I wrote a comment to the MEN website that IMHO Richards wouldn't be playing for Sale because if he needs match practice due to his long term injury, he wouldn't get any playing Union, as they prefer their rucks and mauls and kicking into touch.

And that wasn't Richards style of play.

The MEN didn't publish my comment.

MEN in pro-Sale story! 
The usual suspects trying to drum up interest in a club struggling for ideas and direction.

exactly........

rlhttps://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12321_6829162,00.htmlrl


Sale are ready to offer him the chance to swap codes at the end of the current Super League campaign... do you think Pat will be tempted?

I can't see it tbh. If Richards goes anywhere he may go back to the NRL and if he did go to play Union he'd be wise to try his hand in France for the big money thats on offer.

I wish Sale would have taken up Salfords offer to ground share and then with any luck Salford would have just screwed them over keep putting the rent up and making them shift games to other stadiums at a minutes notice to try and run them out of business.

If he doesn't recover from his injury and is therefore not fit enough for Rugby League then I suppose Rugby Union is a good option.

I'll get shot down for this but its an alternative view that's all !, but Pat will need to show he can re-create last seasons form after such an injury which is known to be very difficult to fully recover from, so would it be the decision of the Medical staff to tell IL, look this isnt going to work and time to cash in especially if someone is prepared to offer big bucks

Richards is out of contract at the end of this season, so there would be no big bucks to Wigan, apart from saving on his contract salary.
I do agree with what you say, in that Wigan need to be very careful and be sure that Richards is fully fit. It may sound a tad harsh, but it's a professional sport.

I wouldn't put it past him. I'm sure they'd offer more money than we'd be willing to.

Amended.

It is a game that I dont think Richards would enjoy personally. Too much kicking and not enough running/scoring for him.

Anyone who has the programme for the Hull game should re-read the comments of IL on how there is nothing to worry about in terms of players leaving to go to RU. It looks even more complacent and short-termist after this than it did a couple of weeks ago. IL has been great for the club but his lack of vision for the game as a whole is sadly typical of RL club owners and administrators.

The sun is shining today in South Yorkshire as I type this but the outlook for RL is gloomy.

RU in the North of England is not going particularly well. Sale have a millstone around their neck in Edgeley Park and their owner isn't putting quite so much money in, their gates aren't that good. Leeds are going down again and Newcastle are second bottom with a star signing for next season of Ricky Sheriffe. They had to sell the ground to Northumbria University a couple of years ago to survive. Should Wigan be frightened if Sale take Richards for next season? No, it's short term thinking by Sale, they'll be signing a 30 year old who will take time to adapt to the game.
Sale must be green with envy at the crowd that will turn up on Friday. They are spending a fortune to try to fill the Reebok for 1 game in April with lots of cut price offers.

Sale are an utterly ridiculous club, the North West would be a better place without them. I hope they get a low attendance for their game at the Reebok.