Charnley in talks with Sale

[josie andrews]

If it was as you say, why did no other Super League club on hearing of the situation at Wigan move in to offer him a better contract to stay in our game?

Why did he not ask for a transfer to push the club into offering a better contract.

No, the fact remains that he had set his stall out to go down under for a bigger contract than what any of our clubs could offer and like those before him, enjoy the lifestyle down under.

If you say so!!!

You know only what the club wants you to know!!

It would appear that the also applies to yourself seeing that your opinion on the matter was based on what you were led to believe by someone else!

Yes, a family member!

[josie andrews]

As long as Charnley lets Wigan know of his intentions early enough then it shouldn't be a problem. They can then decide to sign from outside the club or give another of the young players a chance. In reality that would probably be Jack Higginson, but I see him more of a centre than a wingman. As for Burgess, Josie and WW are right and wrong. Negotiations started with him very early in the season, and it looked at one stage as if he may stay. However Wigan could not or would not match the valuation that he wanted or Sydney were willing to. He has a three year deal in Aus, but if he doesn't get game time will he want to stay, the lifestyle is great but he is a rugby plasyer who will want to play at the highest level possible.

They actually started to drag their, the clubs that is, heels as well in the negotiations Straw

[Owd Codger]

As long as Charnley lets Wigan know of his intentions early enough then it shouldn't be a problem. They can then decide to sign from outside the club or give another of the young players a chance. In reality that would probably be Jack Higginson, but I see him more of a centre than a wingman. As for Burgess, Josie and WW are right and wrong. Negotiations started with him very early in the season, and it looked at one stage as if he may stay. However Wigan could not or would not match the valuation that he wanted or Sydney were willing to. He has a three year deal in Aus, but if he doesn't get game time will he want to stay, the lifestyle is great but he is a rugby plasyer who will want to play at the highest level possible.

They actually started to drag their, the clubs that is, heels as well in the negotiations Straw

Have you considered that it may also have been the agent of Burgess 'dragging his feet' in order to get Wigan to better the contract from the NRL.

Seeing that no other Super League club appears to have been involved in trying to get Burgess, it would appear to have been a bit of brinkmanship on both sides.

And family members can be sometimes economical with facts to others when asked!

[cpwigan]

Sydney City have actively tried to sign other Wigan players. At one stage we had lost Ryan Sutton before a late change of mind.

Personally, I would rather players went at Budgies age and returned here 2 or 3 years later than leave at 26/27 and return here as they near or are in their 30s

[Wigan_forever1985]

I know logistically impossible but how good would it be if we could play our youth teams in the NRL feeder leagues either the Queensland Cup or NSW Cup.

[DaveO]

That's where we will have to disagree WW, as I don't think Wigan did their best to keep hold of Budgie, and my guess it would be down to the money offered to him. It's only a guess, but a strong gut feeling.
Whatever the age of a player, if he has something serious to offer a team he should be recompensed appropriately. The amount of matches won on the back of his skills and efforts deserves more than a paltry salary that would bebe offered to a kid.
This is a gut feeling WW, and ist anything I can say I know as true, but my idea nevertheless.

The club wasted too much time about renewing Budgies contract & only started negotiations, I've been led to believe, when it was too late.
When Joe told Waney, he was furious that he was gonna lose him!

Joe would still have been here if Wigan had expedited contract talks with him!

If it was as you say, why did no other Super League club on hearing of the situation at Wigan move in to offer him a better contract to stay in our game?

Why did he not ask for a transfer to push the club into offering a better contract.

No, the fact remains that he had set his stall out to go down under for a bigger contract than what any of our clubs could offer and like those before him, enjoy the lifestyle down under.

He didn't need to ask for a transfer. He was set to be a free agent.

Having nothing on the table from Wigan he went looking and found even as a rookie he could get a deal in Oz and got one.

He didn't "set his stall out".

Once he was sorted whether or not Wigan could match it was probably irrelevant. His mind would have been set on the move.

