You could say yeh there'd be more great players spread throughout the league. but why on earth would teams like wigan bother investing in academys and youth teams if they know damn well that if a few of them turn out to be great that we are only going to be able to keep one of them. If anything we would end up with less talented youngsters coming through...

I don't know if this had been posted but official statement on Sam's future. rlhttps://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id

Basically Sams new contract means we are guarranteed him for at least the next 3 years then if he choses to leave Wigan within two years after that, we are also guaranteed a massive transfer fee! Excellent business.

True, but I reckon you'd end up with Wigan, Saints, Leeds, Wire, Hull, Hull KR all take it up and I reckon clubs like Cas and Hudds would be able to do it without it stretching them too much.

So, that could be Tomkins, Roby, Hall, Westwood, Briscoe, Chase and Cudjoe currently covered. As we went along, you may see clubs saving the spot for outside backs who would be the prime targets for Union - ie Saints may use it for someone like Lomax, rather than someone like Graham.

You've got a few clubs with money and you've got Saints and Salford moving into improved facilities which should increase their earnings.

Yup good contract for the club from the sounds of it

Good academies go hand in hand with continued 1st team sucess.
The above is only valid if Wigan are the only club producing quality, which is not the case. If it were, and you were the only club producing high quality youngsters, then I would suggest that a)its a good problem for you to have in any situation and b)you'd have trouble holding on to all of them in a salary capped competetion anyways.

This is great news and has really made my day, particularly after reading about the 'partnership' with Saracens.

It sounds great and I am pleased with it but can any of those who have been telling me for weeks contracts are worthless explain why this one isn't equally worthless?

I haven't seen the details yet, but someone mentioned something on one of the other threads about Sam and his agent agreeing something like 'a non-communication clause' (presumably with other clubs) for the first three years.

Kind of makes you wonder why bother having a contract for five, if one party is demanding the right to duck out of it after three, but this is clearly a sign of the times in RL. If we've got Sam nailed down for 3 years, then that's a result for me.

Yeah totally agree with you again today. FFS going for a bath in liquid nitrogen.

He didnt need to sign a new contract and he could have easily followed his brother, or at least stated his desire to do so. However he chose to stay and has signed a new, and presumably greatly increased contract. This both extends his contract and as its for a much greater value makes it much more difficult for Union clubs to sign him without shelling out a huge sum in compensation.

It still is, just sounds like Lenegan has made sure there'll be a pretty hefty, if not punitive penalty fee if the clause is broken.

It's much more likely Tomkins won't be going anyway soon compared to yesterday, which is a result for Wigan.

Assuming it's not impossible for him to leave (chuck a few million at Wigan as compo and he'll go), however I'm sure there will be financial penalties against ST himself should he re-neig on this deal, making it less likely.

but with the option that an offer would be accepted after a certain number of years

Well at least Sam is staying. That's cheered me up a bit