We need to keep hold of some of the youngsters but get them out on loan asap. Kilner, Pierce Paul and the others really need the game time. From what I have seen some of them have got the makings of future regulars. Get each of the six months on a rolling basis to toughen them up. Start with those closest making the step up followed by the others so that we have cover from the most developed at the end of the season and the younger ones are covering when we have our strongest squad to pick from at the start.

Out: Harry Rushton (Canberra Raiders), Craig Mullen, Ben Flower (both Leigh Centurions), Nathan Wilde (Newcastle Thunder), Max Roberts, James Barran, Ben Holcroft (all Oldham), Sean O'Loughlin (retired).

Wooooooshh x 2

So lets assume Mr Lenegan is happy to spend the full cap, therefore the income from Sky is irrelevant isn't it? It hits his pocket not what we can spend.

Bateman on marquee is 150k to the cap, if you add in improved contracts to Hastings and French I would be surprised if these added together make a further 100k (total guess, could be anything from 50k to 200k I suppose)

So 250k. Flower gone Sean gone, a few others gone, get rid of Burgess at 150k and you should have some money????

Clearly Burgess going would free up the big part of a spend fund. Also we might shift a few more, like Mitch Clarke.

I just think there is money for recruitment to be spent.

You missed out Field incoming, new deal for Havard (likely a fair increase as his stock rose a lot). I don't think we're getting anyone of note between now and the start to the year unless we did manage to get G.Burgess off the cap (which is doubtful in the short term IMO).

Yeah good point.

It all hinges barring a few thousand either way and if we let others go. Starting with George sadly.

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2020/12/ ... ave-wigan/ Joe Burgess confirmed, along with Jack Wells

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2020/12/ ... ave-wigan/ Joe Burgess confirmed, along with Jack Wells

It’s a shame to see Burgess go but I’ve seen comments bagging the club on social media and they’re out of line. This decision was made months ago and at the time he was out of form and hadn’t been on top for for a long time. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and whilst I’d love to keep him, nobody is at fault for his departure. Most would’ve made the same call at the time.

Let's also look at it from the point of Burgess himself, there was a period of time he wasn't getting in the team due to Marshall & Manfredi. Maybe he thought he needed guaranteed game time and thought Salford was the best option.

For me Burgess is and always has been a good player. He can be an excellent player on his day, but even at his worst he's still decent. His last deal should have been for a min of 2 years imo.

Even "out of form" he was the best winger at the club and probably by a clear margin too.

How was he the best winger at the club by a clear margin even out of form when he was dropped for six games this year once Manfredi was fit? I'm guessing one party or the other made the decision during that 6 month period when Marshall was arguably the form winger in the league and Manfredi appeared to be over his injuries.

I know we've been through something similar a few times, but it all depends on what you're looking for, or what you value.

I think Marshall gets an easy ride Vs Burgess. That's partly due to some of the spectacular one off moments and also because of his enthusiasm. Burgess however (& of course this is just my opinion) is the better and more rounded player. He finishes his chances and he's solid in defence and in the air too. He's the complete winger.

I think Marshall gets the easier ride because you point out there that Burgess is a more rounded player and whilst you’re right in talent terms, he’s been comfortably out performed by Marshall these last couple of seasons and Burgess should ask himself why. He’s the most talented winger at the club (well he was) IMO but not the best and that’s because he’s not played anywhere his best. It isn’t Marshall’s fault that he’s dragging the best out of himself, whilst Burgess has probably not found his best form since 2017. He’s shown in the last few weeks of the season that he’s got so much more to give in effort/desire terms than we’ve seen at almost all points of his second spell.

I hope it works out for him at Salford and the penny drops. If it does then he’s got the talent to make the England squad (as he’s said is his aim today).

Marshall any day for me shows 100% more passion for playing than Burgess and plays with a smile on his face. Good Winger Burgess. But no great loss in my opinion.