Not knowing anything about Jai Field before he joined Wigan, I was surprised to read that he has signed a new contract with them. Having seen his performances this season, I thought lots of NRL teams would be after him. But then I looked up his NRL record before he joined Wigan and saw that he was released by St George after playing 11 games for them, and was then released by Parramatta after only six games for them. I guess it says a lot about the state of Super League when an NRL reject looks like the most exciting player in our competition.

I thought that Wigan would never be able to keep him. He has dominated games this season more than anyone I can remember. Pot of Gold who uses his pace so well ... even in defence. I can't help feeling the NRL has got it wrong. NRL have chased and signed many inferior players from the British Game.

I think it says more about the brand of rugby that is played other there. Some players suit high completion rate and robotic style Rugby and others like Field thrive more in open and risk taking rugby which is the style employed more in this hemisphere.

I think Wigan have recruited well from the NRL or Australia recently and it's been a direction we should be following. Young fringe players those young enough to see 2/3 seasons in super League as a way back into the picture in the NRL.

If ever a post said ' l don't watch NRL', then it's this.



The NRL is absolutely levels above the dross that is Super League. The idea that SL is more open and more risk taking is rot - its just that the quality of play (especially defence) is so poor that it makes guys like Field look world-beaters. In Australia, he simply wouldn't be allowed to run through hole-ridden defences like he presently does.

Anyone questioning the risk taking and flair in the NRL should simply go and see Mitchell Moses's try for Parramatta last weekend - a better quality try you won't ever see in Super League.

Exactly. I really don't know what tedesco, papenhauzen, trobyovic, munster etc are doing playing in a competition which stifles their talents so much. They should get themselves over here ASAP.

Quote ="Dita's Slot Meter"If ever a post said ' l don't watch NRL', then it's this. The NRL is absolutely levels above the dross that is Super League. The idea that SL is more open and more risk taking is rot - its just that the quality of play (especially defence) is so poor that it makes guys like Field look world-beaters. In Australia, he simply wouldn't be allowed to run through hole-ridden defences like he presently does. Anyone questioning the risk taking and flair in the NRL should simply go and see Mitchell Moses's try for Parramatta last weekend - a better quality try you won't ever see in Super League.'" This one https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... df9008ac34 However Field is a breath of fresh air in our game, Wigan dug up a diamond.

Quote ="Dita's Slot Meter"If ever a post said ' l don't watch NRL', then it's this. The NRL is absolutely levels above the dross that is Super League. The idea that SL is more open and more risk taking is rot - its just that the quality of play (especially defence) is so poor that it makes guys like Field look world-beaters. In Australia, he simply wouldn't be allowed to run through hole-ridden defences like he presently does. Anyone questioning the risk taking and flair in the NRL should simply go and see Mitchell Moses's try for Parramatta last weekend - a better quality try you won't ever see in Super League.'" This one https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... df9008ac34 However Field is a breath of fresh air in our game, Wigan dug up a diamond.

Quote ="Wires71"This one https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... df9008ac34 However Field is a breath of fresh air in our game, Wigan dug up a diamond.'" No, that one's great, but the one last weekend against the Dragons is pure RL porn

Quote ="Wires71"This one https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... df9008ac34 However Field is a breath of fresh air in our game, Wigan dug up a diamond.'" No, that one's great, but the one last weekend against the Dragons is pure RL porn

Quote ="Dita's Slot Meter"No, that one's great, but the one last weekend against the Dragons is pure RL porn '" This one at 3.38? Amazing handling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYp3iQRTkAg

Quote ="Dita's Slot Meter"No, that one's great, but the one last weekend against the Dragons is pure RL porn '" This one at 3.38? Amazing handling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYp3iQRTkAg

It's like watching a different sport isn't it.

It certainly is.

There is just so much depth over there that loads of exciting players are dropping through cracks. I think there’s a big focus on power and guys like French and Field are seen as a bit lightweight. I know Papenhuyzan is very slight but even he faced rejection and was let go by Wests (what a move) earlier in his career.

I think it’s a clever strategy we’re now following. We’re clearly targeting younger, less established players and offering them a chance to make a name for themselves here before heading back. French and Field have been revelations and Mago and Ellis (prior to his brain fade) are adding plenty as well. It’s low risk in many ways and high reward. You look at guys elsewhere like Satae and Tanginoa and they were also fringe NRL players.

It's a clever strategy - gives young players another opportunity and their motivation is sky high. Their initial contracts will be cheaper too when compared to an established name 30 something. But when you find a good un you need to up the ante on contract terms to keep them - which Wigan did.

Utter nonsense, do it the wire way and go for legends like Inglis

I do worry about the prospect of Wigan or saints poaching KFP as their CEO, they'd become totally unstoppable and they would probably make fun of us on social media as well.

Aren't we adopting the same strategy with the signing of Magoulias?

Be interesting to see if we pursue this policy in the future. It certainly worked in the past with the likes of Nutley, Kohe-Love & Grose?... It's likely very dependent on having good contacts down under - Wouldn't Joey Johns be worth employing in some scouting/advisory role, even if it was just part-time?

Yes definitely. Let's hope we get a cracker.

I don't think there's much strategy to what Wigan are doing. It's availability and finance that is driving it. You won't sign the star imports as you aren't willing to pay them enough, they'll continue to go to Warrington, Catalans and Leeds. Whilst it's good for Wigan and SL that Field is staying, you've got to be cynical and wonder if there is an NRL release clause in there. It's either that or he's had a firm no from them and has given up, fullback is one of the most oversubscribed positions in the NRL at the moment, most clubs seem to have a worldie or an up and coming star.

It most certainly is a strategy that Wigan are employing.

We signed George Burgess and Bateman from the NRL - the finances are clearly there.

Also offered George Williams the biggest contract the club had ever offered.

The finances are there, there is clearly a strategy.

I'd take French & Field over Jason Clark, Widdop, and Austin any day of the week.

You just come on here to have a dig at us, now your on here just having a pop and trolling Wigan on our board.

If he posted on the Saints board, nobody would read the message.

Regardless of it being financial or due to availability it’s still a strategy to go for those type of guys. If it wasn’t, we could just go to Wigan St Pats and sign players.

The cracks seem to close up further down the A49 when Warrington comes into view. Field reminds of Brian Johnson, always on hand when a break is made due to anticipation.

That kind of proves my point. The suggestion is that it's a deliberate strategy to sign fringe NRL players who aren't getting a look in. Signing Burgess, Bateman and trying to sign Williams flies in that face of that. Had you signed Williams, would you have signed Cust? No, highly unlikely. It's also likely you'd have had to release one of French or Field to sign the forwards you wanted. You were also in the running for Dylan Napa when he signed for Catalans, so it's unlikely that Mago or Ellis were first choices either. They're okay signings, but I think it's availability that caused them to be signed rather than a strategic change of direction. They are going to be the only kind of signings Super League clubs can make with the ever widening gap in the salary caps, along with the naughty boy signings Catalans look for.

Define trolling? I am one of the more sensible posters on here and my contributions are relevant. Did you see me on here when we beat you in the league recently? Did you see me trolling on here when you lost the other games or when you went out of the cup?