If he goes, it is because he wants to better himself like anyone else in life and the only thing a club can do is get the best deal for him before he becomes a free agent and the club gets nothing.

Time some people face the fact that there is now far more money in the NRL and RU and got used to the situation and stopped getting paranoid about it.

Sam will be a big loss but the club will carry on as they always have done in the past by finding good players and having a good team.

You never know, they might even find one better than Sam.

Please read Cadoo's post on the rumours(?) thread. He encapsulates the situation very well.

They are fishing them out of the Dougy and T'cut as we speak!!

Satisfied.

Sam will go so we need to move on. We've got a couple of youngsters who could replace Tomkins in time but they're not ready 'yet' for that sort of pressure. The old 'over the hill Aussie' line will get thrown at us but we need some experienced heads about the place anyway.

I'd rather have Sam but that's not going to be possible and I can't think of any realistic options I'd rather have then Minichello.

Personally, id prefer Inglis

Agreed. Whether any import settles is a risk but he should be able to drop straight in and to a job.

+1.
I've watched him closely this season and he has been outstanding. On a one or two year deal he could provide invaluable experience to the side and be a great mentor to the likes of Tierney and Hampshire.

I hope you are both right. Obviously i'd rather keep Sam. Assuming we need a replacement he would fit the bill perfectly. 2 year contract with either Tierney/Hampshire to replace him. (both may have done a season in NZ by then as well).

Taken from the Sydney Morning Herald 30th June.


"Wigan star fullback Sam Tomkins - who signed with the Warriors last week - will be wearing the No.1 jumper, forcing Kevin Locke into the mix for five-eighth; with Thomas Leuluai likely to shift to hooker.

Locke may be battling Carlos Tuimavave - yet to re-sign with the Warriors past this season - and recent Cowboys draftee Chad Townsend for the five-eighth's spot.

If not, Locke will be battling it out with Vatuvei, Laumape and Glen Fisiiahi for the No.2 and 5 jumpers. Vatuvei sees the dilemma as a good thing for the club".

There is a lot of talk about this on a NZ Warriors forum, but no official announcement.

Maybe Radlinski made the trip to NZ last week to exchange contracts as well as ideas.

Great publicity for the sport and he seems like a great lad, although he isn't a local Wigan lad.

Do you mean Lockes contract ?

He won't be a player swap candidate , he's a free agent now well 2014 , Matt Elliot said he's staying but no contract has been signed. If Radlinski could convince him to come over , or Lockes unhappy ( there are those rumors as you probably know ) then he is one player where nothing is standing in Wigans way other than Locke himself really.

I know I talked about Hurrell as a young player on the other thread ( I removed the post about the kid who started playing rugby 3 years ago, because i forget to you all i might have been talking rubish ) but there's one guy who was bouncing in and out of first grade developing , Kolpak player etc....

Sunday Hurrell ran 200mtrs plus , made eighteen takles, an intercept , and scored the winning try against the Brisbane Broncos.

If we can coach the likes of Hurrell to mark Hodges then Sonny Bill and Jennings in a fortnight of games where he makes 37 tackles and missed two.....then there are some good things at the NZ club.

If you want to know about which border players / folk you might not of heard of that are really special then
A poster called slaughterhouse is connected with the club. Phantom Locke is a Phd sports guy who posts rarely but he is in the thick of junior development.

Anything posted by those sorts of fellahs is worth reading on Junior players especially.

Another very Sound performance by Anthony Minichellio last night Roosters defeating Manly.

Is it true you have signed Mose Masoe ?

St Helen's have signed Masoe.

Good player? Heard he had a great game at the weekend.