I respectfully disagree with you Cruncher.

A contract would mean that Wigan now had Edwards and any future club that may want to sign him, over a barrel. Wigan could decide it isnt worth bringing him here if he doesnt really want to come and be owed a nice sum in compensation that could of been used as a transfer fee for a top class player but to be honest i do not think it would of got that far. Edwards would not of backed out of the deal if he was legally contracted IMO.

If he gets the England or Wasps job, it will be because Wigan did not tie him down when they had the chance. He was there, he expected to sign on the dotted line and was told to leave it for the time being whilst the club was busy telling us all he had signed a 3 year deal.

Fully agreed Dave.

Contracts are pretty meaningless at Wigan nowadays due to how they’ve been managed over these last few years.

The latest on George Willian’s today according to the League Werkly is the 500k asking price has been bartered down to 175k by Canberra. No doubt in return we get a promise he’ll do us a good turn and come back (on marquee money) should it all go pear shaped for him.

If contracts are meaningless why are they offering any compensation at all?

Must’ve lost their nerve. Had they held it a bit longer I’m sure we’d have just got his wage off the books in return for a promised return ticket.

I heard that Bateman has a return ticket? Cant wait until he comes back to Wigan and all the other clubs are naffed off because we have first refusal.

It doesn't surprise me that you take that attitude. I'd imagine pickings have been scarce since Old Trafford, and then this comes along.

But who knows, on this occasion you might be right for once.

Looking at him yesterday I’m not sure any club will be seeing him back here anytime before he’s acient. He was absolutely superb which was pleasing and sad all at the same time.

I’m certainly not trying to defend Lenagan because the whole thing is a sh*t show. But the more I think about it, the more I think Edwards has done one over on us. Lenagan has (very naively) trusted in a gentleman’s agreement with one of his hero’s and Edwards has put a huge statement out to England RU - coincidently just after the six nations. A contract should have been signed to tie him down though, which is where (if true) Lenagan has let us down.

I wonder if & when the UK starts to trade under the WTO rules if contracts operate the same?

Why wouldnt they? We are leaving the EU not the universe!

Don't think he'll be Lenagan's hero any longer, by the sound of things, and a contract would not have made a scrap of difference. Edwards doesn't want to come and he's got the media to say it for him. Time for Wigan to look elsewhere.

I meant hero at the time, obviously not now after this saga! I agree, the whole thing has turned toxic whoever is at fault. Can’t see it working.

He cant even do the bloody double over London or Huddersfield!

Edwards recent comments about doing a year or two at Wigan now have some context. Maybe that was his first subtle hint that the "3 year contract" didn't exist.

There has to be a bad guy in this somewhere but can anyone honestly see Ian coming out and saying "yes, we messed up"?

They need to tread extremely carefully how they play this out now, because fans won't be hoodwinked by more spin, not least aimed at a home town legend. Could have all been avoided though, how sad.