That's one perspective; another is that for 2020 SL has acquired arguably the biggest name in world rugby in SBW and the NSW starting half. That's never happened in history. Johns was signed brieflyby Wire, but the Maloney signing is somewhat different. Wire have also signed Gaz Widdop, an NRL starter who play with and against a whole host of top talent from the likes of Blake Austin and George Burgess who has been a regular in the NRL as is still yet to reach his prime in terms of age.
Watkins was/is a spent force, Leeds didn't want Kalum Watkins, that's what kick-started his move.

He only signed for us as Salford told him (at the time) they couldn't afford to keep him next year, Leeds wouldn't pay him as much as he was demanding and no Sydney NRL clubs were interested...we come along and offer him stupid money and a pass to leave after one year! I was reliably told he was absolutely fuming when we announced his signing, apparently part of the deal was that he didn't want anything at all announcing until the absolute end of the season and that is why he is categorically refusing to acknowledge Wigan. Wouldn't surprise me if we never see him in a Wigan shirt. Said all along we should have snapped up Maloney when we had the chance!

I don’t know what to make of this. It has been said publicly that he has a NRL release clause after his first year, not now.

This is a rumour that keeps coming back. Whether there is any substance or whether it is journalists who have nothing to write about I don’t know. I have a bad feeling about it though.

One thing is for sure, if he doesn’t want to be here I don’t want him here. I just wish he would come out and say either way.

If that’s true it’s poor form from IL. He should have respected that.

IL was panicking last year, he had to do something major to keep the fans happy.

Never simple at Wigan at the moment is it? Whether its owners, coaches or players why can't they just say what they mean and mean what they say?

How in a million years do you pin this on IL?

Signings for the next year are always announced when they are completed. If Hastings wants to be a bit of a diva then that's on him, but IL has a business to run and shouldn't be dictated to by things such as this.

Maloney, Widdop, Burgess all got announced when they signed on the dotted line & are all significantly more high profile than Hastings too. Hell Maloney was in the middle of a SOO campaign at the time!

There's simply only one man to blame for this whole situation - Hastings.

Got to agree on this here - despite Hastings' good season last year, G Burgess is a much more impressive signing from a reputation standpoint, yet he doesn't seem to be as much of a diva (if what Richie is saying is true). Although we are in desperate need of a good quality half back, so there lies our problem.

I'm remaining cautiously optimistic here. I previously had the impression that Hardaker didn't really want to be at Wigan either as he never mentioned Wigan or enjoying playing here. After a while he seemed to really warm to the idea and was more publicly enjoying his time at Wigan.

That said, whatever happens, I can't help but feel that we will need to be replacing Hastings by this time next year in the absolute best case scenario.

Think we're getting well ahead of ourselves here. I'm fairly sure we often allow overseas players an extended off season, the club have rubbished the rumours, that's plenty for me. I'm expecting him to do one season then head home.

An interview with Sam Powell on Wigan website says how he’s enjoyed meeting up with Mitch Clark and George Burgess . Says it’s going to be an exciting season but absolutely no mention of looking forward to playing alongside MOS Hastings . Speaks volumes for me , hope I’m wrong

They also rubbished the Edwards rumours!

I agree and I don’t at the same time. Rumours rubbished yes but nothing from Hastings? I’m not in the camp of “he should be tweeting and instafacing his love of all things cherry and white” camp but surely he could publicly say if he is intending on playing for Wigan? Publicly rubbish these rumours. Radio silence about Wigan is fanning the flames