Tomkins, he was instrumental in our 2018 Grand Final win. Left us because we offered him a reduced contract then went on to have (in my opinion) the best years of his career in 2019-2021.

Bateman was massively underrated in his second spell with us imo. Maybe not as unconventional in his playstyle as before, but certainly effective and i would say we were strengthened by him being here.

I would even say Joe Burgess, again better in his first spell but he was a solid winger for us on his return, maybe a bit unlucky with injuries. Scored a hat-trick in our WCC win and very influential in that game in particular. Think it is fair to say he strengthened us and has gone on to play well for Salford.



Wrote my section and drafted it earlier, i would probably agree with Sarge strengthening us on his return aswell.

You can't just blanket statement that no players are to return who leave for the NRL, it should always be judged on a case-by-case basis on what value that returning player can bring to our current squad.

On Sutton, i don't think he would bring a lot of value so no i wouldn't want him back. Also he has had some injury troubles since signing for Canterbury so would also be a risk i don't feel we need to take. Similar to my thoughts on Thompson, but now knowing that Smithies was leaving i can understand that one more.

Why would he need to lie about it? He is the most recognisable rugby player of modern times. Telling a lie about a provincial sport that no one really cares about isn’t going to generate extra book sales

It won't help him sell books, but that doesn't mean it isn't a fantasy.

The rumours about Owen Farrell have been circling for years. It was similar when Saints were chasing David Campesi. You don't seriously think there'd have been no rumours if Johnny Wilkinson had been on the verge of coming over?

Disrespectful might not be the best choice of words but between leaving us and going to Canberra he had obviously been training his off/dieting better and got himself in a condition he was never in at Wigan which transferred on to the pitch too.

I still can't fathom why certain Sutton loyalists don't understand this.

The evidence was there, right in front of our eyes.

Loyalists? Evidence ? What are you going on about?

The only FACT is that he played almost 120 games for the club & won two GF's - you don't do that if you aren't A - a good player, B - performing and C - in the right physical condition.

You make out like he was some waste of space, fat slob at Wigan. Sadly it's like a switch with some fans. When a player leaves he's instantly either overrated, or is a bad egg etc.

There's life outside of Wigan RL and the NRL is a bigger draw. Not sure why some fans don't understand this?

That’s not correct mate. Sutty was super fit at the end of his Wigan career. The reason for that was down to him training at Blundell’s as well as at Wigan.

Agree re Sutton he was a slow burner for me but in his last year, where he was still probably only 23/24, I thought he was outstanding and lost the puppy fat.

I’d have him back in an instant if he were coming back.

Firstly I’ll say I rated Sutton. He did a good job for us, was successful, durable and I also admired the fact he was straight up with the club about not signing a new deal and he played out his contract and didn’t try to force a way out.

Secondly though, I was somebody who questioned his motivation to get in such good shape, with only a few months left of his Wigan career, at the time he did it. You’re right, he was in way better shape ‘before’ he left Wigan but only a matter of a few months before. It was as clear as day to me that he choose to put that graft in ready for the pre season he’d be facing in the NRL. I found it slightly disappointing that it had taken that move being sealed to bring about that transformation but that’s been and gone. Maybe it was all a coincidence but it didn’t feel it at the time tbh.

In terms of him coming back to Superleague, I’d be interested to see how he got on if he did but from what you read, he’s very settled over there, with an Australian wife and family.

So long as it's without his spare tyre.

I've seen all the other posts, but can't be bothered replying to them all.

Suffice to say this: I can't be bowled over by the prospect of a guy returning to Wigan, who only seemed to get fit when he was due to leave the club. Maybe that was our fault, not being as tough with him as he knew Ricky Stuart would be, but it betrays a certain mindset that I've come to despise: Wigan RL are a stepping stone to greater things. That may be true in the modern age of RL but it's not something I grew up with, it's not something I like and it's not something I'm ever going to get used to.

Note ... this is not a blanket condemnation of players who leave Wigan, just those who do so but then give a lot more to other clubs than they gave to us. I wouldn't have thought that was a controversial opinion.

How unusual is it for the squad numbers not to be released with or before the new kit? Does this suggest we still have some "announcements" to make in both directions?

You’d have to think there will be movement in or out (or both) yet or else they’d have released them.

The guy we’re talking about, Sutton. I’ve not bagged anyone else for it (I don’t think).

I shouldn’t have put it in the plural, I suppose.

The likes of Betts, Clark, Robinson, Faz etc could hardly have done more in their time in Cherry and White, so no one could complain when they left.

In general terms, I’m not overly fond of players who try to wriggle out of contracts, but we don’t know what their private dealings with the club entail, so if they’re not happy at Wigan, it’s probably best if they go. And that wasn’t Sutton anyway. But for me, he was manifestly a fitter and therefore better player at Canberra than he was at Wigan. All that potential sent to someone else. And that rankles with me.

But hey, if he came back and was awesome, I’d happily eat my words.