The report on the official site goes into a lot more detail about the medical aspects:
"The risk of signing a player recovering from injury has been minimised by detailed medical examinations..."
"Medical investigations were completed over the week-end by Doctor Chris Brookes who acts as Consultant Specialist in Sports Medicine to Wigan Warriors and is also the Great Britain Team Physician. These included reviewing the medical records, discussing the details of the procedure and rehabilitation progress with the Surgeon who performed the operation in June 2007 plus arranging an independent medical examination in Brisbane on behalf of Wigan by the Surgeon who operated on Darren Lockyer’s knee.
All were highly satisfactory indicating a return to full match fitness around the end of February 2008."
I like the implications of this quote, too:
"...and there are cost benefits to the Club."
Translation: "we're not paying him a lot!"
Mathers to Wigan
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Wigan_forever1985
- Posts: 6676
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:50 pm
Re: Mathers to Wigan
yeah you may be right, i just think to how many games are won and lost in the pack, without a good platform barrett cant work his magic, the pack needs to be on top and id like to see us a little heavier up front to lay the plaform
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure
Re: Mathers to Wigan
If people read the detailed statement on the club web site I can't see why anyone would complain about the signing.
It is obvious he isn't on a high wage and the medical risks have been covered by the structure of the contract.
Squad wise this is great news. I have been arguing for some time with only £140K to spend it should go on a centre and a full back. We have the full back!
That makes our squad more robust right away because it means we have cover on the wing and at full back.
Richards is first choice winger with Colbon as cover.
Mathers is fist choice full back with Richards as cover (and Colbon to come in on the wing).
So I am very pleased with this signing and the way it has been handled by the club.
Now we just need a new centre.
Dave
It is obvious he isn't on a high wage and the medical risks have been covered by the structure of the contract.
Squad wise this is great news. I have been arguing for some time with only £140K to spend it should go on a centre and a full back. We have the full back!
That makes our squad more robust right away because it means we have cover on the wing and at full back.
Richards is first choice winger with Colbon as cover.
Mathers is fist choice full back with Richards as cover (and Colbon to come in on the wing).
So I am very pleased with this signing and the way it has been handled by the club.
Now we just need a new centre.
Dave
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standishwarrior
- Posts: 584
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 7:56 pm
Re: Mathers to Wigan
DaveO posted:
If people read the detailed statement on the club web site I can't see why anyone would complain about the signing.
It is obvious he isn't on a high wage and the medical risks have been covered by the structure of the contract.
Squad wise this is great news. I have been arguing for some time with only £140K to spend it should go on a centre and a full back. We have the full back!
That makes our squad more robust right away because it means we have cover on the wing and at full back.
Richards is first choice winger with Colbon as cover.
Mathers is fist choice full back with Richards as cover (and Colbon to come in on the wing).
So I am very pleased with this signing and the way it has been handled by the club.
Now we just need a new centre.
Dave
jesus christ!!! we must have signed a good un if your happy dave!!
Re: Mathers to Wigan
Now where did I say he was a good player?standishwarrior posted:DaveO posted:
If people read the detailed statement on the club web site I can't see why anyone would complain about the signing.
It is obvious he isn't on a high wage and the medical risks have been covered by the structure of the contract.
Squad wise this is great news. I have been arguing for some time with only £140K to spend it should go on a centre and a full back. We have the full back!
That makes our squad more robust right away because it means we have cover on the wing and at full back.
Richards is first choice winger with Colbon as cover.
Mathers is fist choice full back with Richards as cover (and Colbon to come in on the wing).
So I am very pleased with this signing and the way it has been handled by the club.
Now we just need a new centre.
Dave
jesus christ!!! we must have signed a good un if your happy dave!!
I'd have been happy to sign Briscoe because he is a full back despite the fact I don't really rate him. I just know we needed a full back! Any one would do....
