[quote="apollosghost":2skja8pa]Seems like a media blackout re. the two Saints lads, wonder if the clubs are negotiating a deal to release them for this season, Saints won't want to spend anymore time/cash on their development and Wigan won't want them out of a pro environment for 12 months[/quote:2skja8pa] I agree, a small transfer fee should do it.

[quote="Zig":2lawxeu6]I think I may have been wrong about Stephens Stu but, trying to fit Robertson in at centre seems a mistake (square peg in a round hole). He is a natural fullback or standoff. Saints should have signed a centre and played Robertson as a pivot.[/quote:2lawxeu6] As I've said before I don't think there is any intention to play him at centre regularly, it would merely be to increase his game time to cover for the inevitable injuries that Hurrell and Percival will have. I think they will look at trying to give him game time across the whole backline Good to see Stephens signing a 4 year deal. He will have a good season I feel and is in really good shape physically to kick on.

[quote="WWste":1eyk2h87]I don’t think Salford is a walk in the park as made out. They are a decent side and I imagine will be itching to settle things down on the pitch. I can see Saints getting beat in that game as they did in the pre season game with them[/quote:1eyk2h87] I don’t for one second think that Salford are a poor side. I just think that Saints will be highly motivated to deliver a big win and to get their season off to a really strong start.

[quote="Zig":2zusxcd0]We may be looking for a fullback![/quote:2zusxcd0] I’d be disappointed if Field was to exit but I’m pretty sure that if he is going that we will be already working on his replacement.

[quote="Itchy Arsenal":1uzrp6fc]I’d be disappointed if Field was to exit but I’m pretty sure that if he is going that we will be already working on his replacement.[/quote:1uzrp6fc] We have French, Farrimond can go in the halfs

[quote="The Whiffy Kipper":yot0xz8f]We have French, Farrimond can go in the halfs[/quote:yot0xz8f] Think we would need a 1 or 2 year replacement whilst we introduce Farrimond. Ideal situation Field stays for the 2025/6 seasons then Farrimond steps up.

Given Field got engaged whilst he was back in Oz, I'd expect at some stage in the next year or two he'll be considering a return home. We need to make the most of the time we have him! Him, French, Ellis and Miski seem really close and as much as it's a professional sport, the lure of keeping them all goes down once one of them goes.

[quote="Zig":1dhex45c]We may be looking for a fullback![/quote:1dhex45c] Perhaps this is why some time ago there were rumours we were interested in Ryan Brierley. Disappointed if Field left but of there's a decent offer in the NRL then it would be hardly unexpected he would go back. No doubt the club are ahead on this.

[quote="Zig":26mc8t3j]We may be looking for a fullback![/quote:26mc8t3j] Robertson been offered a good deal?

[quote="That Mon":2438py6d]Robertson been offered a good deal?[/quote:2438py6d] We keep showing interest in Welsby.

I imagine his 4 year deal only as a release clause to NRL at a certain fee. Can’t see him at Wigan unless it’s after a NRL stint that’s cut short for the usual reasons.

[quote="That Mon":16m5ju0b]I imagine his 4 year deal only as a release clause to NRL at a certain fee. Can’t see him at Wigan unless it’s after a NRL stint that’s cut short for the usual reasons.[/quote:16m5ju0b] this is from the club site, no mention of 2 + 2 or release clause. I know we wouldnt normally get told about the clause, but often the terms will be there ie 2 years plus 1 in the players / clubs favour https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/01/ ... -new-deal/

[quote="That Mon":16m5ju0b]I imagine his 4 year deal only as a release clause to NRL at a certain fee. Can’t see him at Wigan unless it’s after a NRL stint that’s cut short for the usual reasons.[/quote:16m5ju0b] this is from the club site, no mention of 2 + 2 or release clause. I know we wouldnt normally get told about the clause, but often the terms will be there ie 2 years plus 1 in the players / clubs favour https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/01/ ... -new-deal/

[quote="Mark_P1973":2t22d8q8]this is from the club site, no mention of 2 + 2 or release clause. I know we wouldnt normally get told about the clause, but often the terms will be there ie 2 years plus 1 in the players / clubs favour https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/01/ ... -new-deal/[/quote:2t22d8q8] I remember somebody getting a 2+2 deal but wasn't that French with his previous deal to the one he's on now? The article this rumour came from seemed to suggest Field being off contract was common knowledge but it's not listed as such anywhere. It seems as though Field himself as suggested that is the case though, so it presumably is some sort of deal with options built in. The good thing from Wigans POV is that should Field want an NRL deal, he is going to be busting a gut to impress in 2025 and that can only be positive in the short term. Hopefully he's feeling 100% fit now because I don't think that was the case for much of last year.

