McIlorum and Gelling released

[Wigan_forever1985]

To be fair to the club in terms of recruitment from the past, it wasn't as heavily required as it is now, 2010-2012 for example we had a good team and we had arguably the best player in the comp in Sam T, we still had very good reliable players too like Richards etc

We did bring in Blake Green to offset the loss of Finch etc

Since 2013 though the squad has got progressively worse, and there has been some terrible recruitment

I don't expect us to sign star names every season but i expect us to address weaknesses which we simply aren't doing that, we are in fact continuing to make the squad weaker and weaker

The MM situation is perplexing because if we believe its not cap related, then basically what IL and Wigan are saying is "MM had a great world cup and generated a lot of interest, so rather than keep a player who clearly is good enough to be wanted by several clubs, we will cash in on that and play a player who has never been linked with a move away and hasnt ever been near to an international setup" We seem to want to give away any player that is wanted by other clubs

[SJ]

I still think that the signing of Noble/Fielden saved us from relegation.

The lift that Fielden gave us was priceless, and yes the buzz was amazing.

I am lucky enough to remember that buzz when Wigan were a world class RL club.

Offiah, Hanley, Bell, Wally Lewis (or was that a dream? )

Wallet Lewis was a dream. Try Gene Miles.

Ashton? Hock? I'm in Cuckoo land. Returning to Jamaica post haste.

[NICKYKISS]

It isn’t just Wigan not making big name signings to be fair. Somebody posted a list of signings from around superleague on a thread somewhere and asked who’d be the biggest success. The list was pretty much a bunch of no names, 2nd graders from Australia and maybe one or two players you’d class as real quality (Masila, Tyrone Roberts etc although even they wouldn’t have been held in high regard in the days of Adrian Lam, Jamie Lyon, Craig Smith etc coming over).

You can’t sign what’s not available sadly. Ideally I’d have liked us to sign two props and a scrum half in the off season but I don’t look around superleague and think ‘why didn’t we sign this player or that player’ when be gone to other clubs. When clubs with money like Leeds and Wire are signing the likes of Myler and Mitch Brown you know there is a lack of available quality.

[josie andrews]

Talking RL: Micky and Gells have left us with many great memories


Few fans would have been shocked by confirmation Micky McIlorum and Anthony Gelling have left Wigan. But there was one surprise in the club’s press release – the apparent contradiction over the reason behind Micky’s exit.

Chairman Ian Lenagan says the hooker received attractive offers and they didn’t want to stand in his way. But in the same press release, McIlorum suggested there was a nudge.

“After speaking with Ian (Lenagan) it was made clear my future was elsewhere,” he wrote. Either way, the decision to release him with two years remaining on his deal has baffled many - not surprising, given the impact he has made. A French journalist contacted me last week and asked for my thoughts on McIlorum (we both expected the Wigan hooker’s move to Catalans to be completed before Christmas). The reporter asked me to pick out the best moments from McIlorum’s decade-long stay with Wigan.

Which was tough; because Micky is not Rangi Chase - he’s not a highlights-reel type of player. Sure, there have been some nice passes, some smart darts, a few crafty tries and quite a lot of bone-rattling tackles.

But even they don’t do justice to the impact Micky has made. Because what he has brought to the Wigan side more than anything else has been an influence, on those he is playing alongside - and, more importantly, on those he played against.

How do you quantify the fact opponents just aren’t as good when they play against Micky? You can’t. But it was a huge asset for Wigan. He niggled opponents, he got under their skin. He was nasty, he was aggressive, and - best of all for the Wigan fans - he was one of their own. Born in Leeds but made in Wigan, as he says. And the supporters loved having him in their side.

And that was illustrated best last Good Friday, when Micky made his comeback after more than a year out with a nasty broken ankle. When he jogged down the touchline, preparing to go onto the pitch, the deafening ovation showed just how much respect and appreciation the fans have for him. He’s more than played his part in the club’s resurgence since 2010. I wish him all the best in France. And I pity the Wigan players who have to play against him this year!

