I would hazard a guess you live near Warrington and that this signing means little to people basically in the North West. This will give Wigan especially exposure in Wales. Dont believe the crap that all Welsh people prefer union. I know quite a few people like me who travel to games very often. There is a decent fan base for Wigan and Saints around North Wales. RFL have to send him to another club and looking at us and especially with us getting Carmont to sign for another season its not a bad idea to get cover for him. If Goulding or Marsh are better than Thomas then good they will play. But given hes free it makes some sense to get publicity and cover at the same time. As someone eluded to why do we have a second row in centre if Marsh and Goulding is good enough.

Problem league has it does not get enough media attention outside the areas where it is strongest supported and it needs to do if you like a publicity stunt every once in a while. To put Gareth Thomas in Wigan, Saints or even a Wire shirt would give the game free publicity especially in Wales. Given now that Crusaders are basically out of SL we need to entice the core support who will now disappear from Crusaders into supporting another SL team. After all attendances for teams technically relegated from SL drops considerabley. And in North Wales especially we odnt have now any professional club playing league and never had an union one. Gareth Thomas is a link to them and that might get a few of them into the DW to watch him play.

If as excpected by many he does not figure at all next season then what harm has it done. If he plays and plays well then even better. But no one is missing out on anything as if a 20-23 year old is no better than a 37 year old then they are not good enough for Wigan Warriors.

It's bringing publicity already, negative publicity.

I can't believe you believe any of what you just wrote.

People in general who don't know RU or RL won't give a squat who he is full stop.

People in Wales already know about Wigan RL. Thomas spending a year in the reserves will not convert them into supporters of Wigan or the game.

Those who do follow either code will see this signing in a negative light whether there is a film or not from a playing point of view because he is past it. That is negative PR not positive.

As to it being watched by millions would you go and pay money in the cinema to see it? Do you think the entire population of Wales will? This film won't go straight to DVD but straight to VHS!

But lets suppose for a minute he is far more important a figure and sporting icon than I give him credit for and there will be a genuine interest in this film from those who know him from his RU International days.

His RL career never mind his Wigan career will be little but a footnote. He is not Jonathan Davies who had a fine career in the RL game but someone who spent the vast majority of his time playing RU and who was brought over when past his sell by date as PR for the Crusaders. There was no playing success there and there won't be any at Wigan as he won't get a game.

His time at Wigan should appear in this film as a sad end to a long career because he will have spent a season languishing in the reserves never getting a game. So I fail to see how that will draw any positive publicity to Wigan.

There is an alternative of course. Wigan could play him as 1st choice centre so the film has a happy ending!

I think your right Johns is one of the greatest Rugby League players ever, Gareth isn't I don't know of any one who will get a shirt because Gareth will be a Wigan player.

Where?

Examples please........thought not.

A few panicking Wiganers who think we've signed this guy as our first choice centre for the next 5 years and some Wire trolls don't count.

The Andrew Johns signing was big news ... in Warrington and for one night on the NW bulletins.

Members of my family who live in Aus reported that it made a support story there somewhere, and that no-one took it too seriously. After that it was forgotten. Good on them though if it sold them a few more shirts.

Gareth Thomas, I suspect, is not about shirts, but players. He is a much bigger name in the UK that Andrew Johns ever was, despite Johns being a miles better player. He is a particularly big name in Wales, where there are plenty of young players who just might be interested in coming to Wigan RL. If they're not, fine. It hasn't cost us anything anyway. And if Stefan Marsh and Darrel Goulding are upset, I'd say that they need to up their game signifcantly to secure regular places in the Wigan first team anyway, so maybe this will give them a kick up the ar2e.

Really? You must of missed the live press conference from the HJ about it on SSN.

We had one of them with millward . is that really big business in warrington ?

TBH I thought we owned SSN we are on it that much... were next? the vatican??

Not the point is it? Crunchy was talking balls

Heres one for the lovers of this being a huge deal, if Gareth Thomas is such a massive pull in Wales then why didn't masses and masses of Welsh people go to see him play for a Welsh side?

Only people making a BIG deal about this is yourself and a few wiganers who think he'll be wearing the number 4 next season.

I wonder will Thomas play in more winning Wigan teams than Johns did at Wire?

No chance personally he will get the NO.1 shirt.

I thought they did at first, wasn't the ground full with over 10,000 for their first game against Leeds? as we know fans can be fickle when confronted with a side that isn't winning many..

Who knows what he will bring but IMO having a winner in your side, playing or not playing can only be good for a young side like this wigan team.

maybe he signed for athletic?

They did but he wasn't playing.

I think you are just putting a negative spin on things. Of course he was a RU player and yes he is a bit past it...

BUT it DOES give is publicity whichever way you look at it, Wigan WILL be on the news... he WILL be taking part in big interviews. Ths film WILL be viewed by lots of people.

This WILL raise the profile of Wigan RL, lots of people will hear about us through this. Did I claim the whole of Wales will convert? You are an expert at making things up like that to make you look better Dave.

Young Welsh RU players will care about him being at Wigan, they will know about Wigan. Like others have said, this could give us a chance of recruiting some good young RU talent.

Whichever way you look at it Dave, this DOES get Wigan publicity. It did a lot for Wrexham, it made people aware of them in Wales.

I will accept your argument that you think it may be a little more negative than positive, if you want to think like that then I won't stop you. His age and ability is not the issue though. I wouldn't complain if we signed David Beckham to be honest, he is past it, can't even play RL. Who cares, its publicity. If thats what the signing was for then I am confident IL will make the most of it.

We will have our answer when we see him on the news talking about us and in interviews talking about us, that WILL raise the profile of the club whichever way you look at it!

I don't really want a reply, you are just being same old predictable DaveO.

Wrong question. What will we gain is the question that should always be asked when signing a player.



You are overstating the criticism of these players in this position by a long way. For example Joel may really be a 2nd row but he is so far ahead of Thomas as a centre I simply cannot believe you have written the above in all seriousness. You are making them out to be thought of as far worse than they are to justify this signing. That is very poor IMO.



That is a happy clapper statement if ever I saw one. Why? Because you are prepared to cast a current Wigan player in a negative light so you don't have to say anything negative about Wigan signing Thomas.

And what has any of that got to do with Wigan signing a 37 year old not-very-good player anyway?

I salute you sir.
Game, set and match.



And won't cost us a penny, but will make us a lot.

Just watch the newspapers when it happens, and see how much publicity it generates.

The final scenes for the film are already being written.

"Gareth, what do you think?"
Billy Boston walKs in.

"Unbelievable. I'm privileged to have just signed for the greatest and most famous Rugby League club in the world.

Boston and Thomas shake hands.

"Shaun Edwards has text me from New Zealand, wishing me well, but also telling me what an honour it is to wear that Wigan shirt"

Is Dwain Chambers doing anything next season?

You should be a spin doctor Rogues.

I thought that was the game he got wacked and had to come of?

If Iestyn harris, who has worked with him for two years, is willing to bank his reputation on it if he's wigan new No2, then IMO what have we got to lose??

Every one is talking about this film but I can see it being a massive flop, I respect Mickey Rourke but they guys 58 how can he play a rugby player 20 years younger than him?

He hadn't signed yet he did go off on his debut though.

Its not going to be a rugby film. its going to be a film about gareth thomas life off the field..there maybe 10-15mins in the whole film with rugby action.

The script as already had encouraging feed back in hollywood.