What tripe.

We've signed a wing / centre cover as we've lost Thornley & Burgess. That's whio Isa is replacing and not our two starters.

We've been in a real mess at points this season as we've not had sufficient centre cover. Every time we've had to call on Joel or Bateman it's had a negative impact across the whole of the team. This signing means that's no longer an issue.

I'm trying to think of another team in SL who have a two back up centres as good as Isa and Gildart. Yes there are undoubtedly better starters out thete but this is real strength in depth.

Well done to the club for sorting out what's been a real problem for us.

Well

I do admit that i ache fro the day that we make BIG signings, purely because i love a bit of razzmatazz.

However, i do think the coaching staff have earned the right to make more of these project type signings. Some turn into good un, some dont.

Hes probably on nothing and might be ok

Fair enough i suppose. I "get it". Perhaps signing these players and making them prove themselves helps form a better attitude within the squad? If we signed superstars the would naturally feel more deserving and perhaps (just perhaps) feel like they are more important than the squad or the squads ethos?

Ive no idea

But i still miss when we signed quality from the off. Really made the next season something to look forward to

https://twitter.com/isa_willie/status/6 ... 8604913665 Was he pushed out at Widnes?

https://twitter.com/isa_willie/status/6 ... 8604913665 Was he pushed out at Widnes?

I too long for the days of the Razzamatazz signings - Remember the thread; If you could choose anyone in the world you would have at Wigan?

I think the consensus of opinion was someone like Sam Tomkins.



Willie Isa is a squad signing on low wages. The way Tony Clubb has worked out must lead you to trust Shaun Wane on this. Or at least wait until he plays before judging!!!

Just having an opinion doesn't spare you mockery if your opinion is deemed to be daft. There's no point voicing your opinion and then complaining if it's the opinion of others that you are wrong.

To start with, I very much doubt Isa will figure much in the first team unless he earns it. Secondly, we've already lost Thornley and it's now widely suspected that Sarginson will be the next RL player to let his agent persuade him that he can be the next Jason Robinson (and the complete joke England RU no-show last Saturday will only reinforce that) ... so Wigan are now in the situation were they are having to use wingers and second-rowers to back up in the centres. It may be that we make another, better threequarter signing before next season. There's plenty of time yet, and no need at all to get so upset.

I have not judged.

Anyone with anything above "a tiny brain" should be able to make use of punctuation.

Good for you.

Isa has been excellent for us since he switched to second row, he runs hard and hits like a train.

He is at his best when he comes off the bench and rips into teams defensively, he always gave us a lift when he came on and, in my opinion, we tailed off in intensity at the latter end off the season when he was out injured.

Off the pitch he's a top bloke, still doing community work last week even though he is injured and knew he was going, and was always one of the first to arrive and last to leave at training.

A gentleman off the pitch but a monster when he gets on, good luck to him and thanks for the memories at Widnes.

It is typical of recruitment so I'm not sure why people are surprised. It may work out, it may not. It is a fairly underwhelming signing but who knows he may go well.

My main issue with these project type signings (although could he be classed as a project given he is 26 been at 2 of the best clubs in the World at developing players and still ended up at Cas and Widnes) is they are always the same type of player.

Why not look for a project centre, or a project Prop. Why do we constantly seem to go for the project utility player.

Isa wont play in the backs. My guess is he is a direct replacement for Patrick. I actually think Wane has shown his hand with Bateman and I think he may well be asked to concentrate on developing as a centre.

I understand then need for a strong squad but often utility players are utility players as they lack anything specifically that would make them stand out in one position.

On the plus side he has been compared to Israel Folau all be it in 2009 so lets just hope the last 6 years have been the gestation period for that to happen.

Its the same quotes from the usual people at the club about each average signing we make.

“I’ve been monitoring Willie for some time and didn’t think twice about completing this deal when we had the chance"

"He is highly thought of here at Wigan, our senior players who we consulted all commented that he is a fierce competitor who is tough to play against"

“He is an established Super League player and we’ve beaten off stiff competition for his signature. Willie was actually offered more money elsewhere but he desperately wanted to come here and we are delighted about that"

They cant keep saying we aren't going to make signings because we have the quality to promote from within and then sign a average player like this.

Doesn't make sense!

No he didn't.

He played on the wing and we signed him as a winger from Cas. Denis put him in the back row off the bench and he's been excellent, he got the Widnes players player of the year in 2014 (which was Brown's Dream Team year too) and plays at LF a lot. He plays very tough and will suit your style of play. Gives away a few penalties but I think reading these comments quite a few of you will be pleasantly surprised with him when the season starts.

True, they should have said: "We only signed him as a back-up in case we run out of numbers. Plus he was cheap."

That woud have gone down well.

They maybe not but thats the truth. Its the they come out with like they been scouting him for ages.

