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As an RL addict living in Sydney Zak is all ready regarded as damaged goods. Add the price tag and the NRL looks unrealistic.

The talk in the media is a number of clubs have passed. Not many need a fullback.

The Bateman thing is from Wigan not Leeds fans. they are saying Tomkins into the halves is the rumour.

I have heard very similar with Toxic Tomkins leading the dressing room revolt to get Bateman out the club.

What I cannot understand is how exactly Leigh would be able to get him in? How elastic is their salary cap?

They wouldn't need to pay a lot - whoever takes Bateman holds the cards. Wigan are still going to have to pay him.

Well, that is assuming that there is not a clause in a contract in regards to salary in the event of a suspension from the club. I am not au-fait with sports law so I don't know how it works but you would think that after the likes of Hock and Flower then Wigan would insert some form of caveat in their contracts?

Regardless though, Leigh must be flying too close to the sun already I would have thought?

Fair point, although I suspect there would be no such thing until an investigation (or perhaps the law?) proved him guilty of something.

Otherwise, they could suspend a player over something trivial in order not to pay them.

It is certainly a grey area Stul and one that, I suspect, that we will never know.

How much either club actually pays him is irrelevant. He will come of wigans cap. If he stays in sl his full cap value goes onto his new club, if he goes into the championship 50% of his cap value goes onto the new club. Cant see many clubs in either division having the room to take him.

Would less count on our cap because he's home grown?

Was he at your club for 3 years before he was 21?

Played 3 senior seasons for us before he left plus whatever he was in academy before that so he should count as homegrown. Only 22 now.

Less would be on your cap then

Not entirely sure ...

We have released Rangi Chase *who must surely have commanded the highest salary at the Club*, Ridyard has gone on loan to Wakefield for the remainder of the season, since then we have had Drinkwater & Burns in but have just sent Johnny Pownall (winger) & Lewis Foster (Hooker/Utility Half) out on loan to Oldham, Spencer (Forward) is on loan but due back soon & no idea if Beswick will ever return or be released to *Toronto possibly*.

Suppose only the Board & Jukesy will know how much if any we can move on the SC.

IMHO he could add the final polish to the team but then again we already have a couple of players with a bit of attitude & not sure we could sustain another.

It could be argued that a loan to Leigh would be better for Wigan than to any other Club as 'if' it helped us win a MPG *should we actually reach it* the return would be some massive away support at the Pie Dome & a short trip to the LSV for at least one fixture per season, (probably a few as they play at Leigh when the Latics kick 'em out for football).

That's one thing we can be certain of.

I appreciate that it might be a very serious situation, but I don't think Wigan have handled it very well.

Have Leigh ever taken a massive following anywhere for a league game?

Well compared to the Bradford away support at the LSV in our first Championship meeting *which was Excellent & approx 2,000 of a large crowd & very welcome at Leigh*, I would suggest Wigan v Leigh would attract 3,500 to 4,000+ on a regular basis.

We have a hard core of around 3000+ with very few away seats taken at LSV barring yourselves & Fax.

Regardless, Wigan could send Bateman just 7 miles up the road & cash in next season or just take him back, none of Wigans rivals would benefit he remains close enough to keep an eye on.

All pure conjecture obviously.