Fair point !

To be honest I heard that his wrists were shattered to the point he couldn't lift weights from a fairly reliable source, then that article came out a good few months later which I took as validation that what he was saying was true, then a few months later we sold him and I assumed that was taken into consideration when deciding whether to try to outbid Salford. I'll happily stand corrected if anyone knows that his wrist was of no concern as you say but I'd be very suprised if a wrists injury which he has obviously been told will re-occur was of no consequence to IL and SW

at the end of the day the player was offered a better deal by a rival club, he may not feature in anymore Challenge cup finals, WCC final or Grand finals but Harrison has decided to put his family first and secure a financial reward for his services.

Salford offered him more than we did as they need him more than we do as we have cover for the position (may not be as highly rated as H at the moment but they are young and room for improvement). As a club we do produce a lot of young players that will go on to be SL standard and if we never let experienced players go we can't hope to keep the younger ones as other teams will be able to offer them a higher salary as the Salay Cap doesn't allow teams to horde all the talent.

Good luck Harrison and thanks for all you have done for us since leaving school.

I am finding it difficult to see the issue with this when you look at it logically.
HH has stated to the club that at the end of his contract he won't be signing again for Wigan but seeking a move to Salford. This would mean Wigan wouldn't recieve any money for HH.
So Wigan can let HH go a year sooner and recieve what is probably a large sum, a sum which can be used to put back into the club for either future developments or a new signing.

Can we carry on without HH? Simply put yes. He's been a constant in our rise back to glory, someone who the club has heavily invested in put he plays in area which we have numbers to cover.

So we can let him go now for a fee or hold him for a year and take nothing.

HH has been a good player for us, but he's not a player who can't be replaced, given time.

Personally I'd play Pettybourne in the SR. He's played far more SR than prop in his career. In fact I think the WC was the first time he's played prop.

Bowen
Charnley Goulding Thornley Gelling
Green Smith
Taylor McM Flower
Pettybourne Faz
Lockers

Looks like a strong pack to me. Personally if I was to use HH's money I won't go for another SR, I'd try to strengthen the left edge, I have my concerns about Thornley and Gelling playing together.

HH has a four deal from Salford, would Wigan have ever offered him that length of a contract? He missed the first 13 games last season through wrist problems then was almost ever present only missing v Saints away and HullFC home where he was rested.
As has been said, he'd have left after 2014 and the club not received anything, we let him go now and a considerable fee is paid.
I think his 2nd row spot is between Pettybourne and Clubb. Both have experience but perhaps Eddy is more likely to be used at first as a prop. Clubb played on the right side for London/Quins as both centre and 2nd row. Having been a centre Clubb may pose a more attacking threat down the right side than Pettybourne.
I just feel that Clubb may get the spot. The trial games may indicate the way SW is thinking. Maybe also Burgess could get the 5 spot as he's a real flyer. Having two wingmen with that kind of pace and ability to beat a man is something that will worry opposition teams and their coaches.
We do look strong this year whether we can improve on the league form or get the same number of trophies remains to be seen.
Once again next season will be a season to look forward to.

Has anyone actually ever seen Pettybourne play? Always in the SR, no comparison between him and Clubb when both getting game time.

Whenever else has Pettybourne played prop other than in the WC?

I'm sure he would be good in the 2nd row but its a mute point as Wane has previously said he'll be played at prop.

Clubb could be a relevation for all we know - its hard to quantify the difference it must make to go from the doom and gloom environment at London to a winning, professional culture at Wigan.

I honestly think Wane will use pre season training and the trial games to decide who will play 11 and 5 for that matter.

last year quite a few were saying that Gelling was not a winger or centre, who knows, he may even be in the frame for the 2nd row now..........

I see none of you are bothering to dispute the Butcher's logic? Everything above is spot on, it's just that it's too much for some fans to take when little old Salford turn the tables and take away a prized asset from one of the "big 4". For 25 years I've had to suffer the likes of Wigan, Wire etc taking our best talent because, let's face it, Salford have never been in a position to compete and hold on to them. The Salford area isn't a massice production line for RL talent when compared with the likes of Wigan and it's been galling to see the likes of Betts, Morley, Watkins shine for other SL clubs when a strong Salford could have been in a position to offer them a decent career with the chance of success. With Dr K on board Salford fans now have genuine hope that the next Morley, Betts, Watkins may well see Salford as an attractive proposition and let's be honest, playing for your hometown club in any sport is a massive thing for most people.

BTW, it's spelt Koukash... some of you seem to have a problem with the spelling.

Spoke to H last year (2012) and again this year about contracts and where he'd like to be. Said he'd never want to leave Wigan provided they paid him the going rate for a first choice second row - and yes, gave me figures. Said that Salford were interested and a good offer was around, but that he'd stay at Wigan on LESS than that offer

Oh, and his old man wanted him to go back to the Southern Hemisphere!

Bit O/T but just read on the Hull board Tuson has slipped a disc in pre season and has already been ruled out for 5 months, when will the lad catch a break? Always seems to get an injury when he has a big opportunity. Gutted for him.

5 Months slipped disc? I sneeze and my disc slips but back to normal after a week or two, usually happens every other month. talking of bad backs was thinking about this after watching Wigan Tv anybody else think Paul Prescott might make a reappearance this season?

Loyalty to a club is all well and good but a player must look to their own future. Good luck to H. I also think that we should wish good luck to Salford as a whole because we need an improvement in standards across the league to bring the investors in. I just hope that the Dr is there for the long haul.