Quote Bill Sonny="Bill Sonny"I don't understand this one bit. so what if we've got four main back rowers in Hansen, Hock, Farrell and Tuson. Are Wigan in the business of trying to please every player who comes through the system? Gareth Ellis, albeit 32, is better than the lot. Why shouldn't we be aiming to improve our squad? Very rarely does somebody of Gareth Ellis' talent come along as available'"
The question has already been raised: would you give him the three-year deal he is demanding?
I'm not sure how you misunderstood my post. See if this is any clearer: Does signing a player on a three-year deal who will be 31/32 when the season starts, will no doubt demand top wages as a former NRL player (high demand at other clubs, international forward etc), plays in a position you already have about 7 other options for, will eat away at the chunk of the salary cap needed for perhaps other positions (centre/halfback/hooker) and will push back players like Farrell, Hughes and Burke in the pecking order, strike you as good business?
We're in the business of trying to develop our own players from our academy and integrate them into the first team squad. Wigan have an abundance of back row forwards coming through, most who will probably go on to play international RL. Despite the loss of Hoffman and Tomkins we've still got around 7 or 8 lads who could play in the second row.
No doubting Ellis' talents (although perhaps they are over exaggerated by some) and he would improve the squad, but we don't need him. We need a replacement for Carmont and we need a replacement for Tommy. You sign Ellis, you push back our own lads and eat away at the pot used to replace the players mentioned.