Dave
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waterside glens
- Posts: 3048
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 7:32 am
Re: Mathers to Wigan
good signing ,stays fit and it,s a great signing .Now who's next for the cherry an'whites
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standishwarrior
- Posts: 584
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 7:56 pm
Re: Mathers to Wigan
go on dave.. admit it you think he's a good player really!DaveO posted:Now where did I say he was a good player?standishwarrior posted:DaveO posted:
If people read the detailed statement on the club web site I can't see why anyone would complain about the signing.
It is obvious he isn't on a high wage and the medical risks have been covered by the structure of the contract.
Squad wise this is great news. I have been arguing for some time with only £140K to spend it should go on a centre and a full back. We have the full back!
That makes our squad more robust right away because it means we have cover on the wing and at full back.
Richards is first choice winger with Colbon as cover.
Mathers is fist choice full back with Richards as cover (and Colbon to come in on the wing).
So I am very pleased with this signing and the way it has been handled by the club.
Now we just need a new centre.
Dave
jesus christ!!! we must have signed a good un if your happy dave!!I'd have been happy to sign Briscoe because he is a full back despite the fact I don't really rate him. I just know we needed a full back! Any one would do....
Dave
Re: Mathers to Wigan
can't mathers play in the halves? if he can and stays fit this is great news because thus means if (God forbid)trent or tommy get injured we move mathers to hb richards to fb and colbon to wing.clever bit of work from mr lenaghan and nobby to put the subject to games played in 2008 clause in his contract 
Re: Mathers to Wigan
Mixed views.
The lack of backs in the first team squad was frightening and really promised to derail 2008. Hence, almost anybody would have sufficed. So we have 1 more SL standard player in our squad. As it stands, a very good one who is young and British. To suggest he is world class is a bit OTT. The 18 year old Gold Coast have lined up to become their full back is very special BTW. The contract I presume is very much incentive based and not overly high I hope.
The downside. Pat Richards had IMO found his true position in this Wigan team. His defence was superior to any other SL fullback and he was getting better and better on attack. We will now never know how good a fullback Pat could have developed into. Moreover, Pat publicly stated he wanted to stay at fullback and hoped Wigan would not sign a fullback. As a winger Pat is decent BUT not startling.
However, there are unknowns. Maybe Nobby intends to try Pat or Colbon as a centre or even a wing/centre partnership. Anything is better than Wayne Pryce.
Karl Pryce would be a decent buy.
Not convinced by some of the quotes made in the press. Word has it Mathers wanted to return to Leeds BUT they turned him down so Wigan became the next best option. Nor am I convinced he learned a great deal as a player given I think he player less that 6 full games for the Titans.
I do feel a little like beggars cannot be choosers and in that scenario Mathers is a good signing.
The lack of backs in the first team squad was frightening and really promised to derail 2008. Hence, almost anybody would have sufficed. So we have 1 more SL standard player in our squad. As it stands, a very good one who is young and British. To suggest he is world class is a bit OTT. The 18 year old Gold Coast have lined up to become their full back is very special BTW. The contract I presume is very much incentive based and not overly high I hope.
The downside. Pat Richards had IMO found his true position in this Wigan team. His defence was superior to any other SL fullback and he was getting better and better on attack. We will now never know how good a fullback Pat could have developed into. Moreover, Pat publicly stated he wanted to stay at fullback and hoped Wigan would not sign a fullback. As a winger Pat is decent BUT not startling.
However, there are unknowns. Maybe Nobby intends to try Pat or Colbon as a centre or even a wing/centre partnership. Anything is better than Wayne Pryce.
Karl Pryce would be a decent buy.
Not convinced by some of the quotes made in the press. Word has it Mathers wanted to return to Leeds BUT they turned him down so Wigan became the next best option. Nor am I convinced he learned a great deal as a player given I think he player less that 6 full games for the Titans.
I do feel a little like beggars cannot be choosers and in that scenario Mathers is a good signing.