————————

As for Gells, he brought fun and humour to a game which has become increasingly sterile.

But I liked him for much more than his antics or raps or videos. I respected him for much more than being a walking one-liner.

His rise through the ranks was hugely-impressive. This, remember, was a bloke who was holding down a full-time construction job, in addition to playing part-time, when Shaun Wane made him his first signing at the end of 2011.

His story was one of patience and perseverance paying off spectacularly, as he slowly cemented a regular spot in the side. There were still errors and brain explosions along the way but, to borrow and butcher Wane’s description, there were more diamonds than rocks.

Fans loved his tries and his team-mates certainly appreciated his metre-eating carries.

And his views on the game were refreshing.

The super-8s, referees, rule changes... the Man of the People would give his view. Super League will be worse off without him. Wigan will be worse off without them both.

They’ve both been a pleasure to deal with. All the best, fellas. And thanks for the memories.



https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... 1-8937005

[jasonnlouise]

I still think that the signing of Noble/Fielden saved us from relegation.

The lift that Fielden gave us was priceless, and yes the buzz was amazing.

I am lucky enough to remember that buzz when Wigan were a world class RL club.

Offiah, Hanley, Bell, Wally Lewis (or was that a dream? )

Wallet Lewis was a dream. Try Gene Miles.

Ashton? Hock? I'm in Cuckoo land. Returning to Jamaica post

haste.

I think Wally Lewis signed but broke his arm playing for Australia in France so it never happened if it had we'd have had Kenny Ella and Lewis in successive years

[josie andrews]

More or less says it all about both players IMO


Will miss both of them but wish both good luck

[jao711]

It isn’t just Wigan not making big name signings to be fair. Somebody posted a list of signings from around superleague on a thread somewhere and asked who’d be the biggest success. The list was pretty much a bunch of no names, 2nd graders from Australia and maybe one or two players you’d class as real quality (Masila, Tyrone Roberts etc although even they wouldn’t have been held in high regard in the days of Adrian Lam, Jamie Lyon, Craig Smith etc coming over).

You can’t sign what’s not available sadly. Ideally I’d have liked us to sign two props and a scrum half in the off season but I don’t look around superleague and think ‘why didn’t we sign this player or that player’ when be gone to other clubs. When clubs with money like Leeds and Wire are signing the likes of Myler and Mitch Brown you know there is a lack of available quality.

. Which I think is why Aussie clubs are looking at Superleague players.

[jao711]

More or less says it all about both players IMO


Will miss both of them but wish both good luck

. Couldn’t agree more ,very sorry to see both leaving.Smart move by McNamara,Mickey is just what Catalan need to put some attitude into them.

[SJ]

I still think that the signing of Noble/Fielden saved us from relegation.

The lift that Fielden gave us was priceless, and yes the buzz was amazing.

I am lucky enough to remember that buzz when Wigan were a world class RL club.

Offiah, Hanley, Bell, Wally Lewis (or was that a dream? )

Wallet Lewis was a dream. Try Gene Miles.

Ashton? Hock? I'm in Cuckoo land. Returning to Jamaica post

haste.

Thanks for that JL. Great names indeed. Ps didn't Lewis go to "Trinity"
I think Wally Lewis signed but broke his arm playing for Australia in France so it never happened if it had we'd have had Kenny Ella and Lewis in successive years

[Exiled Wiganer]

I will miss Gelling, and the McIllorum from 2013. It will be fascinating to see how they go. I simply can't see Gelling getting a start at a structure first NRL club, but I think that Mac's leaving us is good business for Catalans. If we use the money to bring a Scott Tayloresque player in I will be happy. Better still, find someone who would take FPN and get 2 Scotts in we would have a well balanced squad for once.

They have both given us a great deal of pleasure. I still think the squad had one hooker too many once the idea takes hold that Tommy is a 9, not a 7. Given how many people wanted Escare at 1 and Sam in the halves, I am scratching my head how many can be so against losing the spare hooker that approach leaves us with.