im hearing noises about a potential move to the NRL after the 2013 season with Hock, anybody else heard anything??

Paul Wood coming from Warrington??

Dean Bell has expressed an interest in taking him to NZ. It was on here a couple of weeks ago. viewtopic.php?p=17172941&tsmp=1351592171#p17172941

Dean Bell has expressed an interest in taking him to NZ. It was on here a couple of weeks ago. viewtopic.php?p=17172941&tsmp=1351592171#p17172941

These rumours regarding Hock and Hansen are worrying. IMO our front row is quite good with fantastic potential to become the best in SL over the next few years. However our back 3 of Hock, Hansen and O'loughlin is the best in SL and with them helping our young front row out this next year or two we'll still be in the mix for the trophies. The likes of Farrell and Tuson are good players in there own right but simply aren't comparable to Hansen and Hock yet, especially in physicality.

There really are times when it feels like we follow a joke sport.

When you think of all the work that goes on at grass roots level, and yet all we seem to be doing is providing quality 'finished article' players, not only for Rugby Union, but now for the NRL as well (who patently don't need any of ours).

Talk about frustrating.

Its the RFL masterplan working.... The aim for a more competative SL moves nearer... We will all soon be as crap as Broncos, Wakefield, Widnes, Salford.......................

whilst hock offers us somethign different going forward i think a rough experienced prop and then farrell in the 2nd row would cover the gap fine.

im more disappointed in the principle of hock leaving after the way IL and WRLFC have stuck by him.

problem is Hock is a world class attacking second rower and Hansen is a world class defensive second rower.

they just dont grow on trees, they have come through the youth setup.

I read about those possible loan deals yesterday and if they come off and we bring nobody in it's suicide. If Hock does go then Jack Hughes will be needed in the forwards meaning we'll have one of Gelling or Thornley in the centres so that will leave the odd one out of those 2 as our only realistic back up option for the full backline from 1-7.

If it happens then it's got to be with a recall option of 24 hours or nothing. The squad already looks too thin as it is.

Don't worry, IL will give us another back slapping mass statement on the website that actually says nothing about these loans/hock going but then vanish till such time as we might win something.

I can't believe how much the squad has changed since we won the GF.

Why is there the fact they are top class players a problem? It's what we want in the side. The problem is either not being able to keep hold of them or worse still trying to sell one of 'em.

Just been having a drink at the local, and heard a name i havent heard of before linked with wigan, the group next to us were speculating about player movements and 'Esi Tonga' was mentioned as coming to wigan, i havent heard anything of him myself, any relation to willie tonga?

Could anyone shed any light on this?

Also the name Mose Masoe was mentioned numerous times, ive heard of the player but nothing that seems to fit our requirements as nice as it would be to have him.

It's his younger brother

esi tonga is willies younger brother
played 3 games for the eels in 2012
he is 24, 6 ft 2, nearly 15 stones and plays 2nd row or centre
sounds like a slightly older version of gelling

Tonga is a big powerful centre tipped for Origin selection but let himself down on the discipline side of things at an Origin development camp.

He plays left centre and has decent skills including a deft kicking game.

Discipline issues may mean he has burnt his bridges in the NRL. Basically seems the kind of player looking to rebuild his career in Super League, there is the Para link as well obviously.

I would love to see Masoe at Wigan, whilst he has his flaws seeing him at full tilt scattering defenders would be a joy to watch.

Edit, just seen in the press Tonga was told he could negotiate with other clubs in September despite being under contract so it does look like he is available and also plays in the position soon to be filled with Falou. Could be another case though of 2 + 2 = 5.

Esi tonga sounds like a capable player from that, a little inexperienced for what we need but as has been mentioned, allowed to talk to other clubs, seeking to rebuild his career and the para link, it seems to add up, do you think he could be capable of filling our centre spot?

Masoe is an exciting payer to watch, very raw skill wise, but naturally strong and always provides impact, something our forwards lack, we have consistent, clever forwards (compared to others) would be a nice fresh addition if so.

At the end of the day we need bodies for the backline positions.

IF this kid is available and IF he's interested I can't see anything wrong with having him come over.

I'd love an aggressive Samoan in the . So little bit of aggression is exactly what our talented but wet back line.

jamie foster to bradford surprising - expected hull to want him and maybe even not to have been finished at saints yet?

A one year deal for Foster as well. I expect him to have a big season, score 20 trys and kick goals for fun and move over to Union in 12 months.

He'd be a superstar in that sport and could earn a fortune. It says a lot for Union that an average superleague player could do that simply because he kicks goals. Some cracking league players go over and struggle(Faz, Eastmond, Tomkins) a touch because they see no ball but that would be a positive for Foster.

He could concentrate on booting goals and styling his hair...they'd love him.

This Esi Tonga sounds like the exact opposite of a centre which we need, we need someone with experience who can just slot in for a couple of years until Thornley/Gelling can take over. Our problem in that position isnt having back up, its experience. We have Goulding, Thornley, Gelling, Hughes, Farrell & Academy lads who can cover centre if needs be, but Goulding aside they have literally a hand full of experience at centre in super league put together. Signing another troubled ill disciplined risky signing isnt what we need. I'd give him my full backing if we do sign him but I think we should be looking at someone with experience coming towards the end of their career. We have a very young team and we have alreayd lost tons of experience this year.

Finding a centre that fits that bill would be difficult though. His brother could possibly be an option but good quality, experienced centres are hard to come by.

As much as Gelling, Thornley and Hughes are all inexperienced I think the advantage is we have three of them fighting for one position and that could cancel out that factor. They will hopefully all drive each other on because i'd say at the moment there isn't a clear cert for the position.

Not that surprising, he was their best player when they beat Saints last year...

www.nrl.com/england-focused-on-w ... um=twitter Bit about Hock at the bottom, and also links us with Willie Tonga

www.nrl.com/england-focused-on-w ... um=twitter Bit about Hock at the bottom, and also links us with Willie Tonga

Signed for the Sea Eagles for next season

?? His brother has. Has he as well?

Esi Tonga has signed for Manly, no mention of Willie. I think it's obvious we'd be linked with him due to Hock going and talk of George signing with NZ warriors.

I think Gelling has the potential to be world class, he just needs a run in the team and some fine tuning, he was never going to replace George last year. From what I saw of him he's an awkward player to stop and doesn't mind grafting for the team.