I've seen people commenting on HH in the Hock thread but I really do feel he deserves his own thread.

I feel sorry for HH. A true gentleman who put his body on the line game after game and season after season shouldn't be playing for a little club like Salford. Whilst he's not saying it I think he's realised moving was a mistake.

From his body language you can tell he's worn out. It's sad because a warrior like Hansen would have loved to have been part of our two previous games. Wigan is his environment and I bet he knows that now.

Someone needs to force Scott Taylor to look at HH and what he's become and seriously ask the question - do you want this for yourself? If you listen to rumors then he's facing even worse career suicide moving to Hull.

Couldn't agree more good post

Pride in your shirt always intensifies when playing for your hometown team. I don't hate Harrison Hansen for leaving nor will I hate Scott Taylor if he does the same. I look more at the time the players spent with our club and the great performances that they have given us and not to what could/should have been.

It makes a change a former son not coming back with the intention of destroying us. I've seen even average players who we sold on giving storming performances in their first match against Wigan.

I can only assume HH went for more money, but I hope from his POV it was significantly more, because if it wasn't he must now be regretting that decision big time.

HH was a great servant to Wigan, with lots more to give when he left. But his new life at Salford is starting to look like the beginning of the end of his career, and a premature and ignominious end at that.

I think it was half a dozen of one and 6 of the other. Wigan could have extended/improved his contract last year, but instead simply exercised their option for another year. I'm guessing that Salford offered a longer term deal, with more money and Wigan did not stand in his way.
He always put his body on the line for us, and I am glad he is getting a pay day.
I think he performed against us exactly as we ought to have expected. Hard working defensively, but nothing to suggest that that bit of offseason business (with Bateman coming in) was anything but good business for H, Wigan and Bateman.

I don't. He's an adult who made the decision for his own reasons and now needs to live with the inevitable consequences.

He's not some wet behind the ears youngster, and is experienced enough to know that Salford was a car crash waiting to happen.

Well I do. Whilst it's undoubtedly his fault it does sadden me that such a good club man has effectively ended his career like that.

People make mistakes, wrong career changes and general fups all the time. Its a shame when it happens to good people imo.

I think he will benefit next season when things settle down at Salford. They are not going to be winning trophies anytime soon but I think he will be part of a team that is at the higher end if SL next year.

I hope he is. He deserves to be playing in a competitive team.

I honestly hope it works out for H. He have his all and some for Wigan. The money was obviously tempting but he also had the opportunity to play for his hometown club and from his interviews wanted a new challenge. He certainly has that.

He missed a tackle that led to a try for us and also bought a dummy that led to a try for us. Cheers H.

What is the challenge for HH at Salford?

Imo they are 10 years away from even challenging for the title nevermimd winning it. That opinion is based on recent history and how long it took a cash rich Wire to arrive at the top table. It's also based off the excellent strides Hudds have made but still haven't reached the GF or won the CC. Why would Salford be different?

The only challenge for HH is to help establish a base that others will spring board from. He won't see glory at Salford as a player.

Now am I being stupid in thinking that he could have had the same challenge at Wigan? Are we not in a bit of a transition period with potentially the best group of young lads in recent memory starting to establish themselves? That's a challenge to be part of something with unrivalled potential.

He also missed out on the challenge of going to Sydney and squaring off against SBW and the Roosters. That's a true challenge imo. It's the challenge of the big games, on the grandest of stages against the type of players people will talk about for decades to come.

He went for the cash and imo last nights performance proved money doesn't motivate.

I'd imagine his agent had something to do with it. Can't you just hear the conversation?

HH: 'Yeah, but Wigan are [uthe[/u club.
A: Yeah, but Salford are on the up too.
HH: On paper, but the reality is probably years off.
A: Just think of the money, Harrison. Because that's what I'll be doing.

I think everyone in their heart of hearts can see that it was simply monetary decision. If he had this great want to play or return to his Salford roots then he could have done so in a few seasons time. No one would have begrudged him that in the same way they didn't with Deacon or haven't with Morley.

The money must be very good however as he left a side that was successful & looks well placed to challenge for a long time coming. On top of that he also had the WCC in Sydney coming up which would have wet the appetite of any RL player with a will to be the best and prove themselves.

With all that in mind i have serious reservations about Salford being inline with the cap. They must be paying good money for HH services and you know mercenaries like Chase and Smith won't have come cheap either as they were probably the highest paid players at their previous clubs.

He wasn't born in this country so Salford can't be his home town team.
Therefore he most probably went for the dosh.

Where you are born and where you are brought up can two entirely different things. It's where you are brought up and educated that matters. HH is a Swinton lad. And I suspect that by now he realises he has made the biggest mistake of his life. It was a stupid, stupid, stupid decision.

It was purely a financial decision, and H did what was best for himself and his family. Wigan wouldn't (probably couldn't) match Salfords offer.
Wigan then went and signed Bateman, and it's now looking a smart move.

I'm, glad i'm not making these decisions, i was very disappointed when H left.

So was I but for the reasons I alluded to it was understandable.

Yes, and some posters at the time did suggest that it was possibly for the best. I talked to him once, and found him to be a really nice bloke.

I would have hoped we would have gone for Bateman regardless of the H situation. I still feel we are an experienced backrow short this season.

In relation to H he has left a club with such a strong work ethic and culture to join one with seemingly no culture. Until Salford get that they will never challenge for honours.

H must be a key player in trying to bring that to Salford but it will take time.

It must have been a considerable increase, given that he passed on what would have been a very lucrative testimonial.

This pretty much sums it up.

Very disappointed to lose H at the start of the season, however if it meant Hansen stayed and then we wouldn't have brought Bateman in, then I think we made 100% the right decision. Hansen played his part for Wigan and then some.

It wasn't a case of Wigan letting Hansen go then signing Bateman because he signed for us seven weeks before Hansen departed so the original plan was for them both to be in the same squad. So in the end Hansen's departure has probably helped us because it's allowed Bateman more game time than he perhaps would have got. I also assume we've a good bit of cap room spare given Hansen was planned to be part of the squad?

Don't wish him ill, but I haven't seen any evidence the club treated him badly so on that basis I don't feel sorry for him.

He had a good career with Wigan. Many very good or and even great players don't win league titles (just think about Wire's record!) but even if his Salford career is a failure Hansen will have a lot of achievements to look back on.

I thought Bateman was a replacement for Tuson, and as you said H departure was not planned for in terms of the squad.