  

If our players are so inferior to Aussie players as some supporters seem to think, why are the Aussie clubs so keen and eager on signing them?

As for our players who do go, its not because of wanting a new challenge, being stale or whatever, its simply all about the higher money in the NRL.

Just like when top Union players came to our game for the money, which ended in 1996 when Union went professional.

Having said the above, we can only be thankful that they are staying in Rugby League where they will be eligible for our International teams and not going to Rugby Union.

Re: George Williams : Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:23 am  

[quote="JonnyBroad"]If we keep producing players good enough to be signed up by nrl clubs then we will continue to be successful along the way. I am not sure why people see it as such a negative, we should be proud to watch these lads plying there trade at the very top.

We need to continue developing your Smiths, Hanleys, Havards, Kilners, McDonnells ect.... its what we do better than any other club and it must continue.[/quote]

Yes, yes and yes.

A lot of praise should be given to our scouting system as we continue to find these players particularly as many of them are not from local clubs as was the case a few years back. Why St Pats, St Judes, Ince Rose Bridge etc etc are not producing the young players should be a major concern for Wigan?

Re: George Williams : Wed Jun 03, 2020 11:54 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

I'm yet to find an occasion on which he hasn't been wrong

You Sir are Jukesays' dad and I claim my £5

Re: George Williams : Wed Jun 03, 2020 3:34 pm  

Ruddy Duck wrote:

If our players are so inferior to Aussie players as some supporters seem to think, why are the Aussie clubs so keen and eager on signing them?

As for our players who do go, its not because of wanting a new challenge, being stale or whatever, its simply all about the higher money in the NRL.

Just like when top Union players came to our game for the money, which ended in 1996 when Union went professional.

Having said the above, we can only be thankful that they are staying in Rugby League where they will be eligible for our International teams and not going to Rugby Union.

bet George isnt on the same money in the NRL as he was here

Re: George Williams : Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:07 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

You Sir are Jukesays' dad and I claim my £5

Other way round if anything - I mean I did Have to show him how an Erection worked!