[quote="Mark_P1973":2t22d8q8]this is from the club site, no mention of 2 + 2 or release clause. I know we wouldnt normally get told about the clause, but often the terms will be there ie 2 years plus 1 in the players / clubs favour https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/01/ ... -new-deal/[/quote:2t22d8q8] I remember somebody getting a 2+2 deal but wasn't that French with his previous deal to the one he's on now? The article this rumour came from seemed to suggest Field being off contract was common knowledge but it's not listed as such anywhere. It seems as though Field himself as suggested that is the case though, so it presumably is some sort of deal with options built in. The good thing from Wigans POV is that should Field want an NRL deal, he is going to be busting a gut to impress in 2025 and that can only be positive in the short term. Hopefully he's feeling 100% fit now because I don't think that was the case for much of last year.

[quote="Zig":1r8izidg]We keep showing interest in Welsby.[/quote:1r8izidg] This is the issue now with Wigan's financial muscle. There are rumours from everywhere which creates a bit of scare-mongering. Don't get me wrong I'm as bad given that their wealth is worrying for the rest of SL, but there's no way Wigan are signing Welsby, Robertson and Lees.

I have absolutely zero desire to see Wigan sign Jack Welsby and I'd be surprised if the majority of the fanbase didn't feel the same way.

[quote="MadDogg":12aezxpw]I have absolutely zero desire to see Wigan sign Jack Welsby and I'd be surprised if the majority of the fanbase didn't feel the same way.[/quote:12aezxpw] Really? Because you don't like him as a person or feel he is over-rated?

[quote="Stu M":2jwe906x]This is the issue now with Wigan's financial muscle. There are rumours from everywhere which creates a bit of scare-mongering. Don't get me wrong I'm as bad given that their wealth is worrying for the rest of SL, but there's no way Wigan are signing Welsby, Robertson and Lees.[/quote:2jwe906x] true, but even with financial muscle we can only spend the same (apart from marquee) as everyone else. I know we could theoretically offer a transfer fee to clubs for other players, but we can still only spend on the actual cap the same as everyone else i think there are just loads of rumours flying around to wind up fans i know one of my Saints friends posted something last night about the potential signing of the 2 young lads, and about how they should be allowed to rot for being underhand, and Wigan are corrupt, speaking to players without permission etc etc. Until i pointed out that they were out of contract at the end of the season, and any club could speak to them, so nothing underhand or wrong with it, if they have signed for next season. I also told him to stop believing everything he reads on social media / forums until the clubs have formally announced something as all it does is wind everyone up

[quote="Mark_P1973":xz5njrq1]true, but even with financial muscle we can only spend the same (apart from marquee) as everyone else. I know we could theoretically offer a transfer fee to clubs for other players, but we can still only spend on the actual cap the same as everyone else i think there are just loads of rumours flying around to wind up fans i know one of my Saints friends posted something last night about the potential signing of the 2 young lads, and about how they should be allowed to rot for being underhand, and Wigan are corrupt, speaking to players without permission etc etc. Until i pointed out that they were out of contract at the end of the season, and any club could speak to them, so nothing underhand or wrong with it, if they have signed for next season. I also told him to stop believing everything he reads on social media / forums until the clubs have formally announced something as all it does is wind everyone up[/quote:xz5njrq1] It is going to be interesting what Saints do with them. We won't want to develop them too much but if we just don't play them at all and banish them from training, then I'm pretty sure that would potentially cause some legal problems. Tomorrow is interesting as we will be naming our squad for the CC game on Saturday. Wellens has already said the big boys won't play- Welsby, Lees, Sailor etc so ordinarily Vaughan and Sambou would've made the squad. If they are not selected then do the club make reference or just hope that no-one notices! Given that neither Wigan or Saints have confirmed anything adds further intrigue. I'm 100% sure they have signed as Matt Shaw is the David Ornstein of the RL world so will be bang on. It's how we control the narrative that will be interesting.

[quote="Stu M":1skrfn4r]It is going to be interesting what Saints do with them. We won't want to develop them too much but if we just don't play them at all and banish them from training, then I'm pretty sure that would potentially cause some legal problems. Tomorrow is interesting as we will be naming our squad for the CC game on Saturday. Wellens has already said the big boys won't play- Welsby, Lees, Sailor etc so ordinarily Vaughan and Sambou would've made the squad. If they are not selected then do the club make reference or just hope that no-one notices! Given that neither Wigan or Saints have confirmed anything adds further intrigue. I'm 100% sure they have signed as Matt Shaw is the David Ornstein of the RL world so will be bang on. It's how we control the narrative that will be interesting.[/quote:1skrfn4r] to a lesser extent we are in the same boat with Liam Byrne (but have also done it with Kai Pierce Paul and Oliver Gildart when they were going to the NRL with mixed results). He needs to be match fit and ready to play, even though he is likely to be starting from the bench unless Thompson or Havard are injured, but equally we need to give Hill and some of the others game time, so do we leave Byrne out, knowing that we will need him or do we carry on as though he hasnt signed and with the expectation he is going to be professional and give his all for his current club. with KPP he was outstanding but Gildart looked like he had packed his bags and was preserving himself for when he went to the NRL, so its definitely a balancing act to get it right

