Currently being reported on SS News, and the Pie board is naturally going into meltdown. viewtopic.php?f=28&t=539657&tsmp=1351696506 Although the thought of them losing another high profile strike player is quite amusing, this wouldn't be great for SL. And a few of the Crust Munching Goons seem to think he's being replaced by Westwood ? Any thoughts ?

Currently being reported on SS News, and the Pie board is naturally going into meltdown. viewtopic.php?f=28&t=539657&tsmp=1351696506 Although the thought of them losing another high profile strike player is quite amusing, this wouldn't be great for SL. And a few of the Crust Munching Goons seem to think he's being replaced by Westwood ? Any thoughts ?

Quote ="Paul2812"Currently being reported on SS News, and the Pie board is naturally going into meltdown. viewtopic.php?f=28&t=539657&tsmp=1351696506 Although the thought of them losing another high profile strike player is quite amusing, this wouldn't be great for SL. And a few of the Crust Munching Goons seem to think he's being replaced by Westwood ? Any thoughts ?'" Parramatta have already said they have had preliminary talks with him, so its not just a rumour. I would have thought the chances of Westwood signing for the pies though is approaching zero. He has only just signed an extension, he has TS as coach, first class training facilities and medical care, and he is picking up a steady stream of cup winners medals. Paul Wood was also suggested as a replacement, but I can not see that happening either.

Quote ="Paul2812"Currently being reported on SS News, and the Pie board is naturally going into meltdown. viewtopic.php?f=28&t=539657&tsmp=1351696506 Although the thought of them losing another high profile strike player is quite amusing, this wouldn't be great for SL. And a few of the Crust Munching Goons seem to think he's being replaced by Westwood ? Any thoughts ?'" Parramatta have already said they have had preliminary talks with him, so its not just a rumour. I would have thought the chances of Westwood signing for the pies though is approaching zero. He has only just signed an extension, he has TS as coach, first class training facilities and medical care, and he is picking up a steady stream of cup winners medals. Paul Wood was also suggested as a replacement, but I can not see that happening either.

Why would Benny leave just as his testimonial is about to start?

Exactly,any improved offer Wigan made would be negated for Benny by the loss of his testimonial year.

Talent drain...


....and they once called me a mad man

You sure it was just the once

4 year deal I've heard.

SL barely survived Hock's absence with a drugs ban, I think if he were to leave for 3 more years it would probably turn some fans off the sport for good. The RFL needs to step in and do something, anything, to make sure he stays in our game.

Well they can't have 'Gareth's super tries' in order to pay a player more and side step the salary cap, that would just be unethical.

Maybe the sun could run a column by him, 'Gareth's favourite despicable acts on a rugby pitch' ?

I think i will put my 'pimp-your-eye-patch' business plan on hold for a while.....

Rats deserting the sink ship at Wigan !
Westwood wouldn't take a backward step to go to pies ! Or lose out on a testimonial ! Wigan don't have the attraction they had years ago !

I think Super League will take a nose-dive if this happens.

I don't know how Super League will coke with his loss. I'm all for English players moving to the NRL but I'm drawing the line at this.

In the meantime , according to Sportinglife ,the man who has had more clubs than a poker player ,Scott Moore, has signed a 2 year deal with Queensland Cowboys .

Backward step, you must be joking, have you ever seen him do that?

I have no problem with our English players going off to play in the NRL.

At least they're not off to Union. Nowt worse than that for me.

Everyone's favourite Crusaders fan, cadoo, has come up with another classic dummy-spit about this on the Wigan board. Worth looking up.

I would like to see him go to the NRL. Over here his is a menacing tool, maybe over there they can shackle him and get the best out of him, similar to Morley all them years ago. He's a great player, but doesn't know where to draw the line (other than in a nightclub toilet)

He's far from being a great player. Elllery Hanley was great, Mike Greg was great, Jonathan Davies was great.

Hock is a penalty machine, a liability and a bully. The aussies will wind him up like a clock and he'll get plenty of second prizes over there from real hardmen.

He also clearly has no respect for Wigan and the Wigan fans who stuck behind him throughout his ban - they should cash in, say good riddance and let Parramatta have the grief.

The gnashing of teeth on the Wigan board is so typically them. "All the players will go over there, the standard here will drop, no-one will watch, it will go part time, and then that will be the end of the game...aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!". Let's be serious about this. Hock is a good player, and he'd do well in the NRL on his ability. The exodus of top quality players is limited to Burgess (S), Graham (Bite) and, at the time, Ellis (Chin). Widdop went over there when he was a young man. The likes of Ainscough, Worrincy, Moore are just about SL standard players. If they get more money playing lower grade stuff than they would here, good luck to them. Hardly an exodus. God knows how they'll react when Tomkins goes (which he is sure as hell will do).

People need to get this into their heads really, really quick. RL cannot compete financially with the NRL. Nor can it compete financially with RU. We can't compete with either in terms of profile or opportunities outside the game. Players will move on but there always be players to replace them. However there is nothing we can "do" to stop player drain. "Get more money into the sport" is a bit like me getting to sleep with Cheryl Cole - it's a great idea in principle but unless you've got a plan to make it happen* that's based on reality, you're just wasting your time.

*some sort of love potion

Love potion = Rohypnol?

In Cheryl's case love potion = 2 bottles of newky brown.

She'd probably marry you for a crate.