As a Wigan fan I would be gutted if this deal went through if it does mean us losing Goulding. You can have Mathers for nothing though



Gleeson is nearly 29 and only has 2 or 3 good years left in him. The entire deal just sounds like Noble's short term desperation to keep his job. Gleeson is a player that has underperformed for years and has very few good games and lots of very average ones. He has built a big reputation on very little, largely because we are so short of decent English centres. In addition we all know about his off field antics and we have too many of these types of players as it is and we should be looking at reducing the number of players like this that are at the club, not doing the opposite. In will also be on a big wage, a wage that could be much better spent on 2 good forwards or a stand off. With the team that we have Gleeson will make absolutely no difference at all.

Goulding is a very promising player and and could be the Wigan centre for the next decade and is a player who I believe has the potential to be one of the England centre's in the future. I actually believe that Smith tried to sign Goulding whilst at Leeds a few years ago and I guess that is where the interest comes from. He has been made a scapegoat by Noble and I guess that is why he wants to leave, as is rumoured. Indeed he should be playing now at the expense of an overpaid and very average import in Bailey but despite him scoring tries for fun in the academy and being the stand out player in the last few weeks but he still doesnt get picked. It will be a big mistake from the club if Wigan do let him go.

I siad Higham had signed for the club before anyone did on here. The bloke behind the counter in a newsagents in Golborne told me. Maybe he is the best rumour source.

Eddie and Phill were talking as if it's a done deal on Boots n All. They said Goulding and Mathers + money for Gleeson. Better to get something for him now then being "sympathetic" and letting him go to the NRL at the end of the year I suppose.

Not sure why we would want Mathers though.

All they've done is base an opinion on the rumours, nothing more

tony smith as worked with him before,he thinks there must be something there what he could improve on....................Tackling being first and foremost..

That's the best bit of business Wigan have done in years, but it will pale into insignificance if Warrington sign Mathers.

Bit of business? Did we pay for him?

Replace Higham with Riddell.

Aye, cracking bit of business t

Sounded like a done deal to me chaps.

Why Warrington would release their only top quality back is beyond me.

Because he is paid a s**t load & has done very little for 2 years

I agree

One trick penalty machine Mick, it certainly was.

Well the stats you showed us lost you that argument.

Although to be honest, a one trick pony is better than a no trick Clydesdale.

So you've seen riddell how many times this year?

We have replaced an impact hooker in Higham with a starting Hooker in Riddell who is doing just fine.

You need to get over your hate vendetta against him just because he plays for Wigan.

I don't hate him because he plays for Wigan Emma, I dislike him because I think he's an inferior import.

forgive me, but this has gone from forum rumours to a done deal!! , and its CC deadline tomorrow so are we going to lose a quality centre for 2 av. players from wigan.

But we watched one trick Mick for three seasons and we are telling you Riddell is a far better hooker.

If it does happen (which I don't think it will), I don't think it will be a player swap. We may lose the player and keep the £150k to offer someone next year.

Of course that means Wigan have to offload someone elsewhere

Deadline day is Friday for the CC.

If it does happen and Tony Smith was behind the decision then I trust its for the better of the team and Im all for it.

You watched Higham under noble for three seasons. Higham isn't playing for Noble anymore. We have an entirely different game to Wigan, a game which seems to suit him better than Nobbies tactics did.

Edited for accuracy...

It hasn't stopped him being on the top 20 for penalties and errors, but he is making less metres.

Hypothetical Scenario.

Tony Smith sits the all the players down on his arrival at the club and asked whether anybody does not want to be at the club.

Maybe a certain player/players indicate that they would like to leave.

Should the club keep hold of this player ( or players ) despite this or should the club look to offload this player ( or players ) in the best deal that they can get at this time

This is purely hypothetical but if this event happened I would like Tony Smith to get rid of players who did not want to be at the club ( as Paul Johnson said in his interview by Mr Skentlebury last week ) rather than have them stay here.

Wouldnt suprise me, reminds me of school and being seperated from my friend in class as we wee bad inflences on each other. Ahem.