Lmao, didn't Uncle Mo use an abacus, with missing beads?

At the end of the day it's a one year playing deal that is most likely financially extremely favourable to Wigan during this year. I'd really love to know who else we could sign for just 1 year on a low wage that can bring the sort of experience that Paul can to our young backs.

I agree that we are long overdue that aggressive, hardworking, pack leader who can really complete the side, but at the moment (for this season) there is no-one we can sign. Wayne Bennett (the master coach) has warned us off many players who have come to Super League or players that have been targets - Mark O'Meley, Willie Mason etc. We tried with Carl Webb to bring him in but he couldn't get a visa - what do you? I also believe that Mike MaGuire didn't rate him either and the only other one is Tronc, but I believe we have been warned off him as well. Nick Fozzard is the only other prop forward I can think of that has been signed by another club and he isn't the answer to our problems. I would much sooner wait that extra year to get the right man for the job, than just panic and sign any old fool. Imagine if we had done this with players like David Vaealiki - waited and got the right man. We have to learn from the mistakes of previous management.

Waiting another year for the right prop forward is the correct move to make. We are very close to having a Wigan side to be really proud of and I am happy to see how Feka goes under a new fitness regime, how Fielden goes under a new coaching team, how Paul Prescott and Eamon O'carroll develop and if Coley can continually improve on each season. It isn't ideal, but if it's the best we can do for now, then so be it. I would much rather do that than hand a two year deal to Darrell Griffin or Richard Moore.

So if we are ruling out a prop forward for this season and still have some salary cap space we might as well use it - right? So as long as it doesn't hamper your chances of bringing in that all important prop forward the following year and with Deacon only signing a one year deal he doesn't. I have mentioned his attributes to you before and don't need to repeat them.

The point you make is correct, regarding our need for a prop forward, but if there is no-one (of the right quality available) then what do you do? Why let the cap space just go to waste? We signed Gleeson because we needed a strike centre, someone who could make that match winning play and take some of the pressure off Carmont.

Ian Lenagan has taken a risk in not signing Mark O'Meley and Tronc etc. He has his reasons for this and I hope he has done his research & is proven correct. I will repeat - I am happy to wait for that all important prop forward till 2011 if it means we get the right guy for the job because with these overseas players if you get it wrong you are screwed, David Vaealiki being an excellent example.

In answer to your question - No. Read the article - it clearly emphasises that coaching is going to be his main role at the club.

That would be totally unprecedented, would it not?



MODEST payment, on the other hand...

If he is being payed as a coach and as a player would it not be easy to get top players as coaches/players and pay them loads as a coach but not alot as a player. Wouldn't mind big petro coming coaching our players

ONE?


I could get him one stone lighter in a fortnight.

I would say 2 stones off at the very least should be his target.

I'm gonna backtrack on this one slightly too.


Originally I said don't get him on a player/coach role.


Seeing the deal I think it's actually a clever bit of CC manipulation by IL.


Pay him bugger all (relatively) in year 1 when he's a player/coach and whack up the money in years 2 and 3 when it doesn't count against the CC.

We get an experienced player as cover for our half backs (and actually our hooker as not only has PD played that position, we can move TL there too if needed), and stick two fingers up to the CC and the RFL.


I have criticised IL in the past (and stand by that) but on this one he's got it spot on.

If he is primarily as a back up, then that is good.

Working as a half back coach, he has obviously been okay'd by MM, so I have no issue.

IL dipping into his pocket to further strengthen the coaching team is pleasing to see.

All in all, I can see no issues whatsoever with this and view it as excellent business by the club.

Its a shame Deacon didn't get a big send off from Bradford he has been a one of the greatest servants to a single team in the modern game, he has helped Bradford to many trophies and great seasons. Deacon is a great proffesional, the more I think about it the more I am chuffed with this signing, that is as long as he is not our first choice! MM and Wane know what they are doing!

All I am saying is you don't need to know how much a player earns because there are only 25 "portions" the £1.6m available. You can't divide the £1.6m 27 ways for example as the £1.6m is divided up between your 25 1st tier players. So when people say we must have got him cheap, it doesn't matter if we did because he will still get on of those 25 "portions".

So if people want to debate if he is a good signing as a player the question that they need to ask is, is he worth one of our 25 1st tier player slots?

Dave