Yesterday Stuart Fielden tweeted that Amos Roberts was quitting Wigan and retiring from the game through injury. It's always sad to see a quality player have to retire, but in this case it could be more worrying for us.

Amos retiring gives Wigan immediate space under the cap that they would not have had. Hopefully that does not signal them coming in and buying up any of our young up and coming players.

TBH I do not reckon it changes anything. Since when has the salary cap apply in Wigan?

the two times we got penalised for it. but in all honesty i dont we will be interested in anyone other than bateman maybe lulia. if you don't agree feel free to say who you think would go well for us?

Didnt bradford get done at the same time for salary cap breach, and wasnt it before lenegan took over and wigan was pumped full of money

Not sure I'd want to answer that but there is a high quality British second rower recently signed for London Skolars. He's been completely missed by everyone in the Superleague which seems crazy considering he's been out in Australia.

I'd go for him if I were you because there are a lot of coaches that deserve getting their backsides kicked for missing him.

who is it? forwards aren't a problem at wigan either so i don't think any forwards will be signed for awhile.

You don't mean........

Kopzcak?

Why? Has Roberts kindly announced that he will relinquish the rest of his contractual salary?

i liked him really stood up in the 4nations, and when terry used to play for you i actually asked him who kopzcak was (alot more lanky looking back then) because he stood out as a player willing to run through a wall. but we have mossop and paul prescott so i wouldn't say we need props.

it doesn't count on the cap as he hasn't played a game this season.

You don't have to play anyone. It's just if you PAY them. There is no dispensation to retrospectively "not count" salary for any reason. If you are saying that he is not being paid, that would be different - but then him leaving wouldn't free up any space, would it?

its been mentioned before he wont be counted on the cap and im just GUESSING its because he is reitiring and hasn't played a game this season. other members on the wigan board more in the know on things like this have already discussed it.

If he hasn't been registered then he won't count on cap.

anyway i hope you keep all your players and finish on a good season and then trim the players who are stealing a wage from you. the only time i would be worried about us trying to poach bateman is if o'loughlin leaves at the end of the season.

If he's retiring due to an injury, surely insurers would pay the remainder of his salary???? As the salary cap is live, that would mean space being freed up now!

Also, he could have agreed to terminate his contract with no salary / conract to pay up. then Mr Lenigan or Wigan RL could give a non employee a gift of whatever they wish.. If he's no longer a player and he holds no contract of employment with a club, surely any monies paid to him in the future could not count on a salary cap calculation?

... but equally, him "retiring" would not free up any space on a cap that he was never under!!


I would be rather dubious as to whether insurers would pay up the remainder of his contract but don't see it as relevant. The question is surely what the club pay him by way of salary. If they can in turn get a wedge paid out of an insurance claim, that is a nice cash inflow, but doesn't alter the fact of having to have paid the salary in the first place.


Er, yes, there is always [ithat[/i to consider.



And anyway what would THAT go in the accounts as - a Christmas present? You are suggesting a blatant and obvious (not to mention bizarre) salary cap cheat which I'm thinking your average auditor might just spot. Unless you have any evidence for such a weird thing I'm dismissing it out of hand.

If a player leaves a club during the season for a legitimate reason (transfer, retired etc), their salary for the entire season comes off the cap. Likewise, if a player joins after the start of November, the salary they are paid for the rest of that cap season is pro-rata(ed) up for the entire year. Given the Roberts circumstances, it looks like this will apply.

Rumours circulating that koppy is on wigans radar to replace fielden and push back flower and dudson to squad players only

I'm sure he's just bought a house in Lancashire also?

Not so. Only if the club agrees to pay and the RFL approves a Termination Payment to the player will the original salary cap valuation be removed, but the Termination Payment will count and must not take the club over the permitted total.

Someone at the club told me the contract is already in the vault over at Pieland. Double his existing salary & free vouchers for Greggs.

Wigan can start signing who they like for next season anyway.
Tommy Leuluai is off to NZ Warriors.
George Carmont will retire.
Roberts just has done.
Fielden is OOC 2012 and it's difficult to see him getting a new contract.

That will leave money available after all the increment payments have been made to players on long term contracts.

Ian Lenegan has always said he runs the club just under the cap so that if a quality signing becomes available Wigan will have the capacity to make the signing.

Kopczak comes highly recommended by Mr llestyn Harris- watch this space!
Who would love to do one over bulls for them blaming him for the caisley cock up!