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[SteveR]

I agree about Hall heads and shoulders best winger we have I have always rated him he is world class. As for Widdop maybe what I said was harsh about him but I have never seen him look as though he is this huge talent. When he played for England against NZ in 2010 he was almost like a fish out of water and even though he can score tries he is not a strong defensive player and doesn't have a huge turn of pace like Tomkins. I don't think McNamara was fair with him in the last 4 nations because he used him spuringly but I think he genuinely didn't know what position to play him.
As for Leeds well I don't think this season they will be at OT. I have huge respect for players like Sinfield, Peacock, Burrow, JJB, Bailey, McGuire and Leuluai because they have been there and had huge success as a team but after releasing Senior last year its clear maybe another 2 or 3 could go. Leeds will always be a competitive side but like Saints they are struggling with the transitional phase of players either retiring or slowing down with age.

Totally agree they won't be at either final this year. But this team can still beat anyone if they really wanted to. Something isn't right with them and it's almost like they're 'doing a Chelsea' sometimes

Widdop is one of the key players for Melbourne this year. Maybe he's lucky to be surrounded by such good players? But I don't think luck alone is it. If England had a quality 7 who could pull the strings properly Widdop would slot in at 6 so well.

[Tito]

Totally agree they won't be at either final this year. But this team can still beat anyone if they really wanted to. Something isn't right with them and it's almost like they're 'doing a Chelsea' sometimes

Widdop is one of the key players for Melbourne this year. Maybe he's lucky to be surrounded by such good players? But I don't think luck alone is it. If England had a quality 7 who could pull the strings properly Widdop would slot in at 6 so well.

McDermott isn't a popular man at Leeds a lot of senior players were mortified how he treated Keith Senior. I think McDermott knows deep down he as inherited a top class team who have done really well with McClennen and Smith but one that as not changed much over the past 6 years. You still have the same key players there who in fairness have probably peaked. He wants to take the team forward but probably knows the transitional phase may see him sacked as the results stack up against him.
Widdop like you say as been a ever present at the Storm but he isn't a headline grabbing player like Slater, Cooper and Smith who are all first choice at club, state and international level. I think McNamara needs to sit down and look at what position Widdop will excel at and who will work off him and around him.
Danny Brough is a great 7 but a total indiviual player and that's the worry about him. I think Lee Briers was the same hence the reason why he never saw a GB shirt. If Chase and Widdop could gel together at 6 and 7 we could be 3/4 of the way there to finally breaking the monoply of NZ and the Aussies having all the success in international rugby. We have a tremendous amount of forwards who could all match what the ANZAC's have the problem is we never have them all fit at the same time. Burgess, Graham, Hock, Roby and Ellis have never played together once at International level.

[SteveR]

Chase and Widdop wouldn't work for me. The beauty of Melbourne is the structure they have. Cronk, Smith and Slater are the triangle that Bellamy goes on about. But Widdop has worked himself into a position where he is now a vital cog in the machine. And they are machine like sometimes!

You see similar at Wigan now. Maguire was Bellamy's assistant and you can see the influence has gone onto Wane also. Have an excellent spine in place and fill your squad with decent players who can play to the system. Players like Goulding haven't improved that much, yes they have got better, but he's now playing in a team that really knows what it's doing. Everyone knows his job and can do it very well.

That kind of sounds disrespectful to the likes of Goulding but I dont mean it like that. You could probably put Shenton, who's hasn't looked great at Saints in this Wigan team and he'd be a shoe in for England

IMO of course.

Burgess, Ellis, Hock and Roby has the makings of a wonderful pack!

[SteveR]

Chase is too individual. I still worry about him. He's left himself open for Wigan to come in though. But you'd need a proper organiser to do the real work while he does the fancy pants stuff to make Stevo scream!

[Tito]

Goulding as made great strides this season and form wise deserved a place in the squad. When Gleeson and J Tomkins was at Wigan, Goulding was on the wing with them even though he was a natural centre. He as stepped up and made a good partnership with Charnley 30 tries between them in 17 games is good for 2 young players thrown together.
Is Cudjoe better than him I don't think so I would say Reed is but he was not in contention. Atkins is a good player him and Hall will do well together. Ablett is not a natural centre and his defence is awful he is to big and slow and is a back rower by trade. I have seen Leeds fans tonight be miffed he is being picked because he is only playing in the centres at Leeds because of the injuries to Watkins and Hardaker.
As for Chase he as basically put himself into the shop window by courting Wigan's interest. We have a owner who is cash rich and if Waney wants him it may happen next season. I personally don't see him at Wigan though he is too indiviual for Wigan and would be a small pawn something he may not like. I would rather see Wigan get Kyle Eastmond back in League and at the DW him and Tomkins would be brilliant together and we already have a FB waiting in the wings with Matty Russell. I have heard a rumour Wigan are interested in Justin Hodges next year to replace Carmont if he signs I would be made up one of my favourite players in the NRL.

[Aaron]

Goulding as made great strides this season and form wise deserved a place in the squad. When Gleeson and J Tomkins was at Wigan, Goulding was on the wing with them even though he was a natural centre. He as stepped up and made a good partnership with Charnley 30 tries between them in 17 games is good for 2 young players thrown together.
Is Cudjoe better than him I don't think so I would say Reed is but he was not in contention. Atkins is a good player him and Hall will do well together. Ablett is not a natural centre and his defence is awful he is to big and slow and is a back rower by trade. I have seen Leeds fans tonight be miffed he is being picked because he is only playing in the centres at Leeds because of the injuries to Watkins and Hardaker.
As for Chase he as basically put himself into the shop window by courting Wigan's interest. We have a owner who is cash rich and if Waney wants him it may happen next season. I personally don't see him at Wigan though he is too indiviual for Wigan and would be a small pawn something he may not like. I would rather see Wigan get Kyle Eastmond back in League and at the DW him and Tomkins would be brilliant together and we already have a FB waiting in the wings with Matty Russell. I have heard a rumour Wigan are interested in Justin Hodges next year to replace Carmont if he signs I would be made up one of my favourite players in the NRL.

