So when do we get the counteractive positive news story and when can we officially call him ratboy? Not that I would BTW.

I suppose the question really is whether they don't to pay that kind of money, or don't want to pay that kind of money for S.Tomkins. I can definitely understand wanting to pay him less, given his age and the amount of time he has spent out injured/off form. They may be willing to pay more for a younger/better player with a better injury record.

I can see our back line next season being

1. Escare
2. Burgess
3. Gildart
4. Hardaker
5. Marshall
6. Williams
7. Powell

9. Ganson (TL bench back up)

I honestly don’t believe SW will switch Powell from 7 to hooker. Nor do I see Sarginson seriously contending for a centre spot.

For me personally I’d have Hardaker at FB and as already been mentioned a marquee #7 but also a new centre in place of Sarginson. Escare to continue as utility from the bench or 18th man.

Signing announced by Catalan

Here’s a quote from ‘homesick’ Tomkins when he left NZ ......

“ I never expected I would miss England and the comforts of home but it took an off-season trip back to Wigan for me to realise this is where I wanted to be “

I’ve lost all respect for this fellow

Yes, France is the other side of the world

Good luck to him, no hard feelings from me. Hope he improves Catalans.

A shame that he spent most of his second stint here on the sidelines. I think it speaks volumes that everyone of the highlights in the video Catalans used to announce his signing are pre 2016.

That is a abit daft if they have. He's had his moments this season already. I am sure they could have found something more relevant.

No hard feeling from me either. If I'd signed a deal that said I'd get paid £X in 2019 if I was at the club and then the club asked me to take less even with a longer deal on offer I'd have gone looking elsewhere. If he'd have gone anyway because he genuinely does want to live in France then good for him.

But as I've said previously Dave, it isn't his market value. It is the value one (and only one) team are prepared to pay. Given that that team is one with a long history of poor decisions when valuing players, even to the point of causing bitterness and unrest among their own squad, then to use this as some kind of yardstick to measure his worth borders on the insane. At best it's cutting your cloth according to the worst tailor on the row. If it was his market value there would be a clamour for his services at that price. There isn't. There's a reason for that.

Well said. ATEOTD, Leeds and Saints didn't come knocking, did they?

I really can't see who this "Marquee 7" people keep talking about is coming from. I can't think of any feasible candidates offhand, either here or in the NRL. We'll probably end up bringing one of our own lads through. Look at Richardson at Saints, he looks a really good kid, was he one of their own?

Anyway, I'm rather less down on Powell than many here, and we have Woods and Shorrocks, and maybe others too, to back him up.

Ask Scott Taylors missus about distances and homesickness

Surely there are halfbacks in the NRL who would tear it up in SL. I get that we couldn't get anyone who is playing origin, but other than that surely it's just a case if offering enough to turn the players' head, we have a marquee spot after all, so there is less restriction than when we signed Lam, Richards, Barrett etc. In SL there is only Luke Gale I'd be trying to lure.

Obviously there are a few in the mid-way Jacob Miller/Albert Kelly category, but I can't really think of anyone we could entice who would massively strengthen us. I do rate Tyrone Roberts, but he hasn't pulled up any trees yet at Wire.

totally pee'd off...we could have got him another year and it wouldnt have affected the cap just cost us more. As for aussie halves theres non better than Green whos non origin, as for Hardaker he will be a flop if we dont get a class half back as he doesnt have the same rugby brain or skill set as Sam so needs that on his inside. If we persist with Powell then we may aswell not bother and start planning for middle 8's rugby.

Good post....but what does the 1st paragraph have to do with Sam T?