Anthony Gelling to Wigan?

[East Stand Faithful]

I think we need to wait and judge him after he has played a few months.

However, what surprises me is that we can sign a "Toyota cup" standard player. I thought to get a work permit you needed to be of a certain standard - have I dreamt that?

[Dobby]

You could have said similar things about Jack Reed when he was Gelling's age. Just because a player hasn't made it into an NRL team by his early 20's doesn't mean he isn't a good player or doesn't have something to offer. Players that can't cut it in the NRL have ended up becoming successful in Super League, just look at Scott Dureau, he was the best halfback in the league last year.

It's hard to form a judgement on a player without ever having seen him play. The fact that he hasn't made it in the NRL is not a reason to write him off since many current SL players wouldn't hack it in the NRL.

And if Jack Reed had come to England to play for Keighley, like he was about to, would he have developed into the player that he is now, would he have played for England? I dont think so. He has developed the way he has because he is at Brisbane, learning and training with the best and playing week in, week out in the NRL. Reed in many ways was exceptionally lucky and that everything fell into place the way it did, that he was recomended by his coach who knew people at Brisbane, that he had a dream trial, and dream trial games. It is certainly not the norm. Gelling has been at Sydney City and failed and didnt get picked up by New Zealand Warriors when playing for their feeder team and has never played a NRL game.

Scott Dureau played over 40 NRL games and only left Newcastle because they had signed another scrum half and they had too many half backs. As a result he wouldnt get much gametime and was told by the coach that he may be better off elsewhere. I dont know if he had offers from other NRL clubs or not, or if Catalan just offered him a lot more than he could have got elsewhere in the NRL, but over 40 games in the NRL by your early 20s doesnt suggest that you cant cut it.

As for the comparisons with Carmont, which NRL club was Carmont playing for when he was 21? If you're going to compare Gelling and Carmont then why not compare then at the same age? It seems we can't though, because no one had heard of Carmont when he was that age.

We are not signing them at the same age though are we or are you proposing that we give Gelling 5 years in the reserves to get him up to speed? We are not talking about some young up and coming English player here who is a long term project. Any right minded person would compare the playing abilities of players as they stand now. We signed Carmont as an established NRL centre and Samoa captain. He was always going to walk into our team and be our first choice centre. Phelps had much the same king of pedigree as Gelling and look what happened there, awful at Wigan and just released by Hull after a year.

Also I'm not sure how much you can trust the comments on the NZ Warriors forum, there aren't that many opinions given. Yes, some say he's not a centre and will only be a good second row, but you can still read comments on this site and RLFans saying Sam Tomkins isn't a fullback, so you can't exactly trust those who post on internet forums.

He's played most of his recent rugby at second row but if I'm not mistaken he was originally a centre. He played for the Roosters Toyota Cup side as a centre before being converted into a back row forward. It isn't like he's adapting to a new position like Joel Tomkins was.

I partly agree with what you are saying but I know a couple of people in New Zealand who have largely backed up what I have read about Gelling. Also lots of players were originally one position in their younger days but were awful in the same position as they got older, players like Chris Ashton who was originally a centre was then never a centre even at u21s level. It happens all the time.

I've got no idea what Gelling will be like (assuming he signs) but I don't understand why his signing should be seen in a negative light. We need cover, preferably cheap, and Gelling ticks both those boxes. There is perhaps a certain amount of potential there too so it's a sensible signing which should allow Marsh a chance to play regular SL rugby for a whole year while giving Goulding a chance to hold down a centre spot but without having to struggle when Carmont is rested or if Goulding doesn't step up.

