I'm not sure those are the same.

You often hear fans saying "they'll be a different team to the one we played earlier in the year" etc. Within that traditional reasoning, everyone knows that teams certainly get lucky and can play against a side with injuries, a lame duck coach, out of form etc.

The big difference here however is - We haven't played Leeds or Hull once. We're not 5 or 6 games into the season either, we're pretty much half way through.

This also ain't a "the world's against Wigan" type of thing either. We probably won the LLS shield last year based off two big wins Vs Wakey at the start of the season.

Doesn't make it right however and kinda makes a mockery of a fair comp too.

It is daft I'll give you that. We haven't played Warrington in the league yet but have played Leeds 3 times (inc CC)

I noticed that they'd said Leeds had reviewed the game and then stood people down. That certainly seems very different to all the other clubs and you'd have to feel is linked to the Stevie Ward case as you say. It sends shudders down the spine in many ways if that is a look in to the future. The on field decisions and the disciplinary get plenty of heat currently but if teams start having to review games and stand multiple players down, you're going to be left with such a poor product. Nobody wants to watch second string teams playing each other. The end result of something like this would means young kids, who are likely not ready for it, having to play first team rugby and also injured players being rushed back or pushed through games.

I'm not concerned at all with when we played the likes of Cas, Leeds and Hull and the form they were in at the time or may be in come a couple of months time but I am concerned with how the ridiculous fixture list has been allowed to happen. We've played Cas 3 times and not played Leeds or Hull yet and all I hear on Rugby League podcasts is that loop fixtures are to blame. Loop fixtures aren't to blame for us playing one side 3 times already and no games against a couple of sides. If we take Cas as our example of a team we have a loop fixture against, we should've played them early in the season, in the middle of the season and then one towards the end. We don't have a loop fixture against Leeds, so we should've played on of our fixtures against them in the first half of the season and one in the second half. It all seems quite straightforward but it's been an absolute mess.

We don’t help the fixture format by saying don’t give us any home fixtures in April/May as we are having our pitch relayed!

It’s mid May to mid June, so while that point stands, it doesn’t explain why we’ve had so few home games from Feb to Mid May and why we’ve had to play teams multiple times. It’s not just Wigan either, teams across the league haven’t played each other yet.

Maybe its because there are quite a few teams ground share. Huddersfield, Hull, London must be a nightmare to integrate all the fixtures, pitch relaid not just us.Add Leigh and St Helens to that list.

Maybe its because there are quite a few teams ground share. Huddersfield, Hull, London must be a nightmare to integrate all the fixtures, pitch relaid not just us.Add Leigh and St Helens to that list.

Farrimond 6 year deal according to Peet on sky coverage

Leeming been pictured in a boot and wheelchair. Might be awhile out till we see him

Talk on redvee about Briers coming home as his wife is homesick

Oh no!!!! Please don't let him replace Wellens or go to Wire.

It'd be good for SL to have Briers back here, for sure. He's done great work in Brisbane, under-estimated by Aussie fans and pundits, I think.

Fantastico

Can't find this anywhere. Have you got a link pal?

It was on the sky coverage mate, when Pyke and Wilkin interviewed Peet.

He credited the club for recruiting Jack and tidying him down to a long term contract which will be at least 6 years.

If you go on Wigan TV and watch the full game, fast forward to the end you can watch it

Interesting one on wages. The NRL is very transparent about wages.

Michael Chammas is reporting Kai Pearce Paul is on 775k aus next year.

That’s about £400k.

I’m a massive KPP fan but can’t believe he’d command such a high salary.

Only French, Williams or maybe Welsby would be up in anywhere near that in SL.

Shows the task we are up against keeping players.

Assistant to Cartwright as both was at Broncos??…we can dream and also Briers missus is from Hull…Craig Halls sister?

That must be renegotiated? I can’t believe he would be on this without as when he signed he was very much a prospect who had played a lot of his rugby out of position at centre, he had his best spell for us after signing the deal. That sort of money is pretty high for a second rower in the NRL, although from what I have seen KPP has done very well over in Oz and I have seen Knights fans saying he’s been their best forward this season.

Pryce reportedly on Aus $400k per season. https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/will-pry ... nes-94023/

Pryce reportedly on Aus $400k per season. https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/will-pry ... nes-94023/

And the other side of the coin...



[urlhttps://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-newcastle-knights-salary-cap-overhaul-players-told-they-are-free-to-leave-adam-obrien-peter-osullivan-isaac-moses-conflict-of-interest-news-videos-highlights/news-story/fd234ccd6124a1c50935ab92b27108ec[/url

I agree and that the salaries offered to entice players over to the NRL are excessive, and even though KPP is a very talented young kid then £400K per season is a ridiculous amount of money.
It will be interesting to see if it is money well spent by the Knights or if he eventually gets cut down the line to free up salary cap space

Converting KPPs salary to GBP is irrelevant as their salary cap is miles higher so its no comparison.

His reported salary next year is about 8% of the salary cap. Equivalent % in England would be £168k per year which doesn't sound out of the question if he is one of your best players? £168K would probably put him in the top 3-5 earners at a club like Wigan, Saints, Warrington I would guess?

Wonder which academy players will join the first team squad next year ?

Junior and Hill will replace Cooper and Isa but who will replace them?

Kian McDermott, Lukas Mason and Taylor Kerr all seem to England academy regulars. A proper, a backrower and a loose forward.

Wonder if they are seen as big prospects?

I remember Nathan Lowe a winger/centre joined the first team in preseaon whilst Marshall was away.

Not seen much of McDermott but in the bits I've seen of the other two, I've always been hugely impressed with Kerr. He looks a real talent, with good hands and will be a good size once he fills out. I've never seen much in Mason to think he'll go on and become a top player but he might've just had quiet games in the ones I've seen. The other who always impressed me is Tom Ratchford, a young hooker. He will have a lot of players to get past at Wigan in the next few years mind.