Announcement tomorrow?

[ian.birchall]

Gone is the ambition to have the best players at Wigan. Or so it seems.


If more money doesn't come into the game it will revert to being semi-pro sooner than people think is my view.

I agree with you strongly on both those points Dave.

[DaveO]

Jesus Christ. There was more positivity on here in 2006 when we were battling relegation.

We have the CC in the bag and are 80 minutes away from Old Trafford. How much worse can this season get?

I'm very positive & have every faith in the team. I'm really looking forward to the game on Friday.

I just think people like to be treated as adults instead of being told "fairy stories" for months on end. It's as if " if we don't say anything else, they'll forget about what we said at the start of the season!"

I know we haven't a right to know all the ins & outs of what goes on at WIgan Warriors but a bit of transparency over certain things wouldn't go amiss.

It's the same with Lauaki, is he ill? Is he on compassionate leave? The cryptic remark that he won't figure in any of the playoffs starts all the rumours & gossip which, IMO, isn't good for the club or the guy.

Well said. I am sure the majority of fans would be far more positive about how the club was being run if the club just announced things when they happen.

If a deal was agreed for Sam months ago, they should just have said so and that they would work to secure a replacement. Trust the fans to trust them. It's what everybody thought they were doing anyway so it served no purpose to do otherwise except perhaps in their heads. Instead we have had months of negativity brought on by the clubs rubbish PR.

I think IL is almost frightened to give out such news and wants to manage it as if he were running a propaganda ministry in at the height of the cold war and as with propaganda the result is no one now believes a word they say. Great result that.

I recall us having a laugh in the General RL forum about the Saints chairman having to post messages to the fans due to their poor early season form but at least he had the balls to be up-front about it. IL wants to hide every bit of bad news behind some good news. It's childish and transparent.

You are right about the Lauaki situation as well. A ridiculous way to handle it bound to fuel rumour and speculation.

[stevethegas]

Well, I'm sad to be losing one of the most exciting players we've seen in some time. But good luck to the lad. I wish him well.

There are too many blinkered and paranoid comments about this for them to be taken seriously. So far with this depleted team being run on a shoestring we're Challenge Cup holders and so far on track to the Grand Final. And there's the little matter of the World Cup to come where we'll still be able to watch Sam play.

Having spent a very happy time working in New Zealand myself I can confirm that it's a lovely country, and I am sure Sam will have a good time there. Good luck Sam.

I wonder if kiwiseddon will have any views?

[Kittwazzer]

Steve, Mick, its not enough. No matter how successful we are, some people have to find fault. Poor CPW has been forced to abandon his vendetta against Wane whilst he concentrates his attentions on IL!

[markill]

I think maybe we want things that just don't exist commonly enough in this world anymore - if they ever have.

Full disclosure and upfront honesty from people isn't given anymore. There is too much strategising and trying to find/fearing the loss of some tiny advantage over any other party in any other transaction/decision.

This sort of covert thing goes on all the time now, and they have the excusing clause that 'nothing was signed' - well you can make agreements in principle without signing anything, we all know that. The problem is parties in those agreements think its beneficial some how to keep them to their chest, play some sort of poker game, until they decide to announce it.

The mockery of it all is that we now live in a world of live and active information, rumours spread far easier, far faster than ever before.

I don't know why people like IL think they need to play these games, but when its done by an organisation with clearly this many stakeholders with such a passionate interest, it shouldn't be done the same as a business deal might be done. Of course, these things may be the way they've been done for years and decades, its just we're all hungrier for rumour and more likely to share it now.

[banjo]

Cant believe Sam has come out of this smelling of roses,gone 2 years after signing a 5 year contract.

[cpwigan]

Steve, Mick, its not enough. No matter how successful we are, some people have to find fault. Poor CPW has been forced to abandon his vendetta against Wane whilst he concentrates his attentions on IL!

No vendetta against anybody KW, I thought you said Sam was staying anyhow, the best information rarely comes across a bar

Very simple

Wigan finally appointed a fantastic coach who turned this club into a winning team / culture. As now with Bowen, Madge was far from first choice and we had virtually a season of will Nobles contract be renewed or not. UNCERTAINTY is the hallmark of the IL era.

The competition is getting weaker and weaker year on year.

We opted for continuity and struggled to get that. This year who knows we may do even better. The Gods certainly smiled upon us re the CC.

