We need an announcement that an announcement will soon be announced.

The question running around in my head is why sign a 5 year deal, knowing that if a bigger offer came in ie. RU or NRL for that matter, that you would want to leave?

Is there something going on behind the scenes at Wigan making the players feel un-easy or unhappy?

Maybe I'm just thinking too far outside the box but IMHO something just isn't right about him signing a 5year deal and then not long down the line wanting to leave.

I wouldnt read that much into it mate, Money talks. Also given the fact that since he signed that new deal hes now won everything worth winning in the English game and feels like he needed a new challenge?

Hopefully as someone has posted his friends and family have had words with him and managed to talk him out of it though

I don't know, for me it seem's dodgy, the 5 year contract signing was announced on 04/02/2011 and we're now 25/10/2011 so in just under 9months somethings changed from what Joel said;


I agree money talks but from that, to me it seems like he's implying that money doesn't matter, I want to play here.

It's the same story with Sam Tomkins;

Changed suddenly to;


Now that's a far cry from "I can't see myself playing anywhere else."

Its easy to say that money doesnt matter when you're already on 80k a year and not being offered anymore, but when they are throwing the figures rumoured at him everything goes out the window.

Strange one this as was full steam ahead a few weeks ago yet has all gone quiet so could be anything for you guys.

A) Pure rumour and he's staying.
B) You won't let him go until star replacement is announced.
C) Simply still hagling a fee with Saries (player may not be forcing the issue).
D) Everyone's on holls and will be sort with when get's backed



Personally I hope it's A as he is a cracking player with huge potential and I don't want to see him leave our sport (not that I'd in anyway blame Wigan if he did leave btw).

I've found a problem with this. It's probably just a rumour. Will we get compensation then?

Wigans position is very poor.

Let's assume JT want's to go and Sarries want to pay £100k. Wigan want £300k.

What can Wigan do? Refuse to sell to Sarries, (even assuming that they are allowed to). JT effectively refuses to play (wasting both money and CC space).

I fail to see how Wigans hand is strong in this one.

Wigan Observer tonight reckon the fee is £250-000 and will be sorted in the next few days, well that should get us a decent centre if they aren't going to play Josh there.

Well if Sarries don't pay up, why should Wigan release him? Thats like you wanting to sell your house for arguments sake, £100,000. But someone only bidding £75,000 for it, are you really going to take less then the valuation? No. Until you get the right offer, why should you accept? Exact same with Wigan and Joel. This is all pure speculation mind you, anything could be going on with it now.

If he wanted to leave he shouldn't of signed a 5year deal. Simples.

Not selling your house wouldn't have a detrimental effect on your livelihood though. You would simply ask for a price and if it wasn't forthcoming then you'd stay with the status quo.

The problem Wigan have is that if we refuse Joel a transfer because we haven't got what we feel is value for money then he may refuse to play or play poorly. That has a detrimental effect on results, performances and team morale overall.

£250,000 is probably a reasonable amount considering the arguments about the strength of our position in these negotiations.

You don't get this do you?

That analogy simply doesn't work.

Ok let me put it another way, using the example I gave.

Option 1 - Wigan take £100k, benefit from not paying JT's salary, benefit from not having JT's salary count on the Communist Cap.

Option 2 - Wigan get no transfer fee, have to pay JT's salary even though he doesn't play and have it counted on the Communist Cap.

Now what's your point again?