Nightmare over. Lam gone!

[DaveO]

As I understand it, the club offered a massive wage to Williams - our biggest ever contract offer - and intend to recruit someone to replace Hastings. Plus, we have another 70k to play with. If we use that money to recruit a decent centre, and O’Neill develops, then I think we should be fine.

Full back: French is superb - so stronger than this year if fit.
Wingers: Marshall, Miski and Halsall/Bibby. Given Halsall’s development, stronger than this year.
Centres: Hardaker, Thornley, new one, Hankinsin, Halsall/Bibby. Gildart has phoned it in when he could even be bothered to play for 2 years, so we won’t be any weaker there.
Halves: ? Plus Field/Smith. It all depends on ?, but as noted above, they have shown they are willing to spend big to get someone.
Props: Mago, Ellis, Havard, Singleton, Clark, Byrne. Mago in particular will be better than we have had this year, Havard will be a year older. Potentially stronger.
Second rows and loose forward: Bateman, Farrell, KPP, McDonnell, Smithies, Shorrocks... Stronger for the extra year.

I know there are some things that could go wrong, esp if we don’t replace Hastings and French doesn’t recover, but for my money by far the main factor is who is responsible for our attack next year. That’s what I am holding my breath to hear...

They weren’t going to recruit Williams and a Hastings replacement. Williams was supposed to be the Hastings replacement. They have enough money for one half back and that leaves £73k over. This is what was said at the fans forum.

So no we don’t have the money to recruit a centre so we will go into next season with one specialist centre (again) which is stupid and that is Thornely which is even worse.

I have seen the fact Gildart has been poor this season used as an excuse for the signing of Thornley before and you repeat this here by saying we won’t be any weaker.

I am sorry but Gildart having a poor season is no excuse for signing rubbish. It’s a ridiculous excuse for a poor signing and God knows what the motivation is here for giving IL and Rads a free pass on this one.

[Wiganer Ted]

Why haven't we got the money to bring a quality player in?

Hastings is leaving so there's his salary available. Tommy will probably retire so there's his salary too. It has been said the club are trying to offload Mitch Clark. If he were to go then his salary can be added to the pot. Obviously the next coach may wish to keep him so that wouldn't apply. There is the matter of what Zac will decide to do. Commuting from Pontefract doesn't seem likely between now and this time next year when he's out of contract. That's quite a few players who may or are likely to leave, between Hastings, Leuluai, Clark and Hardaker it's quite a lot of salary available.

How it is spent will be the interesting bit!

[ddtftf]

I do have to be HONEST and say after we took Zack Hardaker under our umbrella when no other club would touch him with a bargepole he now wants to leave with a lame excuse of travelling sorry Zack I give you a year back in Pontefract and i can see you right back to when you came , i hope not but the temptations will be too great

[fozzieskem]

Given how far the club stuck its neck out over Hardaker it is a bit of a lame excuse citing the M62 as insurmountable obstacle yes it’s a right pain in the bum most days but it’s not Everest or crossing the Serengeti is it?

[KR15]

Just on the DW and what it offers (or doesn't); dunno about elsewhere, but in the West Stand at the beginning of the season they opened up that 'other' bar, and they actually sold some reasonably decent beer. Lately
that's all gone, and there's a choice of crap lager or rubbish lager. And I don't like lager much anyway! They don't even do those cans of draught Guinness any more. Presumably this is more penny-pinching?

We've had to take several pints back on multiple games this year cos they had cleaning solition in them

[DaveO]

Given how far the club stuck its neck out over Hardaker it is a bit of a lame excuse citing the M62 as insurmountable obstacle yes it’s a right pain in the bum most days but it’s not Everest or crossing the Serengeti is it?

If he really wants out because of the commute he’s soon forgotten about Wigan resurrecting his career.

However Wigan will have brought this on themselves as I always thought he was a cheap (if quality) solution that allowed them to replace Sam T. It was a risk to sign him and if he really does want out that risk won’t have paid off. Maybe Wigan will learn a lesson and not bend over backwards to accommodate players with a bit of a wayward character. They allowed Hock back and he blew it and if Hardaker buggers off it’s more of the same.

[mjdodge13]

So at the time of the fans forum we had money for a half back (Marquee….I’m assuming) and 73k left over but if Hardaker, Clarke and Tommy were to go
We would have more space on the cap!

Personally, I don’t think Tommy will retire (I’m a fan so hope not) as it would’ve been announced already.

If the other guys go then we will have salary cap space available for a decent prop and an actual Centre! I like Zak but why pay for a fullback to play centre?

Ps Thornley and Minski will add size and go forward from the outside backs which is more than what the guys they’re replacing offered…….despite what ppl say, Thornley doesn’t have to do much to out perform a “superstar” like Gildart on this year’s performance.

[fozzieskem]

Given how far the club stuck its neck out over Hardaker it is a bit of a lame excuse citing the M62 as insurmountable obstacle yes it’s a right pain in the bum most days but it’s not Everest or crossing the Serengeti is it?

If he really wants out because of the commute he’s soon forgotten about Wigan resurrecting his career.

However Wigan will have brought this on themselves as I always thought he was a cheap (if quality) solution that allowed them to replace Sam T. It was a risk to sign him and if he really does want out that risk won’t have paid off. Maybe Wigan will learn a lesson and not bend over backwards to accommodate players with a bit of a wayward character. They allowed Hock back and he blew it and if Hardaker buggers off it’s more of the same.

Can’t disagree with what you’ve said Dave.

[ian.birchall]

If IL was ever thinking of doing the same with Gildart I hope that his complete lack of effort throughout this season will kill the idea stone cold.

[Caboosegg]

With 73k left I'm sure we can get a centre. They may not be a NRL player but a decent one should be available for that.