The youth route, fantastic BUT a huge high risk strategy. How many youngsters emerge from each year group to be amazingly RL players? We have to pin our hopes on those youngsters now. I cannot see IL / Wane pulling amazing players out of their hats can you? There are still great Aus/NZers out there. It is incredibly hard but if you work your backsides off they still exist. Likewise SL has some, few but they are. However, the Dr, Moran etc or IL (I think IL would still be runing the first bend whilst the rest are entering the finishing straight then I worry about our man.

Maybe it suits IL to be the owner of a declining competition, one where he can play the Big I Am in a GoldFish Bowl. Maybe it suits some fans who knows. Personally, I like watching amazing RL players. Subscribe to the NRL may be the only option.

[DaveO]

I think maybe we want things that just don't exist commonly enough in this world anymore - if they ever have.

Full disclosure and upfront honesty from people isn't given anymore. There is too much strategising and trying to find/fearing the loss of some tiny advantage over any other party in any other transaction/decision.

This sort of covert thing goes on all the time now, and they have the excusing clause that 'nothing was signed' - well you can make agreements in principle without signing anything, we all know that. The problem is parties in those agreements think its beneficial some how to keep them to their chest, play some sort of poker game, until they decide to announce it.

The mockery of it all is that we now live in a world of live and active information, rumours spread far easier, far faster than ever before.

I don't know why people like IL think they need to play these games, but when its done by an organisation with clearly this many stakeholders with such a passionate interest, it shouldn't be done the same as a business deal might be done. Of course, these things may be the way they've been done for years and decades, its just we're all hungrier for rumour and more likely to share it now.

It may well be that IL is paranoid and releases news as if he was running a mega corporation but the main argument against this approach is it is self defeating.

People view it as stage managed and cynical. Other clubs also seem to manage to avoid months of speculation.

I bet every journalist who went to the press conference was wondering why they bothered because if they were any good they knew what was coming anyway. So did the fans.

The only surprise was only Bowen was announced as a new signing but I reckon that was to hold any more signings in reserve for another rainy day. That is the kind if cynicism his approach breeds.

[Kittwazzer]

Steve, Mick, its not enough. No matter how successful we are, some people have to find fault. Poor CPW has been forced to abandon his vendetta against Wane whilst he concentrates his attentions on IL!

No vendetta against anybody KW, I thought you said Sam was staying anyhow, the best information rarely comes across a bar

Very simple

Wigan finally appointed a fantastic coach who turned this club into a winning team / culture. As now with Bowen, Madge was far from first choice and we had virtually a season of will Nobles contract be renewed or not. UNCERTAINTY is the hallmark of the IL era.

The competition is getting weaker and weaker year on year.

We opted for continuity and struggled to get that. This year who knows we may do even better. The Gods certainly smiled upon us re the CC.

The youth route, fantastic BUT a huge high risk strategy. How many youngsters emerge from each year group to be amazingly RL players? We have to pin our hopes on those youngsters now. I cannot see IL / Wane pulling amazing players out of their hats can you? There are still great Aus/NZers out there. It is incredibly hard but if you work your backsides off they still exist. Likewise SL has some, few but they are. However, the Dr, Moran etc or IL (I think IL would still be runing the first bend whilst the rest are entering the finishing straight then I worry about our man.

Maybe it suits IL to be the owner of a declining competition, one where he can play the Big I Am in a GoldFish Bowl. Maybe it suits some fans who knows. Personally, I like watching amazing RL players. Subscribe to the NRL may be the only option.

I never said Sam was staying, but I'm pretty confident that the deal was far from signed, sealed and delivered months ago as many would believe. In fact, its been on and off like a hoor's drawers!

As for Moran, he didn't sign anyone last year, merely re-signing his entire ageing squad. Other than Asotasi, has he announced any big signings for next season? Oh yes, Kevin Penney.

And the doctor? Jury is still out for me!

[jao711]

Why are so many people so concerned with the actual date that Sam signed for NZW?What difference does it make?Why all the sanctimonious preaching on this board,and criticism of Ian Lenagan?What makes these people think they should have access to the club's transfer and financial dealings.?IL has done a great job of reorganising the club and it's playing and coaching staff (remember madge?)The club is now in a very healthy position better than for many years,silverware in the cupboard,and and the best youth system in the game.I am as sick as the rest about Sam's departure but it's been great while it lasted.Count your blessings.Just one more point. Sam wants to go to the NRL,can you see any benefit in holding him to his contract and then he leaves for free.It's the way of the world,just face up and support a great side.