Nah. Nigel from Hull.

I thought Leulai (Thomas) was expected to be seen as more of a hooker next season than half back moving into the slot vacated by Mark Riddell

That's a very big slot to fill.

Judging by their recruitment and who's leaving, I think there's two potential options for Wigan next year.

1. Sam Tomkins
6. Thomas Leuluai
7. Brett Finch (or vice versa on the 6 & 7)

OR

6. Sam Tomkins
7. Brett Finch
9. Thomas Leuluai

If they sign either a fullback or a hooker before next season, I think it'll give an indication as to which of those two options they're plumping for.


If Tommy was available, I'd expect it would only be because someone is coming in as a replacement. With their current squad, I can't see them wanting him to go.

Quite dependable on whether Maguire sees a future for Amos Roberts.. because then Tomkins could be going back into the halves.

And of course whether Deacon has a future. But even given all that, I doubt Thomas Leuluai will be signing for the Bulls!

Unless there's been a change of plan, I seem to remember when he signed for them, it was for 1 year of playing with coaching, then to move into full time coaching afterwards. If that's changed though, I find it difficult to think he would be first choice.

Just read tomorrow Aussie papers regarding Orford. I think its fair to say that they haven't got a clue what's happening. One paper says Orford is likely to join the Eels whereas the other says they'll be looking elsewhere. I'm pretty sure one of them will be right. Anybody that believes anything that lot write are off there heads. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 15vu2.html www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... public_rss

Just read tomorrow Aussie papers regarding Orford. I think its fair to say that they haven't got a clue what's happening. One paper says Orford is likely to join the Eels whereas the other says they'll be looking elsewhere. I'm pretty sure one of them will be right. Anybody that believes anything that lot write are off there heads. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 15vu2.html www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... public_rss

A tad contradictory?

Noticed you missed the previous sentence out of the quote with the 2 papers telling contradictory stories. I was being sarcastic. Sorry if it wasn't obvious enough.

Ooh , Aahh, Missus, No don't

I hope Orford comes back to the Bulls and stays fit. A very good player.

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5937358717 told ya....

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5937358717 told ya....

what? there's nothing new there. just a rehash of what's been said previously. No comments from people involved other than the quote from Ryan Duckett saying he's still contracted for 2 more years. No comment from either the player or his agent.

This article is just so much water

After the comments in the T&A today, it seems that Orford definitely now does want to go and is trying to get a release. No longer is it just rumour and Aussie press rubbish, it's essentially been confirmed he wants out.

So, to Matt Orford, I say...

F*CK OFF!

Go f*ck off back to Australia and thanks a bunch for not honouring your 3 year promise and leaving us in the lurch.


It's a shame that Orford's credibility isn't on a par with his ability.

TBH, the T&A article says nothing more than the Aussie press. To me, it seems a bit of a rehash to fill space.

The fact it's being reported in there to me gives it complete credibility. I don't trust the Aussie Press one bit. I do trust Connor to not report rubbish.

To be fair, there is one crucial difference between the stuff in the Aus press and the T&A piece.

While the Aussies seemed a bit vague on detail and said Orford was going to ask for a release, the T&A piece says he actually HAS asked for a release. It firms up all the speculation and I think we can resign ourselves to him leaving now.

I think many of us did months ago, but realised the club had to play out the game to ensure the best possible/least bad financial outcome for the club, and went along with that.

I'll refrain from wishing our friend a life in interesting times until we hear it for definite.

Looks like we're going through negotiations with all parties. Hopefully these will be nearing their conclusion with the best result possible for us.

It'll be interesting to see who we get as a replacement in this late stage in the recruitment period.

What a c*** Orford is. Thanks mate.

You would like to think contingencies have been sounded of with various players for such an eventuality as Orford leaving.......wouldn't you?

Surely Potter is smart enough to think Orford not coming back was a very real possibility?

The remedy the club will be seeking, from Orford or the club he signs for, will be damages - effectively for Orford's breach of contract, although there may be noises about "inducement to breach contract" - Bulls know all about that of course. my assumptions, anyway.

In any action for damages, the claimant has a duty to mitigate his loss.

Going out and finding a replacement, and signing him, would be substantial mitigation, and would enable the defendant to claim that the club's losses were limited and to put a figure on them. Indeed, in the absence of Orford stating categorically he wanted out, he could claim that signing a replacement was if anything a strong indication that they wanted or expected him to leave, and so any claim for damages should be struck out anyway.

So, lets get into hypothetical mode, shall we? In those circumstances, hypothetically the very last thing the club would want to do would be to sign a replacement, or be seen to be actively seeking one, firstly until formal negotiations begin and secondly until they are concluded. the club can ensure it keeps its strongest hand by playing its cards very close to the chest, and stating in public categorically that it expects Orford to return.

Then it becomes a case of who blinks first.

Since Orford maybe hoped that Bulls would take the hint, shrug their shoulders, go find a replacement and tell him to go play with himself. End of matter.

But maybe, the longer it goes on without a resolution, the more concerned (initially) and then desperate (hopefully) Orford (and his slime mould manager) become. And the more worried about the scale of potential damages they are exposed to they become, since they are giving the Bulls less and less time to find a replacement. They, like us, have of course seen no idication that the Bulls have taken any steps to line anyone up so the Bulls must surely be expecting orford back, and they (like us) will be aware how soon pre-season starts...

And it looks like Orford (or slime mould) probably blinked first. In this hypothetical scenario.

Now, again continuing this hypothetical scenario, you would expect that as soon as the Bulls have closure with Orford, and compo terms have been agreed - reflecting of course the Bulls now unexpectedly having to go out at short order and find a replacement - they would urgently go seek a replacement.

And you would HOPE that afeter...frantic efforts...one materialises surprisingly quickly, almost as quickly indeed as if the club had already done a deal beforehand. Since one sure needs to, given pre-season staring so early.

Now, using that hypotbetical scenario, would the actions (or seeming inactions) of the various parties make more sense?

Surely not?! Are you proposing that the club may have been aware of this potential situation for some time? And that the lack of a halfback signing is being used as an ace in the pack?

How cunning!!

Seems a perfectly plausible hypothesis!

Think adeys explained the situation perfectly - hypothetically off course