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Blackpool_Pie wrote: ↑Sat Apr 19, 2025 5:30 pm Fwiw this signing could go either way. He still is absolutely electric and has scored some great tries for Gloucester this season. The spotlight will really be on him defensively and under a high ball. My main take away is that this is a massive vote of no confidence for Douglas

I'm hoping it's more a case of adding depth when Miski is out and getting someone in who costs nothing on the cap and maybe generates a few headlines. If we just stick him in the first team without him having to earn his place through performances for the reserves then it's a bit ridiculous. Douglas has done well in the games he's played so far.

Arguably the most important thing for wingers these days is yardage in your own half. In union you take the ball into contact in a completely different way to league so even that is going to be difficult. We've also seen how important the wing is becoming defensively too. We've been exploited there a few times and I don't think an inexperienced player is going to help our right edge.

It's hard to see this as anything other than a publicity signing akin to when we signed Andy Powell. If teams used the new talent exemptions seriously they'd go for younger union players who have the time to adapt, not signings to get column inches.

EagleEyePie wrote: ↑Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:06 pm

Blackpool_Pie wrote: ↑Sat Apr 19, 2025 5:30 pm Fwiw this signing could go either way. He still is absolutely electric and has scored some great tries for Gloucester this season. The spotlight will really be on him defensively and under a high ball. My main take away is that this is a massive vote of no confidence for Douglas

I'm hoping it's more a case of adding depth when Miski is out and getting someone in who costs nothing on the cap and maybe generates a few headlines. If we just stick him in the first team without him having to earn his place through performances for the reserves then it's a bit ridiculous. Douglas has done well in the games he's played so far.

Arguably the most important thing for wingers these days is yardage in your own half. In union you take the ball into contact in a completely different way to league so even that is going to be difficult. We've also seen how important the wing is becoming defensively too. We've been exploited there a few times and I don't think an inexperienced player is going to help our right edge.

It's hard to see this as anything other than a publicity signing akin to when we signed Andy Powell. If teams used the new talent exemptions seriously they'd go for younger union players who have the time to adapt, not signings to get column inches.

Thats a very fair assessment.Lets hope he has some kind ov experience/knowledge of the defencive requirements.Im sure we will find out soon

The games on the up. Signings from RU. Premier league players in attendance at matches again. Sell outs. Publicity from Vegas that caught the national attention. Lots to be positive about. Long may it continue.

Wade might be OK. He might not be. No skin off our nose.

As to learning the game, a couple of positional changes on the 5th and getting used to playing the ball, there's not too much too it for a winger. I think the biggest challenge will be for him to realize that 90% of a wingers job in the modern game is to take the first hit up on *every* set, get smashed and try to win the PTB. Can he physically stand up to that? I doubt if he's ever been asked to do that before. We can protect Jay or Bevan from doing that when they're at FB, but the wingers have to do it. I'd say this, defense and age are the limits on success here. Worth a go though.

Mike wrote: ↑Sun Apr 20, 2025 4:47 am The games on the up. Signings from RU. Premier league players in attendance at matches again. Sell outs. Publicity from Vegas that caught the national attention. Lots to be positive about. Long may it continue.

Wade might be OK. He might not be. No skin off our nose.

As to learning the game, a couple of positional changes on the 5th and getting used to playing the ball, there's not too much too it for a winger. I think the biggest challenge will be for him to realize that 90% of a wingers job in the modern game is to take the first hit up on *every* set, get smashed and try to win the PTB. Can he physically stand up to that? I doubt if he's ever been asked to do that before. We can protect Jay or Bevan from doing that when they're at FB, but the wingers have to do it. I'd say this, defense and age are the limits on success here. Worth a go though.

I think that is a fair summary, at the very least it provides some competition for places. Regarding our right edge defence that is something we need to sort on our own line, Miski has a tendency to jam in.

Whilst I accept that winger is probably the easiest position for a player to transition between codes, and Wade is an excellent athlete, the biggest problem I foresee is the difference in workload. In all of his career, Wade will have never had to carry the ball as many times as we'll expect him to. That isn't something that a 34 year old player is going to find easy. If he'd come to RL when he left union to try the NFL he would have hade a decent chance of being a success. How many 34 year olds are or have ever done a good job in Super League?
We wouldn't want Ryan Hall now would we? Charnley and Makinson are still decent players but I don't think they're 34 and of course they've played RL since childhood. As several people have said, if Wade isn't a success it's no great loss and he has brought some publicity. I just thought that making his signing a big announcement was a bit OTT and I hope that we are actively looking for the signings at prop/backrow that we now need.

In terms of cap space, it's costing nowt, so it's fair enough. He looks a talent and like a lad who could take to the game but you look at his age and it's tough to see it as much more than a publicity grabber. I think there's a market there to bring lads in from union, if you have the money and if it's something they'll continue to look at, I think I'd prefer for them to scout younger players, who maybe aren't quite getting the chance in Union but whose skills could really thrive in League.

Southern Softy wrote: ↑Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:55 am I'm a cynic, so assume that there will be commercial tie-ins that will cover his wages and I'm not sure we will see him in a Wigan shirt.
Nice if he proves me wrong although I can't for the life of me see why Martian Offiah was instrumental in the move.

Martin Offiah is involved in any form of self publicity available, imo.

Can't argue with that!

Mickw wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 7:22 pm Raising the profile of rl maybe ,networking maybe .
8 trys 13 in union is not a bad return so maybe the club know something.

top try scorer in RU prem has 9

morley pie eater wrote: ↑Sun Apr 20, 2025 5:43 pm

Southern Softy wrote: ↑Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:55 am I'm a cynic, so assume that there will be commercial tie-ins that will cover his wages and I'm not sure we will see him in a Wigan shirt.
Nice if he proves me wrong although I can't for the life of me see why Martian Offiah was instrumental in the move.

Martin Offiah is involved in any form of self publicity available, imo.