What?? Richards left 2013 and Joe had 2 years left on his contract when we played NZ Warriors, 2014 and 2015.

Perhaps offering a take-it of leave-it £30k per year contract to one of the best young talents in the league is the reason that he has signed for somebody else.

If the salary cap is £1.9m for 25 players then why the hell would one of your first choice 13 be expected to accept a salary at less than half (assuming my quick calculation is correct) of the average wage of the 25 man squad?

I bet Williams' and Powell's new contracts are there or there-abouts what Burgess was asking for to stay at Wigan.

You make valid points. I still think it's 2014 for some reason.



My point still remains though. If Sutton is worth a 4 year deal now then Joe was worth the same 18 months ago.

Yeah I meant offer him £30k in 2013 when he'd only like 4 or 5 games and was up against Manfredi/Gelling for Richards' wing spot.

No one to blame but Wigan RL Management.

They could as other clubs did see the potential in the young lad, but failed to offer a decent contract.

Penny pinching is OK if it doesn't involve losing your best youngsters way too soon.

For you to quote Shaun Ainscough as being on a par with Joe Burgess at the same age is verging on the ludicrous , Burgess is by far the better player.
He is faster than Ainscough and when it came to defence and especially positioning and taking the high ball there is simply no comparison.

Like I said to myself when watching Burgess for the first time ( 2/3 years ago in the 9s ) I was watching Union material, he has something of the Chris Ashton in him.
Just my opinion.

Couldn't make the forum but someone said that a loss of 500k was mentioned? Not sure about this but if true it emphaises the need to stay within strict salary structures in the current league-wide funding regime.

Ladies and gentleman this is why you should always read a full thread before commenting.

Joe Burgess' *SITUATION* is similar to Ainscoughs.

To be fair Burgess is in a better team.

Watched it back on Wigan TV and we made a loss of 475k in 2014 due to money pumped in to the Central Park facility as well as money in fresh kit for the facility at Orrell. Falling ST sales were also mentioned as a factor but Lenagan thinks the competative nature of the new structure will sort that.

On the plus side he said they know for a fact they will be back in profit for 2015 so it certainly doesn't sound anything to worry about. The forecast for this years profit must be down to our sponsorship deals. They're worth 747k this year in comparison to around 250k in Lenagans first season with us and only 203k in 2013 when our sponsor went bust (who were they? Can't remember the name). He says our sponsorship deals this year dwarf every other superleague team.

I feel for Wigan in this as they have done a lot of very good work in developing burgess and also will have put fair few quid into he development and same with the tomkins brothers etc

However, I don't blame him or any other player for going. We as fans look at it as a sport but to the players it's also a job that pays the bills. They also have wives, kids, mortgage, cars etc just like the fans. Just ask yourself if another company offered you more money, better way of life and a chance to test yourself against the best, I bet 99% would go for it.

I've no doubt he loves Wigan but this chance may never come again so he's got to grab with both hands and good on him.

I hope he goes over there and does well.