viewtopic.php?f=28&t=500681 Do we get concerned, as they've bolstered their pack at the "business end of the season" or do we widdle in our pants with laughter, as they sign the biggest disappointment I've seen in years. The games I've seen him play this season, make Warren Stevens seem like the cornerstone of an Australian pack, in comparison. My money's on the latter

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=500681 Do we get concerned, as they've bolstered their pack at the "business end of the season" or do we widdle in our pants with laughter, as they sign the biggest disappointment I've seen in years. The games I've seen him play this season, make Warren Stevens seem like the cornerstone of an Australian pack, in comparison. My money's on the latter

I hope he plays in the CCQF anyway. He's that bad even Leeds don't want him.

He's a decent player and his departure from Leeds was very strange given their forwards are so lame. They've got Leuleuai making 35 metres a game and Peacock struggling to make 75.

I don't understand how Wigan do it. They've already added Hock this season and must be using every penny of the cap and every possible loophole to fit them all in. I'd love to know how he fits into the quota as well as I think he makes it 9. They have Finch, Hoffman, Lima, Roberts, Cross. That's 5, all surely non-fed trained. Then they've also got Richards, Leuleuai, Carmont and Hansen. No matter what the RFL do, the Goons always manage to slime their way around the rules.

<puts tin hat on>

I think we deffo need more wire / wigan argument threads... There aren't nearly enough.

wow, just wait till they get stuart F back as well.

I get the feeling that his face just didn't fit at Leeds, wasn't he signed before McDermott arrived? I think I'd trust Maguires judgement far more than McDermotts and wouldn't be surprised if he looks a completely different class at wigan compared to Leeds (which admittedly wouldn't be difficult).

All non-quota.

Not English (or Irish

), but don't count on the quota.

We let Bailey, Riddell and Phelps go last year, and only replaced them with 2 Aussies (Finch and Hoffman), meaning we had 1 space left for a Quota player.

And given Gleeson's wages that we no longer pay, I can't see Cross and Hock (neither exactly in a good bargaining position) combined earning more than he did.

he was signed early oct and mclennan left about 2 weeks later, brian would've been joining the coaching staff around then as asst.

Cross is a grub, he'll fit in fine at Wigan. Lots of aggression, intimidation and squaring up to players etc.

It'll be mighty embarassing for Hetherington if he's a success there.

On the non-fed trained issue though? Does that not apply to Wigan? You've got at least 7 that should be on that quota?

My understanding is that you are allowed 5 non-fed signed after 2008 are you not?

So I'd imagine Roberts, Finch, Hoffman, Lima and Cross make up the non-fed quota. Carmont, Richards and Tommy all signed before 2008.

Then of that 8, I'd guess maybe Carmont/Richards/Tommy don't count as "quota" for some reason or other, making it 5 non-fed and 5 quota?

I'll be glad when these pre-2008 contracts all expire so that the quota is 5 and 5 only (preferably less) for everyone.

Carmont has a Samoan passport, so doesn't that make some stupid reason why he doesn't count on that one?

I agree, there's far too much ambiguity about it all. Set a limit of how many players a club can have that don't have a British passport and have done with it.

Tends to suggest they think Hock can't cut it after his return from being a dirty drug user.

Although it doesn't really, what with Hock being a 2nd rower and all. That's where he played his first game back, he only played prop last week due to us having no other props.

I think it's good news for Wigan actually. Hardly imagine Maguire would sign him until the end of the season unless he saw plenty of value. People think just because he bizarrely fell down the pecking order at Leeds (who this season are total gash with a gash coach) that he's no good.

Trust me, he is. He may give penalties away but the best forwards do. Look at the likes of aggression in forwards like Gallen, Watmough etc. I'd have them in my squad in an absolute heartbeat. Our very own Benny Westwood is similar.

He was signed pre McDermott and was told by McDermott that he didn't fit into his plans. Hardly the best way to motivate a player!

Let's see how he goes.
We've been running two props light all season (Fielden and O'Carroll) so bit of weight and experience could be handy. Let's see how he performs before "having a go eh!"

jesus, thats a saints style injury crisis going on there.

i realise i'm repeating a convo i had with inside man last week or the week before, but wasn't there a load of chest beating and about how adding hoffman and lima to yourside was going to make you virtually invincible and your pack was going to kill and eat all others *



*possibly some creative licence there.

They could also cope with any injuries and field two teams as well



Hope Mona's runs at him all day ala Feka re 2009

We've also got Prescott out with a hamstring injury. That pack has only lost three games all season, so we're struggling along nicely ta..

Seriously, we don't know how long Fielden and O'Carroll (and I suppose Prescott) are out for. O'Carroll hopefully should get a game in the U20's on Saturday, so we are a bit light in the front row of we get any more injuries.

It appears to be a well thought out decision to sign Cross for the remaining twelve or so weeks of the season.

tbf, there's only been one side that have beaten us up front and that was yourselves. Packs like Huddersfield + Saints who have been dominant of us in the pack area have had the tables turned this year.

And Wire_85, we have coped with injuries all year (Fielden, our No. 1 prop hasn't played at all for example) and we are top of the league.

Cross isn't a case of us going looking for backup. He's available, we had the cap space and a quota spot, so it's a case of why not when it could clearly benefit us.

The thing with Wigans pack is, they are all decent solid hard working props but there are no impact fiery nutcase props, they all seem a bit like they look after kittens after they finish training.

Not gonna lie, that's a statement that sounds like it's come from Saddened.

Fancy Carvell, Westwood and hopefully Morley to really take it do them Yed.

Smash them hard early on and set it up for the best attack in the league.

This game is going to be scary

The Way Benjamin W is playing at the moment i don't think i'd want to take the very first set up with him running at me.
He's playing like a man possessed and putting in some huge hits. Like you say Garreth and Adrian will take it to them.

Louis, Simon and Benjamin H are also capable of some big hits, scary pack we have.

I agree. Bench impact doesn't exist at our club I don't think. But they are (and I'm not pointing this out as a dig) a Grand Final winning pack and currently top of the table so they must be making up for the lack of a impact leader by being a proper good solid unit!

For me it's a no loss move for Wigan. If he turns out poor we can afford to drop him because he is only a short term signing. If he plays well then you cannot substitute for experience of having won an NRL Grand Final and played a couple of origin games. If he's does as well as Quentin Pongia did in his short stint here I'll be delighted!