Nope in fact he made his professional debut at about 26 years old if I am correct? (Might not be)... Perhaps Jinkin Jimmy thinks he should have quit Rugby League altogether because if you don't develop by 22, go be a plumber or something worthwhile?

Who knows

Sign Blake Ferguson get Gelling in the pack and Thornley fighting it out for a wing spot. Job done.

Why would Thornley need to fight for a wing spot if we signed Ferguson?

Because we have Charnley on one side, Manfredi and Burgess, and that is if we do not recruit. Burgess and Manfredi to me like they have more potential on the wing than Thornley, and another off season I think will be really pushing for a chance in the starting line up.

Would Ferguson get a visa?

Both Carney and Bird failed when they tried to come over and I'm sure Ferguson would fall into the same category.

Love it to happen tho!

Everytime I see Thornley get selected over Gelling I can never understand it in all the times I've watched both players its clear to anyone with eyes Gelling has more potential than Thornley I watch Thornley and I just see nothing more than when we had Aspinwall, Colbon & Sean Gleeson and the same goes for Hughes I just don't ever imagine talking about Thornley and Hughes in the same category of the greats Bell, Iro, Inga, Connolly etc but I believe that can happen with Gelling he just needs a full season uninterrupted and like Josh would cement his place. I can't understand why Wane favours Thornley maybe its from his time as reserves coach, Yet Wane complains about not being able to send Gelling out on loan yet lets him suffer on the sidelines, Surely someone who leaves for Union then returns you'd think a loan move for a season or two would be perfect for him to acclimatise at a less pressure club as opposed to someone who can't physically be sent out on loan.

There have always been players around like Thornley who show a lot of promise, but because of inerrant basic faults in there game will always be viewed with suspicion.
This has nothing to do with his age, being able to catch a ball and secure it should be second nature from an early age. When the ball moves across to his wing, fans at present are hoping the first thing he does is hold on to the ball before expecting him to do something with it.
David Hodgson was always like that when he first came to Wigan, he would do something brilliant one min then commit a right howler the next min. Jamie Anscough was another.
I know Gelling is prone to errors himself, but at least he seems to have a bit of devil about him which Thornley seems to be lacking.

Thornley seemed to drop every other pass against Huddersfield.

I want him to succeed, but though he's an adequate player, I'm starting to suspect that he won't be much more than that. As you say, there is no beast in him, which negates his size and weight, and I've yet to see much evidence of brilliant and instinctive centre play.

That said, Gelling doesn't bowl me over either, and with Goulding showing increased signs of frailty, I'm starting to think we should be looking elsewhere.

I've been more impressed with Gelling in the few games he's played on the right. He seems a lot safer and more comfortable there. He played in that position in the under 20s last year too. Unfortunately he won't get regular time in that position because that's where Goulding plays.

This sort of posting is the reason I very rarely post now. It is abusive, not necessary and offers absolutely nothing to the original posting.

IMO it is abusive, but then I'm not a "soft lad", on the contrary I'm a 86 year woman, as many on this board well know. Perhaps good manners were different in my day from today; a bit sad really.

Honestly you could swap the names Thornley and Gelling around and the above post would not be far from the truth, to a degree.

Where I don't think you could is in the basic skills comment. If I had to pick which of the two lacked basic skills its Gelling IMO.

He makes up for it in effort by the bucket load. If Pryce had as much heart as Gelling he'd have been world class.

I can see positives in both players. Of the two I think Thornley is the cleverer player and has far more of a chance of being a very good centre. I am not sure what the future holds for Gelling. Our stupid rules mean he has nowhere to play except the first team and I don't think you can keep rotating the centres to give each some game time.

I like him as player but I reckon a reason why I do is his all out effort. I am not sure that will be good enough for a long term future here as a centre.

What about his try in the CC final? I thought that was very good.



Goulding has had a tough year injury-wise but he was well beaten man for man v Leeds at the DW. As an experienced centre (compared to Thornley and Gelling) he needs a good 2014 IMO.

The rumours about him having a heart problem are the bigger concern for me.