Knowing IL he may have other plans for him (especially after his comments about bringing through 3-4 young Welsh players every year)?
Who better to act as representative of Wigan RL in recruiting the very best talent down in South Wales?

And the RFL get to keep this "big name player" in RL.

What next? Joel Tomkins back in England 4 nations squad?

I'm struggling to understand why he's been part of the Wales set up ready for the 4 Nations to then drop out. Maybe scared of England?!

Thank God for that!

2 centres lost in one month of the off season. Its like rats leaving a sinking ship.

Lost?

The only loss would have been any money handed over to this prehistoric Unionite for anything other than a flag-waving role.

BTW - Which other centre have we lost?

regardless of whether or not he would have been a good signing for Wigan or not i do believe that Gareth has brought some much needed positive publicity to our sport and in newspapers that wouldn't ever cover RL in such depth

So before you disrespect him any further please evaluate his contribution to our game

I have evaluated it.

In recent times, they have taken Robinson, Farrell, Ashton, Hape, Eastmond, etc. and in return we (RL) have converted a 35 year-old retiree into somewhere around the 20th best centre in SuperLeague.

Forgive me if I don't care a jot for "his contribution", which TBH was to take the money offered to come out of retirement for one last hoorah.

How many times and how many teams have been absolutely slated in rugby league for offering a similar package to Australians who are/were 5 years younger than him?

I for one will NEVER regret that he was not given the chance to pull on the cherry and white.

I don't think many on here would disagree with you on the fact he has been a great player over the years and has given RL a boost over in Wales.......


....however sit back and think about whether you would have been happy about a 39 year old centre playing week in week out for Leeds next season. (You've just got rid of one for god's sake...and he's two years younger).

What's happening with his Mickey Rourke starring bio-pic? Wasn't that going to be the big publicity thing during his Wigan contract.

Wasn't advocating him being a good signing, just wanted him being given the respect he deserves, not fans trumpeting his retirement on here

Thank God he isn't signing for us. I and a few others got slated for saying this when it was first mooted that he was coming to Wigan.

I think he was a very good Union player and a player who deserves a lot of credit for the way he gave RL a go at an advanced age (and imo did ok, not brilliant but did a job).

Glad he isn't coming to Wigan, even as a publicity stunt as I'm not sure how that could have fitted in with the CC.