Just wanna say bring on the Wane years! A Wigan born, former Wigan player who has been part of our club for a long time demonstrating his desire and loyalty to our club.
He's been successful with many of our current first teamers and will be even more so at the top level.

Thank you Madge and Hoffman, but for one, I'm backing Wiganers from now on. In coaching and on the pitch.

So you saying let's get rid of Richards, Finch, Carmont, Roberts, Tommy, Lima for next season and fill their positions full of Wiganers?

Typical. Trying to put a positive spin on a tricky departure and someone comes out with this.

Ok let me make it clear for you.

Over the past few years we have had a number of players from overseas who gone back early or been a disappointment, not all but a few
Instead of flying in players from the other side of the world I would sooner see Wigan lads looked at and backed first.

Shaun Wane is going to get his dream Job IMO and he'll do us proud. He's a wiganer through and through and will give it his all. He has the respect of the players and fans and will thrive in the role.

I wouldn't.
And I bet the club agree with me too.

So you'd sooner fly in aussie imports who are likely to be at the back end of their career rather than Wigan players in their prime?

Somehow I don't think the club would, but who's bold enough to say? sorry to blow your imaginary backing to your point.

1) Name Wigan's current Aussie imports who are 'at the back end of their careers' at the point of signing?
2) How many times (in the last decade) have we been 'stung' by an Aussie player who has left part way though his contract?

I'll tell you. None and one.


Throughout the last thirty years Wigan have always had a good backbone of quality Wigan youth in the first team squad, along with a sprinkling of quality imports........long may it continue.

Good job you are not Maurice Lindsay back in the 80's, we wouldn't have seen Brett Kenny / John Ferguson / Greg Dowling / Gene Miles at the club and instead we'd have had John Gilfillan and Steven Blakeley, Sean Tyrer...etc in their positions instead.

The club always has and always will sign top players from outside the club. It would be stupid not to because great youth system or not we do not produce the best players in all positions.

We have had some great value form top class overseas players over the years such as Botica, Bell, Dallas and Richards to name but a few all in their prime not at the end of their career. So you can't accuse the club of looking at has beans. Hoffman is class but it was a year with an option of another. I am sure Madge going will have made the decision for him (thanks again Madge).

I think its true that recently we see far more players good or not so good want away early. Even our coach can't see fit to stick out his deal and I think this is a problem and we should not make it so easy for this to happen. Maybe players and coaches of a previous generation were simply more ethical and these days it's too easy to break a deal at the first offer from back home. Whatever is the cause of this less than honourable trait I really doubt it will stop Wigan going for good overseas players. I just hope they learn a few lessons or the minute it rains there will be a queue forming to go home.

Absolutely spot on.

You wont be successful with a club made up solely of Wiganers.

It's one coach and two players - Barrett and Piggy.

IL said so at the last Fans Forum.

He didn't say Coach - he said players.
And whilst two is technically correct it would be poor form to hold it against Piggy (it wasn't as though he didn't have good reasons).

Barrett yes, I agree was a let down excuse.

Easy.

Steve Renouf
Mark Riddell
Trent Barrett
Adrian Lamb
Amos Roberts
etc.

Now lets look at the top Aus players, Billy Slater, Cam Smith, Greg Inglis Jarryd Hayne, do you think any of them would come to play SL? No. They only come over when around 30 for a big contract at the back end of their careers. I.e Fitzgibbon. Mason etc.
Why back these in place of some fantastic home grown products? I wouldn't. The majority of our improves of recent years haven't paid off.

I'd sooner put the cap back into the system and develop from within. Here you'l get a player who will play for the shirt and not leave early to return to Aus.

I'd sooner invest in a team featuring wigan or wigan trained lads.

Tomkins x3
Mossop
Tuson
Prescott
McM
Faz
Lockers
Hock
Charnley
Marsh
King
Russell
Crosby

These are the future.

PS, How old was Miles when he came over? How long did Kenny and Ferguson stay around for? Sorry pal, I'd take Shaun Edwards and his career over them any day.

Did you go to the 1985 Challenge Cup Final?

Think Shaun's medal collection would have been 2 losers medals had BK & JF not been at Wembley that day.

Your mental if you think that we could field 17 Wiganers weekly and be successful.
Your opinion of course.