DaveO wrote:I don't know how much NZW are paying Hoffman but if he is considered at the end of his career so not commanding mega bucks I have to say I am disappointed he wasn't on our radar especially as we have let too many experienced players go.
He'd still be a top player here and we seem less than wide awake to player availability as in who might actually be available down-under.
Your gain, our loss.
The Journalist estimates place Hoffmans contract at 533k Aus per season.
That's becoming fairly standard for players in his class moving to NZ ( Cost more ) the reality is his registered Salary would be 100K less and the rest ( if those reports are accurate ) would be top ups ( third party agreements ).
What interested me was the way the Warriors shopped Kevin Locke to Dr Koukash.
Clearly Wigan wasn't an option (timing and Locke not wanting to go where Sam had been / try to walk in his boots that would have been awkward in the least).
There is a massive upheaval going on at NZWArriors , a radical move away from Local development ( reliance on it ) to importing.
That will have a trickle down effect. There are so many potential NRL Stars of tomorrow in this latest Juniors crop ( six of whom have been hardened off in reserve grade V men any way) something will have to give if the Warriors get the three Big targets they are chasing.
Some of these Kids won't get NRL contracts anywhere....not through lack of quality....there is just too many to keep.
Any ESL considerations would cross Wigans door first. There is no reason for the Warriors to offer players ( other than special case Locke ) to any other ESL outfit.
That they are prepared to talk with Koukash tells you Clearly there is a will there to set people up in the ESL that the Warriors don't want competing with them in the NRL ( Locke had NRL options ).
Nothing has come from this sister club thing for Wigan apart from a training base for the WCC and a warm game....free tickets to the NRL nines and the Mad Butcher ( Kiwi league Knight Sir Peter Leitches finest Pies ).
Being in that Warriors base....getting to watch these Kids ( most of the nines team were kids ).....most of the Halmiton team were the Secound rung Kids.....
Wigan got a close up look at the talent pool.
The smart money is in tapping the Warriors excess of Junior talent....when these kids get away from our inconsistent rubbish coaching systems at First grade level ( thank goodness Matt Elliots gone ) Structured clubs like Manly and the Roosters turn them into rising Super stars.
Lockes deal is a watershed in many ways.
The doors been opened by Lockes decision. Having a sister club with the NZ lot will pay off for Wigan in the longer term....I'm fairly confident of that.
It's all been to our benefit so far.