I doubt he is on mega bucks in Oz. His club do have a lot more expensive and experienced players to fit under even their large salary cap. He is not a marquee player for them but his wage will certainly be high by SL standards. Maybe six figures in £££'s and no doubt some would say we should not be chucking £100K+ at players of his age.

I'd say why not? We have got few other players of his talent who deserve it!

Wigan need to recognise special talent and pay accordingly.

[Panchitta Marra]

The club wasted too much time about renewing Budgies contract & only started negotiations, I've been led to believe, when it was too late.
When Joe told Waney, he was furious that he was gonna lose him!

Joe would still have been here if Wigan had expedited contract talks with him!

If it was as you say, why did no other Super League club on hearing of the situation at Wigan move in to offer him a better contract to stay in our game?

Why did he not ask for a transfer to push the club into offering a better contract.

No, the fact remains that he had set his stall out to go down under for a bigger contract than what any of our clubs could offer and like those before him, enjoy the lifestyle down under.

He didn't need to ask for a transfer. He was set to be a free agent.

Having nothing on the table from Wigan he went looking and found even as a rookie he could get a deal in Oz and got one.

He didn't "set his stall out".

Once he was sorted whether or not Wigan could match it was probably irrelevant. His mind would have been set on the move.

I doubt he is on mega bucks in Oz. His club do have a lot more expensive and experienced players to fit under even their large salary cap. He is not a marquee player for them but his wage will certainly be high by SL standards. Maybe six figures in £££'s and no doubt some would say we should not be chucking £100K+ at players of his age.

I'd say why not? We have got few other players of his talent who deserve it!

Wigan need to recognise special talent and pay accordingly.

I fully agree, special talent has to be recognised and paid accordingly irrespective of age. Joe obviously wasn't by wigan so chose to move on.

[Owd Codger]

If it was as you say, why did no other Super League club on hearing of the situation at Wigan move in to offer him a better contract to stay in our game?

Why did he not ask for a transfer to push the club into offering a better contract.

No, the fact remains that he had set his stall out to go down under for a bigger contract than what any of our clubs could offer and like those before him, enjoy the lifestyle down under.

He didn't need to ask for a transfer. He was set to be a free agent.

Having nothing on the table from Wigan he went looking and found even as a rookie he could get a deal in Oz and got one.

He didn't "set his stall out".

Once he was sorted whether or not Wigan could match it was probably irrelevant. His mind would have been set on the move.

I doubt he is on mega bucks in Oz. His club do have a lot more expensive and experienced players to fit under even their large salary cap. He is not a marquee player for them but his wage will certainly be high by SL standards. Maybe six figures in £££'s and no doubt some would say we should not be chucking £100K+ at players of his age.

I'd say why not? We have got few other players of his talent who deserve it!

Wigan need to recognise special talent and pay accordingly.

I fully agree, special talent has to be recognised and paid accordingly irrespective of age. Joe obviously wasn't by wigan so chose to move on.

Is anyone seriously suggesting that Wigan would not offer a good contract to a outstanding young winger like Burgess and forced him into a situation of wanting to go to Australia.

The fact that no other Super League showed interest when they saw what was happening at Wigan tells you that they knew that had Burgess made the decision to leave for more money in the NRL irrespective of what any offer by Wigan or any other club here.

[nathan_rugby]

Would be interesting to see where everyone thinks Burgess SHOULD have ranked in terms of Wigan's top earners if we managed to give him a new contract.

I would say top 3 are:
Tomkins,
Lockers,
MM,
Joel Tomkins,

I would have been happy if Burgess took the number 5 top earner, however I feel players such as Charnley, Smith, Flower, Mossop etc would have been ahead.

[josie andrews]

Would be interesting to see where everyone thinks Burgess SHOULD have ranked in terms of Wigan's top earners if we managed to give him a new contract.

I would say top 3 are:
Tomkins,
Lockers,
MM,
Joel Tomkins,

I would have been happy if Burgess took the number 5 top earner, however I feel players such as Charnley, Smith, Flower, Mossop etc would have been ahead.

I thought Joel Tomkins & Lee Mossop came back on a reduced wage?