When did we last sign a top drawer player?

[Wiganer Ted]

We've not been able to sign "Top Drawer Players" due to the small salary cap compared to the NRL and Union.
Should the Marquee Player idea be passed then that could change.
If Sam T did return would he be the MP?
Last time he was here he was paid under the SC and by all accounts was paid very well too.
Perhaps we could re-sign Sam and pay him again under the SC, then sign a MP who would be exempt from the Cap.
If Sam were not the MP who would you like the club to sign as the Marquee Player?

[medlocke]

My MP would be Sam Thaiday

[East Stand Faithful]

Gelling makes on average 2 brainfarts a match that cost us - should a top class professional team be making do with that?

Prove it, prove that Gelling makes 2 mistakes that lead to 2 tries being scored, Good Fridays game throws your whole anti Gelling agenda out of the window seeing as they only scored once, so :tong1:

You are a real windup merchant you little tinker!

My get out of jail card is the bit before you highlighted where I said on average he makes 2 brainfarts per game. 5/10 must do better

[Suzieb]

Our best signing got to be John Bateman

[DaveO]

Dave O you got my o/p spot on, that is exactly what i was driving at.

I thought it was pretty obvious really!

Gelling makes on average 2 brainfarts a match that cost us - should a top class professional team be making do with that?

Clubb has been great this season but not world class. My point is IFL has changed the strategy of the club to make do with projects or second rate or past it Aussies.

Clubb is good value but he's not a Craig Smith. We "big up" players too easily because they are better than average these days.

At best Gelling is a project and you should not have a project as first choice centre. Given games played so is Thornley and despite the England call up I think Sarge is learning on the job as well and so we are very weak in the centres IMO.

In my opinion we need to sign a world class centre ( in the Renouf/Miles mould) and get a half back pairing that works. With the rumoured signing of Sam we should be able to fill the full back and 6 and 7 from Sam, Rocky, GW and Smith. Personally, if Rocky and GW can cut it then i would be dropping Smith.

So would I. Without Green Smith looks average.

I would certainly spend the MVP money on a centre (if that rule comes in) but I'd be surprised if we did. Wane thinks Gelling is a laugh and also because he runs his blood to water he great.

If Gelling is Wane's pet project turn him into a 2nd row forward or at least give it a try and sign a proper centre.

[DaveO]

We've not been able to sign "Top Drawer Players" due to the small salary cap compared to the NRL and Union.

It's all relative in way and we seem to be deliberately out of the market that is available to us.

If Sam were not the MP who would you like the club to sign as the Marquee Player?

I'd hope we could afford Sam and an MVP. We have to be paying senior players like Lockers a good wage so there should be room somewhere (as they leave,contracts expire etc).

Maybe having a squad of 35 players just isn't feasible if we want to be competitive and we have to stop trying to hang onto some of the young players so we can pay the going rate for those who we can recruit?

That is a very short term view I don't like but it may be the reality.

[TV Warrior]

In response to the OP I think it would be Barrett or Fielden depending on who signed later.

[pedro]

Same as Daz Goulding, i seem to recall the excuse for Daz for a number of years was "he is still only a young player with potential, give him time", had he been an import he would getting the same abuse that Gelling gets on here :eusa17:

Daz was always a good player, even when he was getting stick and a natural centre. Gelling has been shoved into it and at the moment, doesn't have the timing, nous or skill required for the position.

His effort though is first class, plus he has great entertainment value. He might be worth sticking with as he's obviously got some great attributes but learning on the job can be costly.

No he wasn't, he was mediocre but being wigan through and through gave him immunity from criticism, he was made to look good by other players, if he was so great then why is he plying his trade at Hull KR instead or the NRL, Union or one of the other top 4 sides

he was our best centre by a mile as he was a natural centre not made into 1.

[pedro]

My MP would be Sam Thaiday

give over

[medlocke]

My MP would be Sam Thaiday

give over

why not?