Joel to Union

[cpwigan]

The problem is you have to build a team very carefully and players leaving suddenly who you expect to have for 4/5 years can truly undermine all the best laid plans.

Apparently Martin Johnson wants Joel and sees him as a replacement for Tindall.

Something to ponder. Commercial companies can have a huge impact on where players go. Nike have a very significant interest in Joel AND Sam. Such global giants want the biggest return for their investment.

[DaveO]

The problem is you have to build a team very carefully and players leaving suddenly who you expect to have for 4/5 years can truly undermine all the best laid plans.

Which is why IL should have blocked this as soon as it started.

Apparently Martin Johnson wants Joel and sees him as a replacement for Tindall.

Is he even going to be kept on as England RU coach? He is awful.

Something to ponder. Commercial companies can have a huge impact on where players go. Nike have a very significant interest in Joel AND Sam. Such global giants want the biggest return for their investment.

Well if Joel sold his soul to RU as opposed to an RU club I am sure he'd have to go where he was told but I am not sure how this affects IL being willing to let him leave in the first place. If you are suggesting Nike told Joel to leave Wigan for RU and he is doing it still does not explain IL agreeing too it and in any case this kind of thing needs being made public so it doesn't happen.

[chris1234]

I have been told this morning that Joel has till Friday to decide between saracens or quins, the money is massive compared to what he is on now, the rumoured figures were to be that he was on £70k now and to go to union he will get £270k. I dunno how true this is but i have no reason to disbeleive the guy who told me it, as he has been more correct than incorrect on other Wigan related things before.

[DaveO]

I have been told this morning that Joel has till Friday to decide between saracens or quins, the money is massive compared to what he is on now, the rumoured figures were to be that he was on £70k now and to go to union he will get £270k. I dunno how true this is but i have no reason to disbeleive the guy who told me it, as he has been more correct than incorrect on other Wigan related things before.

It should never have got this far. IL should have blocked the deal the minute it was mooted.

I am sure when Joel and Sam signed five year deals and Joel made his comments about not wanting to play RU we all rested easy and thought our chairman was doing a great job in tying up our best players to long term deals. If this deal goes through IL will have keeled over at his first real test of protecting his team.

I don't care what platitudes he may come out with such as not standing in a players way or how much compensation Wigan get it will represent failure and will be a signal for RU to take whoever they like from Wigan whenever they like.

If Joel goes it reflects badly on both Joel and IL. Il will jave failed to pro

[thegimble]

I have been told this morning that Joel has till Friday to decide between saracens or quins, the money is massive compared to what he is on now, the rumoured figures were to be that he was on £70k now and to go to union he will get £270k. I dunno how true this is but i have no reason to disbeleive the guy who told me it, as he has been more correct than incorrect on other Wigan related things before.

It should never have got this far. IL should have blocked the deal the minute it was mooted.

I am sure when Joel and Sam signed five year deals and Joel made his comments about not wanting to play RU we all rested easy and thought our chairman was doing a great job in tying up our best players to long term deals. If this deal goes through IL will have keeled over at his first real test of protecting his team.

I don't care what platitudes he may come out with such as not standing in a players way or how much compensation Wigan get it will represent failure and will be a signal for RU to take whoever they like from Wigan whenever they like.

If Joel goes it reflects badly on both Joel and IL. Il will jave failed to pro

Something does not add up and IL needs to tell people the truth. Either we are going to get a fine re Image rights or IL is looking for some payback for the money he has invested in the club.

[DaveO]

Something does not add up and IL needs to tell people the truth. Either we are going to get a fine re Image rights or IL is looking for some payback for the money he has invested in the club.

Well if he wants to take the money for the sake of it he is not much cop as a chairman who professes to love the club.

[Second Row]

Joel has pulled out of the Four Nations no reason given but things starting to add up

[thegimble]

Something does not add up and IL needs to tell people the truth. Either we are going to get a fine re Image rights or IL is looking for some payback for the money he has invested in the club.

Well if he wants to take the money for the sake of it he is not much cop as a chairman who professes to love the club.

Pity i dont have any press credentials as i could ask him tomorrow press conference set for coach announcment for 2pm.

[BriH]

You need to remember that without the salary cap we might not even have a league in the first place because teams are having massive financial struggles with it in place - they'd just disappear if things like salary cap didn't exist. Although I do support the view that RFL should do more to top up wages of England players and do more to encourage our young players about the future our game can give them at the top level.

A salary cap based on income would solve that issue and allow higher wages to be paid. It certainly isn't true the current flat rate cap has altered who wins the trophies. It's the same big clubs all the time.

We also have the ludicrous situation where the RFL appear to be intent on paying the wages of a 37 year old RU has been and RL never-was - Gareth Thomas while we sit here waiting for the inevitable loss of a 24 year old rising star.

It's also worth saying neither JT or IL are blameless in this.

Absolutely right. When are those Ostriches at Red Hall going to get their heads out of the sand and wake up to the fact that the RU has loads more money than RL and the loss of players could go from a trickle to a torrent if money is going to dictate who they play for.

[BigJeffLima]

To be honest i am more concerned about the effect it will leave on sam, if u watched super league's super men sam said " joel is more than my brother hes my best mate and team mate" im sure if joel tells sam to follow him he will and the money sam will be on will be a huge amount, im just scared that sam will called it a day soon , whats ure opinions?