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Wigan sign new centre
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:07 pm
by Warrior Wills
On the scroll bar on the bbc website it says that Wigan have signed David Vaealiki from Para ells for 3 years.
Is he any good ?
Re: Wigan sign new centre
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:15 pm
by Warrior Wills
More Info :
www.bbc.co.uk
Centre David Vaealiki has joined Wigan from Parramatta on a three-year deal.
Vaealiki was at the Eels for five years, scoring 32 tries in 93 games, but an Achilles injury means he has only played eight games this season.
"He has a tremendous opportunity to set himself up for life, and he goes with our blessing," Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald told the club website.
Signing the New Zealand international will be a boost for Wigan, who missed out on Mark Gasnier and Martin Gleeson.
Re: Wigan sign new centre
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 1:02 pm
by robjoenz
http://www.nrl.com/myclub/players.cfm?T ... ayerID=332 He's young!
Warrior Wills posted:
He has a tremendous opportunity to set himself up for life, and he goes with our blessing," Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald told the club website.
Does that mean we are paying him the earth and they are glad to get rid of an injury prone player?
Re: Wigan sign new centre
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 1:15 pm
by GeoffN
That's what it looks like to me!
Haven't noticed him that much when watching Aussie RL, unlike say, Gasnier and Cooper, who do stand out for the dragons and NSW.
Having said that, we do tend to do better with Kiwis than Aussies, and as Rob says - he's only 23.
Also, he doesn't count in the overseas quota (Samoan passport)
Hope that doesn't mean we can't afford Wild though.
Re: Wigan sign new centre
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 4:17 pm
by redhead
Wow did this one come out of the blue...someone we werent even linked to. Carnt see him getting the top wages that we would have given Gasnier..been a quiet season for him probably because the eels have been a bit hit and miss will have to see how he goes to really comment. Could turn out to be an Ainscough or with him only being young could turn into a Renouf will have to see I know which I would prefer
Re: Wigan sign new centre
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 10:44 pm
by Pem Rover
According to the Parramatta site, fans are sorry to see him go although there are comments about him being injury prone. A pig in a poke but hope springs eternal. Without a doubt he will strengthen the back line where we are clearly missing a strike centre.
Re: Wigan sign new centre
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 12:05 am
by dancer
Good signing, 23 years old, current Kiwi international. Also an acomplished fullback, he is a centre but has played fullback many times for both parramatta and New Zealand. Gives us cover for Rads aswel as being a great centre in his own right.
Re: Wigan sign new centre
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:28 am
by robjoenz
Not a great try scoring ratio though for a centre, 1 in every 3 games is it compared to Hodgy's 1 every 1.75 games last season.
Re: Wigan sign new centre
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:39 am
by Cleveland Pieman
this 1 try in 3 games is his career / paramatta ratio. what is Hodgsons career ratio at Wigan - not just last season?
Re: Wigan sign new centre
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:46 am
by robjoenz
Cleveland Pieman posted:
this 1 try in 3 games is his career / paramatta ratio. what is Hodgsons career ratio at Wigan - not just last season?
No idea, lets level the field then...
Last season Vaealiki scored 5 tries in 20 appearances, that's a point for every appearance.
Vaealiki 0.25
Hodgson 0.57
This season however, Hodgy has two tries in 9 games and Vaealiki has 4 in 7 games, but Hodgson has mostly come from the bench.
Does anyone actually know how good he is because on paper he doesn't look too super especially with his injuries. Has Mo just bought a centre because he didn't want to come home empty handed and the fans get excited when the player has a foreign name?!