I would love to know what all these potential signings wife's would be on, to sign constant big well known players and keep them under the salary cap is something only Warrington can do.


The good old employ his wife as whatever and pay her 100k a year must be getting used in pie land.

[SteveR]

I would love to know what all these potential signings wife's would be on, to sign constant big well known players and keep them under the salary cap is something only Warrington can do.


The good old employ his wife as whatever and pay her 100k a year must be getting used in pie land.

Ha ha! I think and hope the days of a players wife earning £200k in the club shop are long gone!

Wigan have lost Finch, Lima, Carmont, Leuluai and probably a couple of others. I reckon they will make a big signing. Soward has been mentioned and he'd fit the bill well. Although someone like Josh Mcrone at the Raiders wouldn't be a bad signing. All Wigan, and any team really, need is a half back who doesnt do anything fancy. He just passes well, kicks, and most importantly organises his troops properly.

God I wish England had a player like that! Sort that position out and you can work around it like a dream!

[Tito]

I would love to know what all these potential signings wife's would be on, to sign constant big well known players and keep them under the salary cap is something only Warrington can do.


The good old employ his wife as whatever and pay her 100k a year must be getting used in pie land.

Wigan's salary cap under Lenaghan as never come close to the maximum allowed. I know Tomkins is on £300k a year but the rest like Fielden, Hock, Lockers, Leuluai, Richards, Carmont and Finch are around the £120k a year bracket. All the other younger players like Mossop, Tuson, Harrison, Charnley, Goulding and McIlorum are on contracts around £75k- £100k a year. The fringe players like Hughes, Prescott, Farrell and a few others are on around £35k to £40k a year.
At the annual general meeting player salaries are discussed and its been known Lenaghan as published the minutes at fans forums so everybody knows the club are posting a profit and what scale different players are paid at.
Trent Barrett when he was at Wigan was on £200k a year and his wife was paid £100k a year for running the club lottery. She actually worked from home but it was a major smoke screen by all accords.
A lot of clubs apart from Leeds have done it when Sculthorpe, Lyon, Long and Cunningham were at Saints there wives and family members were on the payroll. Bernard Long worked as a nutritional advisor to Saints and was Sean's Agent he probably was picking him a whack for Sean without breaching the cap and the list goes on.

[Brick Top]

Anyone seen the clip of Sam Burgess and Graham head to head in the NRL, nothing much at all happened really but it looked like it was going to go off for a second.

[Tito]

Anyone seen the clip of Sam Burgess and Graham head to head in the NRL, nothing much at all happened really but it looked like it was going to go off for a second.

I ain't seen it both none of them are likely to throw a punch. They are tough and physical players but not shit houses I bet it was forgot about after the game.

[Brick Top]

I ain't seen it both none of them are likely to throw a punch. They are tough and physical players but not shit houses I bet it was forgot about after the game.

Burgess was smiling when they were actually face to face when he realised who it was I think, Basically Sam took the ball in and Graham met him head on and probably got the better of Sam, The Sam went back in and one of the other Bulldogs players tried to take his head off, theres was a bit of a scuffle in back play and Graham was just holding onto Sam so nothing went off, like I said nothing much at all, I just think the commentators enjoyed it.

Sam Burgess V James Graham

[Tito]

Yeah just seen it just read the Aussie Telegraph as well they proper balloned the whole tale.

[Tito]

Anyone watching the Exiles game good contest so far. Nice to see the Wigan boys leading the way Hock and Tomkins playing very well. On a worrying note Tommy Leuluai just been carried off with a ankle injury hope its not to serious.
Can anyone tell me how Roby won MOM he made a few tackles but seemed away from anything creative. I know the game was at Saints but you would have to be blinkered to give him that he was a none entity for large parts of the game I can think of at least 5 players who made a better contribution to the win.

[stephen thompson]

Chase and Widdop wouldn't work for me. The beauty of Melbourne is the structure they have. Cronk, Smith and Slater are the triangle that Bellamy goes on about. But Widdop has worked himself into a position where he is now a vital cog in the machine. And they are machine like sometimes!

You see similar at Wigan now. Maguire was Bellamy's assistant and you can see the influence has gone onto Wane also. Have an excellent spine in place and fill your squad with decent players who can play to the system. Players like Goulding haven't improved that much, yes they have got better, but he's now playing in a team that really knows what it's doing. Everyone knows his job and can do it very well.

That kind of sounds disrespectful to the likes of Goulding but I dont mean it like that. You could probably put Shenton, who's hasn't looked great at Saints in this Wigan team and he'd be a shoe in for England

IMO of course.

Burgess, Ellis, Hock and Roby has the makings of a wonderful pack!

 Shenton is dog shit and couldn't look good at hares finch ARLFC never liked him never rated him, never will.

[Tito]

Shenton is dog shit and couldn't look good at hares finch ARLFC never liked him never rated him, never will.

He isn't defensively strong He never tackles around the legs. I was surprised Saints signed him he would have never got into Saints 2nd team 6 years ago bet they are glad he is going. A mate of mine told me tonight and he is a Saints fan that Wellens is considering retiring at the end of the season as he is keen to persue projects outside of rugby league one of them is with his twin sister who my mate knows.