Our recruitment this season doesnt really inspire confidence and the signing of Gelling shows just what is wrong with English Rugby League and shows why we struggle internationally. People trying to compare Gelling to a Tony Iro or Dean Bell and say that he could be another unproven player that turns out to be a star need to realise that times have changed. Most of the best young New Zealand Rugby League, and for that matter some of the best Rugby Union, players sign for the top NRL clubs whilst still at school, players like SBW, Benji Marshall and just a few weeks ago Tuivasa-Sheck. New Zealand Warriors also obviously snap up a large number of the most promising players and others are signed by RU teams. The players that are left are the dreggs who cant get a contract. Pre the Auckland/New Zealand Warriors there was no NRL team in New Zealand and Australian NRL clubs didnt scout and recruit in New Zealand the way they did now. As a result there were heaps of quality players in the domestic competitions just waiting for their chance to get that big contract in England. Those days are gone. Who are all these unproven Kiwi players in the last decade or so who have been big successes in England? These sorts of players are now at Championship clubs. You only need to look at the make up of the New Zealand national side and the clubs that the elite players play for to see how times have changed.

[adiddy]

I agree with everyones arguements for and against the signing of Gelling....over the 32 years of watching Wigan I have seen top quality signings come who were dreadful...Florimo, Mark Bell, Ainscough, Reber, Vealiki et al. And seen cheap signings who were great servants to Wigan, McCormack, McGinty, Carmont, Cowie, The Iro brothers. Some players play for one team and dont cut it, or are constantly injured...Nigel Wright, great player...for Wakefield, didnt do much for us, loaned to Wakefield...great player, again didnt do much for us!! Lets give Gelling a chance, just like Dudson, and Flower, lets support them until its PROVEN they are not Wigan standard....they just may prove some people wrong!!!

Matt

[platt-warrior]

Well posted adiddy. :eusa2:

[platt-warrior]

May i just congratulate both dobby and cherrie-pie for well constructed post's-not a hint of personal jibe or sarcasm.A pleasure to read....thanks

[cpwigan]

Is this now a done deal? Its seems to be common knowledge, but I take it still not confirmed yet.

Yes. Visa hold up. Nothing major. A clerical error in NZ.

[pedro]

I agree with everyones arguements for and against the signing of Gelling....over the 32 years of watching Wigan I have seen top quality signings come who were dreadful...Florimo, Mark Bell, Ainscough, Reber, Vealiki et al. And seen cheap signings who were great servants to Wigan, McCormack, McGinty, Carmont, Cowie, The Iro brothers. Some players play for one team and dont cut it, or are constantly injured...Nigel Wright, great player...for Wakefield, didnt do much for us, loaned to Wakefield...great player, again didnt do much for us!! Lets give Gelling a chance, just like Dudson, and Flower, lets support them until its PROVEN they are not Wigan standard....they just may prove some people wrong!!!

Matt

I thought Ainscough was good when he was moved back to the wing from centre, he was not given enough time. look how Richards was when we played him at centre and how well he turned out.

[highland convert]

Marsh is useless, not worth signing, should just release him, same with L Tomkins only plays Championship. Oh that is part of the training. Gelling might be Toyota cup but every NRL player would play there at the start.

[ste lord]

I agree with HC with regards to Marsh , with Logan just give him time at the top level , he's not had a full season of super league , I feel he should be given time to prove his worth or not . If he's anything like Joel then the break from reserves to championship level could bring him on leaps and bounds . ( just keep him away from Yawnion though

[cpwigan]

Marsh is useless, not worth signing, should just release him, same with L Tomkins only plays Championship. Oh that is part of the training. Gelling might be Toyota cup but every NRL player would play there at the start.

How many games have you seen Marsh or Logan play Your recent comment re Trent brings into question the value of your judgements. Every Wigan player that played alongside him, rated the man immensely yet Jim thought he was useless

FWIW, I personally thought Marsh was a better outside back (winger / full back) than an inside back (centre). Logan is a tough no nonsense hooker with a real apetite for developing his game. Incidentally, his middle elder brother was a bucket boy for the Academy at a very similar age. He now earn 300,000 PA and is rated a great talent.

Will both make it who knows but USELESS Classy.