It makes depressing reading (it was inevitable really).
This so reminds me of the time Hanley fooked off to Leeds!

Sam talked about creating a dynasty at Wigan, winning the cup and league again and again. He could finish up with a few hubcaps, one cup winners medal and one Grand Final ring, with little chance of the Warriors winning the NRL in the foreseeable future. From whtever angle you look at that, other than the purely monetary one, that's sad for both parties.

This is a place for us to voice our opinion. If I don't want a chairman who sells our best players I shall say so and that is out of order because of what? You don't like it?

If Sam is sold you will, in my opinion, be kidding yourself if you want to hide behind this idea that IL is some sort of master of the business world and he knows best.

The coach knows best, the chairman knows best. It's a stuck record.

I'll be sad to see the back of Sam, but I'm not sure there's a lot IL could have done. If he had put his foot down he would have had to play a player every week who didn't want to be there, I'm not saying he would do an Eastmond, but it's a big gamble to have so much of your cap space invested in someone who wants to be released.

Also making him stay would send out a big warning to youngsters that if they break into the first team, they'll have to wait till their contracts are finished to go to the NRL. Which sounds good on the face of it, but if the other top clubs don't then take the same stance, we could see the best youngsters choosing them over us, in order to have a shot at going to the NRL as soon as they hit good form.

Looking at this both ways at present.
Very bad news that Sam is going but he was going at some point so why now?
Is it because the NZW have the money on the table that IL wants, whereas other NRL clubs are not coming anywhere near our valuation of Sam?
So rather take the money now as it may not be there next year? If it is a large transfer fee that would put off many NRL clubs, however the fee could be spread over the length of the contract as in soccer to overcome NZW's salary cap problem. NZW may go with this where other NRL clubs may not.
There has to be some very good reason IMO for IL to negotiate Sam's departure when he's so important to the team's success.
One other matter is that we are rumoured to be in for Tom Briscoe to replace Pat, it has also been suggested there maybe a couple of NZW players coming here as part of the deal.
I just can't see IL throwing Tierney in at fb when he's 18.
Until we get the full details of why, where, who and how much, I think I'm leaving judgement on this.
Up to now when it comes to SL/Wigan and business matters IL seems very much ahead of the game.
Still very disappointed Sam is leaving end of this year, the reasons stated will make interesting reading.

Pot. Kettle. Black.

If you hadn't adopted the arch-skeptic approach from the outset, I'd take you more seriously on the matter.

We're still a better-run club (and team) that we have been at almost any time since the early 1990s, when of course we didn't have a Salary Cap to contend with, and when there was no big money interest in our players from RU or the NRL.

But don't let that prevent you enjoying the platform this crisis is giving you. You've enjoyed all the others, no matter how small (Higham, Ainscough, etc)

I just hope that once he has had enough of playing in the NRL that we get first choice when he returns!

While I certainly agree that there would be only one destination in SL if he were ever to return, the question remains, would he return?

On this I'll stay skeptical that he won't and be pleasantly surprised if he does.

I'll be interested to see what the party line is with regards to him supposidly not being allowed to leave for 3 years.

What are you on about now? Skeptical about what? IL? If that is your stance you are making it up.

As with everything if he does something good he gets the plaudits and if he does the opposite he does not. I think you will find a positive view from myself regarding the special contract Sam signed when he signed it.

Now that appears to be worthless I can't express my view because I was skeptical?

What I am not afraid to do is precede any post that [idoes[/i criticize IL with "He's been great for Wigan but....." just so I can stay onside with the likes you.



Is that the best you can do?

Until you do the same thing again. I don't anticipate I'll be waiting long.

Slater to come over would do for me.

Don't forget in the meantime if IL does something you disagree with and you can bring yourself to post to precede any comments with "He's been great for Wigan but....."

can mods be blocked for going of topic? 'This is a topic about Sam Tomkins not IL'

He'll go to the NRL, then union and maybe a swansong at Wigan.

Good luck to him, he's a once in a generation talent and should strive to achieve everything he can in his career.