Not a bad idea to sign a back rower, presumably he’ll mainly play off the bench with Bateman at loose when Lockers is rested/injured, which may be fairly regular given his age/injury record. Perhaps an indicator that C.Farrell will go out on loan and Burke not seen as ready for a regular spot? Must admit I’d have preferred a prop though. Hard to comment on whether he’ll be a good signing until we see him in a Wigan shirt, hopefully he’s more of a Clubb than a Dudson.

Interesting signing a SR/Centre when we've just released Jack Hughes (who is a SR/centre himself).

Even though he's recently been moved into the back row I think Wigan will use him as a centre, or simply utility cover in both centres and forwards when needs must (something Jack could have done). This wouldn't be uncommon both Phil Bailey and Gene Miles were playing the back row then moved into the centres when at Wigan.

Saying this I also wouldn't be surprised if Isa was one of our starting centres come next season, the 'Sarg to union' rumour is still doing the rounds, and it seems that Gelling is on the naughty step after recent blunders. Gildart has impressed but is still very young and somewhat underweight for a centre (undoubtedly overtime he'll fill out) and Bateman is better in the pack, which leaves a void in the centre spot.

Isa has an opportunity if he impresses to be a first team player at Wigan, that alone should inspire him to playing well. I look forward to him at Wigan next season.

Enough said really.

He's a cheap gamble and we can't really lose.

As a Widnes fan i must say i was gutted when i found out he was leaving us. He started out in the but moved to the wing due to poor defensive reads. He never really has i high return in terms of tries.

He was given the chance in the second row as an impact sub and has been great. In the middle of the park he can hit hard in defense and made some good hard yards. The only down side is he can give away a soft penalty or two but when on he did had a bit of steel to are side.

Seems to be really popular with other players in the side and i cult figure and Widnes.

I wish him all the best for the future its just a shame it was not at Widnes

you really didnt want to keep patrick did you!

That would have cost money as a transfer fee would have been payable to Hudds and it's pretty clear from Wane's comments when it was announced he was leaving that wasn't an option.

He's found form now but been rubbish for 90% of the season, a massive disappointment

I was surprised but happy to hear about this signing.

To end all the debates about his position, he has said himself on Wigan TV that Wane sees him almost exclusively as a 'middle' i.e. Loose Forward and i'd presume occasional backrow. I'd presume he's too small for prop.

He is a replacement for Larne Patrick. With Lockers getting older, picking up knocks and Bateman still having utility value at centre it will be good to have a player who can play in the 13 role and tackle hard.

Isa tackles hard, carries the ball directly and is quick off the line. However from what I've seen he does have the occasional penalty in him and error too. Hopefully his performances and intensity outweigh any mistakes he makes. Of course, he's not a star signing and he wont be starting many games Id expect but his salary will reflect this and he is someone I'm glad we've got in the team.

I was happy this was announced because lets not forget it was only weeks ago that Wane publicly stated he didnt expect us to sign anyone other than Tomkins for next season and with Larne Patrick going I thought we would be a bit light of forwards in the squad.

Lots of you are saying you are underwhelmed by this and maybe understandably. But look at how other players we've signed have turned out. Nobody expected anything from Clubb but yet he's probably been our best Prop this season. Whereas everyone was raving happy and over the moon when we signed Larne Patrick yet he has hardly set the DW Stadium alight with his performances.

As I've mentioned, I do fear that his error and penalty count could pose a bit of a problem and I hope he doesn't go down the Tautai route where his errors outweigh any positives he achieves in the match but I'm definitely glad we've signed him. I also presume this means Greg Burke wont be with us next year either.

Pretty much how I felt when I'd heard we had signed him, I have a couple of friends who work at Widnes, and they have always spoke very highly of him and with the news today both have told me they're gutted he's come to us. A couple of other clubs were also chasing him, a team he's played for over here before and one of our noisy neighbours. I'll be looking forward to see how he develops at Wigan, and under Wane in particular.

I have to wonder how far off we are spending to the full salary cap and whether 2+ years without a trip to Wembley or winning the league leaders is the reason for it.

We have let an incredible amount of talent go and replaced them with juniors. I'm glad that the likes of Manfredi, Powell, etc. are getting chances and taking them but are Wane's hands being forced? Before anyone starts, I am assuming this is the final signing we will make and we haven't scooped a SOO prop from Australia.

Just this year we will be losing Bowen, Burgess, Thornley, L.Tomkins, Patrick and Hughes (plus Greenwood and Lloyd?). Obviously Sam will take most of that wage deficit but even last year we lost Goulding, Green, Taylor, Pettybourne, James and Burke (loan) and only signed Patrick and Tautai.

Don't forget the guys who stay will want wage increases and the new youngsters will want paying. Patrick was only a loan player so doesn't count (or if you do count him, you shouldn't count Hughes)