Do you know what the SC rules are around academy, juniors etc...(if there are any)?

One way Danson could ensure the future of the club is to continously target the best juniors (which im sure the club do already) but if there is money to spend then spend it

I don’t and was wondering the same. It would definitely be the route that will leave a legacy for somebody like Danson. I don’t know the reasons behind it but the academy hasn’t been quite as dominant this past few seasons, so maybe it’s an area of improvement. Ultimately though, the results at that level don’t really matter, as long as you’re bringing players through.

I always wonder about the marquee player rule.

Nathan Clery is on about $1.4mil a year. Reece Walsh has just signed a deal averaging $1.1mil for the next few years. A lot of very very good players are on about $800k - $1mil


800k Aussie = £415k ish
1.1mil = £568k
1.4mil = £723k

I’ve not a clue but I’d guess French/GWilliams are on about £350k+

I’m surprised Simon Moran hasnt got Take That to do a few gigs and offered for example Cleary £1mil a season for 2 years.

Maybe it still wouldn’t be enough to tempt when you account for life style, playing in the top league, they get $35k per origin game etc

Or perhaps it’s the risk of alienating the rest of the playing squad by having a player so highly paid (although I’m guessing Bevan French is on about 3/4 times the salary of ONeill).

Or the risk of injury.

Who knows but for me that would be the dream for Super League, each club getting a truly great player in their prime.

We interviewed Kris Radlinksi this morning for the Wigan Way Podcast
Free Reign to spend whatever it takes was definitely Not what was said.

Mmmmm "Open Cheque Book" can be interpreted in many,many different ways
There are many other factors besides money that okay a factor in players recruitment, squad management etc.

There are Budgets in place.at Wigan

This simply isn't true. More financial flexibility perhaps but certainly not an open cheque book.

When’s the interview out mate?

Like he's really going to say otherwise? If he did, it's just an invitation to add an extra zero to a price.

You do know he doesn't always tell the truth to the media right. That's not a bad thing either.

I doubt Tomkins would’ve missed an opportunity to pull a few legs tbh. I do agree with SP above though, nobody at the club is ever going to say that and nor should they. It doesn’t look like we’ll go short anyway, certainly in comparison to most other clubs and we cannot ask for more than that.

My son is editing etc as we speak
They're doing the Saints review tonight and tomorrow so would possibly expect that first, and then release the Rads one maybe Weekend
It was very enjoyable and even though he went into loads, there was other stuff before/during and after that were equally fascinating to listen to

They've invited them back in future to do a Matty Peet interview (we had half an hour with him just chatting and discussing Fridays game) and also they asked would they like to do a full day with the squad in the future and watch them train, team meetings etc. It seemed like they were really keen on doing more collaboration.

Excellent.

It was with Thompson.

Quote ="NSW"When’s the interview out mate?'" Change of plan It's out now https://open.spotify.com/episode/73UU4v ... gZw2Bz9Hgw

Quote ="NSW"When’s the interview out mate?'" Change of plan It's out now https://open.spotify.com/episode/73UU4v ... gZw2Bz9Hgw

Quote ="Jukesays"Change of plan It's out now https://open.spotify.com/episode/73UU4v ... gZw2Bz9Hgw'" Any idea who’s next?

Quote ="Jukesays"Change of plan It's out now https://open.spotify.com/episode/73UU4v ... gZw2Bz9Hgw'" Any idea who’s next?

Matty Peet has agreed to do one and that will be arranged in the next few weeks
But also Peet was keen for other players, particularly the young ones to be involved so we discussed a few ideas around that and working on doing more of that.

The 3 lads are all teachers so getting time during normal term time is difficult, and they do the normal.reviews ones in the evenings, which obviously is difficult to arrange with players
But I'm sure that keen be worked out.

We also have 4 or 5 other ex Wigan (and a Saint) lined up who have agreed to do Specials also

Amazing, they have been great to listen too

Bonkers that SL & NRL have nothing to do with - and seemingly aren’t interested in - WCC.
What a sport

Bevan has signed long term, shocking but brilliant news

We've got such a settled side now with ready made replacements coming through for our shall we say senior players, a bit of luck now and we've every chance of going on a trophy filled run

Looks like this thread will essentially be redundant for a while with the French news. Cooper will surely be replaced from within (assuming he leaves). Maybe an overseas back rower to replace Willie Isa?

A back rower with a similar profile to Kaide Ellis when he came over would be a good replacement for Isa. Some NRL experience, plenty to prove, hungry for a chance and not costing the earth. If Cooper and Mago were let go I think we can replace from within and that is likely the plan in the next year or two.

When Isa goes we will still have Farrell, Walters & Nesemba.

I think we already have our 4th secondrow/utility forward in Chan.

I expect us to go into the market when we have to replace Faz but in then I don’t see any front line signings for a while.

We have Havard and Eseh yet to play and with the exception of Cooper all our props are either in there Prime or well before it.

I could possibly see us dip into the market for a Prop is Mago takes up an offer elsewhere and Copper retires.

Chan could well be that 4th option in the second row. He seems to have been signed to play in the middle though and didn’t look comfortable in the friendly at Wakey. You can never write a guy off in a position after one game though. It’s probably not a question they need to answer just yet. We’ve not seen Walters playing full time in the second row yet and we need to see more of Nsemba before probably knowing what’s needed.

I've said before that we could with a Curtis Sironen-type player. The NRL seems full of these powerful, mobile second-rowers.

All different opinions, but I'd like to see us sign a workhorse second row.

We've got size and athleticism in Walters and Junior. What Wigan have always had however is a world class defender. Someone who leads the line and sets the tone. We've had Smithies, Hansen, Bateman, Cassidy and Isa too. Some have obviously been better than others, but I don't see that in the makeup of this season (without Isa) and not at all for 2025.

Personally and I know it's only early days, but I think we're really missing Smithies.