I'd go with that and lets not forget if we could recruit real quality they do put bums on seats and excite the fans more than a team of all UK players would. Harsh on the UK players but that is just the way it is. I am sure there is more interest in Aus in the odd UK player who goes down under these days than your average NRL player.

Much of it is down to the individual, look at Dean Bell an overseas player but nobody could ever question his commitment & loyalty to the Wigan club.

Exactly, but I think the investment of the SC should be in the home grown system first. A Dean Bell is VERY hard to find. Plus his stint at Wigan was pre-cap.

+1

I agree that it should not be restricted to Wiganers, any British Player should be looked at especially at the youth stage. There is nothing wrong with overseas players or managers as long as they are New Zealanders who never let you down, think of all the great Kiwis that have played for us. When I started supporting Wigan in the 1940s, the team was all born within 10 miles of Wigan plus 2 Kiwis, Cec Mountford and Brian Nordgen and we were world beaters.

Crazy, when we signed Lam that season he was MOM for queensland as he hammered NSW. As for Renouf, was one of the ebst centres we ever had...look at how many he and his winger scored.

what about the like of Brett Dallas then?

What about the likes of Andrew Farrar? We could both pick examples of either point all day. Like I said, I'd sooner back Wigan talent.

Renouf was at the end of his career when he came to us. Proves my point. You can get top talent from the UK in their prime, just not top talent in their prime from Aus.

I would take players like george carmont and paaaaaat richards every day orf the week.

Anyway, back on topic, GIVE WANE THE GIG

Nowt to do with imports per se. It was poor management of the club right across the board that was the problem.

I don't care if they come from Wigan, Wollongong, Widnes or Wellington.

I just want the best that we can afford under the systems that are in place.
If they are Wigan lads, so much the better, but if they are not then so be it.

True but IL also has another close friend who he looks to for advice in Australia - Tony Rae, ex-Harlequins coach.

It was Rae who advised IL about approaching Maguire.

Fair enough and having both can't hurt.

We've got a young squad with some experienced heads in it and a couple of them will need replacing soon and we could do with some sound advice when looking to replace them from down under.

Dallas, Richards, Lyon, Monaghan x 2, King, Perry, Hoffman, Ryles, Greenshields, ...None are/were passed their prime when signed.