[quote="Mark_P1973":q1ayqvxb]to a lesser extent we are in the same boat with Liam Byrne (but have also done it with Kai Pierce Paul and Oliver Gildart when they were going to the NRL with mixed results). He needs to be match fit and ready to play, even though he is likely to be starting from the bench unless Thompson or Havard are injured, but equally we need to give Hill and some of the others game time, so do we leave Byrne out, knowing that we will need him or do we carry on as though he hasnt signed and with the expectation he is going to be professional and give his all for his current club. with KPP he was outstanding but Gildart looked like he had packed his bags and was preserving himself for when he went to the NRL, so its definitely a balancing act to get it right[/quote:q1ayqvxb] I just think that its more that they are going to Wigan than anything else! I wouldn't feel as annoyed if it was any other club

[quote="Stu M":g59nyxut]I just think that its more that they are going to Wigan than anything else! I wouldn't feel as annoyed if it was any other club [/quote:g59nyxut] If its true, Wigan must have seen something in them that they havent currently got in our academy / reserve setup which is also testament to the Saints academy i also get the annoyance from Saints fans with it being Wigan. But as i said to my mate, it indicative almost of how the clubs are currently run, and how we've almost flipped from you being on top / making excellent signings with us retaining past it players etc, to us now doing it right and you making the bad decisions

[quote="Mark_P1973":m8phqwwl]:) If its true, Wigan must have seen something in them that they havent currently got in our academy / reserve setup which is also testament to the Saints academy i also get the annoyance from Saints fans with it being Wigan. But as i said to my mate, it indicative almost of how the clubs are currently run, and how we've almost flipped from you being on top / making excellent signings with us retaining past it players etc, to us now doing it right and you making the bad decisions[/quote:m8phqwwl] I think as good as Wigan's Academy has been (and obviously still is) then that particular age group- and by that I mean Vaughan's age group- wasn't the best of ones before and after it, and there are probably less players coming through from that cohort than of different Academy intakes So given the number of back rowers you have sold then they have looked at Vaughan. They've done nothing wrong, they've been proactive. It just feels different as players rarely transfer between the clubs.

[quote="Stu M":3uehjqq1]I think as good as Wigan's Academy has been (and obviously still is) then that particular age group- and by that I mean Vaughan's age group- wasn't the best of ones before and after it, and there are probably less players coming through from that cohort than of different Academy intakes So given the number of back rowers you have sold then they have looked at Vaughan. They've done nothing wrong, they've been proactive. It just feels different as players rarely transfer between the clubs.[/quote:3uehjqq1] i agree but i think it has tended to be more the players have signed for Saints / Wigan having come from a traditional amateur club in the other town. So for example Welsby and Makinson played for Shevvy Sharks and St Judes but signed for Saints and not Wigan, as opposed to signing for Wigan and then moving to Saints it was interesting and i think its been covered before that we signed so many onto our scholarship level i think it was from Thatto Heath in our last intake

[quote="Mark_P1973":25i0og7e]i agree but i think it has tended to be more the players have signed for Saints / Wigan having come from a traditional amateur club in the other town. So for example Welsby and Makinson played for Shevvy Sharks and St Judes but signed for Saints and not Wigan, as opposed to signing for Wigan and then moving to Saints it was interesting and i think its been covered before that we signed so many onto our scholarship level i think it was from Thatto Heath in our last intake[/quote:25i0og7e] Yeah from the all-conquering Thatto Heath team, Saints signed 3 but Wigan signed 8. Of those 8, 7 are die hard Saints fans. Wigan are now (annoyingly) leading the way with their scouting too. Leigh have started to get their act together, I believe they signed a couple too. I've no idea what money Vaughan has signed for but ironically he would've had more chance to break into Saints regularly than the current Wigan team. Sironen will undoubtedly go home at the end of the season and Batchelor and Whitley have been poor. Hurrell will undoubtedly go too at the end of the season (hopefully) and Percival is always injured. Vaughan would most likely have started a lot of games in 2026.

[quote="Stu M":3kh4sx34]Really? Because you don't like him as a person or feel he is over-rated?[/quote:3kh4sx34] Great player but there comes a point where someone is so associated with a rival club that I wouldn't want us to go there. Goading the Wigan fans doesn't offend me one bit (in fact good for him) but I wouldn't want to see him in a Wigan shirt now he is essentially the pantomime villain.