www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... ments-area Injured AGAIN. Going to miss the first third of next season. Even when he's back he won't be getting in the team ahead of Gelling and Sarginson, and with Gildart set to debut this season is it time to cut our losses and sell him?

www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... ments-area Injured AGAIN. Going to miss the first third of next season. Even when he's back he won't be getting in the team ahead of Gelling and Sarginson, and with Gildart set to debut this season is it time to cut our losses and sell him?

Sell him?

Surely even Salford aren't stupid enough to buy someone with a long term injury.

I wouldn't be so sure. They did sign Kevin Locke...

No he shouldn't be sold, retain him.
He's under contract anyway!

Wow, a bit heartless!

He's had a bad year of injuries - it shouldn't mean get rid!

He was playing pretty well when he got injured and since then two guys have bashed the door down for their places so I feel a little sorry for him.

He's a good squad player for us and it'll be good to get him back. He needs to look at how Gelling and Sarginson have started to play and try to copy it. He can score a try but the best centres will always be those that play for their winger.

Looking forward to watching Gildart get a shot. He looks a real talent.

With Burgess all but nailed on to be heading to the NRL in 2016 I think he will be looking to competing for a place on the wing with Manfredi. I think Sarg is nailed on now our long term centre option and I can only see improvement in Gelling year after year.

It's a real shame for the lad but in fairness he was always going to be on the peripheries of the team for next season.

I honestly wouldn't let Thornley anywhere near a wing spot. I'd have Manfredi above him every day and I don't even rate Manfredi.

Agreed.

He's not sharp enough off the mark for me. He's pretty quick once he gets going but I wouldn't want him to be anything more then a filler for the position.

I thought he was our most in form centre before he got injured. His game does need to develop though, but he has the physical attributes to be a really top centre and he was progressing very nicely last season before the injuries.

I certainly wouldn't be getting rid. When he's recovered he will have a job on his hands to get in the team, but he'll give us some quality back up. I really would like to see Gildart get some games while Thornley is injured though.

The frustrating thing about Thornley for me is he has great physical attributes for a centre but he just doesn't play to his weight and size. Sarginson and Gelling are awkward to tackle due to their aggression and effort. Thornley on the other hand just plods it in.

In saying that I wouldn't throw him away just yet. He'll be a decent player to plug gaps through the year as Gildart wouldn't be ready to cover for prolonged period. I just don't want him to become a first choice player again personally.

Is this news? I could swear we already knew he was out injured for the start of the season. He's a good player to have as backup this coming season. Let's see how him and Gillart are up to after next season. I wouldn't want a debutant as our first reserve in any position

Just a thought.... Sarginson when Bowrn leaves to full back, Gelling, Thornley centre allowing Hampshire to play 6?

When Bowen leaves we'll get Sam Tomkins back. Then have Hampshire and Williams at 6/7 Powell or smith as interchange hooker



1. S Tomkins
6. R Hampshire
7. G Williams
9. M McLlorum
14. M Smith/S Powell

That'll do for me!

Oh well Gelling and Sarginson are first choice anyway

This thread is very harsh.

Thornley is injured. Surely the club has a responsibility to him to get him fit in the first place (which I've no doubt it will).

When he got injured he was playing the best rugby of his life. Unluckily for him the two centres have taken their chances. But there will be injuries next season and he will be a capable replacement. Don't forget his Challenge Cup final try.

From memory his debut was at Wakey as a right winger and he finished off a couple of tries that afternoon, so I wouldn't mind him getting a run out on the wing, but only behind Josh, Burgess and Manfredi (maybe even Tierney).

I agree that some comments are a little harsh but then again I always thought that Thornley was a player who always seemed to escape much criticism on here when he didn't play well. All Gelling had to do was make a mistake and suddenly he was a 'donkey'.

Some on here rightly predicted that if Gelling was given a run of games in the first team he would develop well and I think more people are beginning to see what a talent Gelling has become and now Sarginson has also taken his chance and proved a lot of people wrong.

Gutted for Thornley and hope he makes a speedy recovery but In Sarginson and Gelling I think we have two players that are capable of creating something from nothing.

Quality centres are hard come by and Thornley is one of those IMO.
His injury is a great shame as he missed a lot of last season. Hopefully he will be back for the most part of next season.
Whilst Gelling and Sarginson are now first choice centres that might not last for too long.
If Gelling continues to improve the way he did last season then at the end of his new 2 year deal he could well be offered a contract in the NRL.
Sarginson will have already been sounded out whilst down under, he has said he had offers whilst he was at London.
Thornley might be missing now but it is in Wigan's best interests that he remain at the club.

crikey, thornley was one of our most in form players before he received his first major injury... at the time it was a big blow to the team. it just so happens that others have taken their chance since he has been on the sidelines. hardly fair to flog the guy or even criticise him to be fair!

Totally agree. I think Gellling may be here longer then Sarginson due to his 'past' in Australia but either could be tempted there within the next year or two. It was great from an England POV to see Sarginson play so well down under but as a Wigan fan you always fear that form like that on a big stage might work against us. He outplayed his opposite number in both games (Walker and SKD iirc) and that won't have gone un-noticed.

In the short term I can't wait to watch those two kick on next year but in the long term them doing that probably means we lose them. Sadly that's our reality at the moment.

Agree sell him, only centre I know who can't pass

Do you watch much Rugby League then?

How about Leeds two centres for example. Watkins, fine player that he is, and one that would grace any Super League team, can't pass to save his life. Just ask Josh or Tom Briscoe for that matter. And what about Joel Moon. Another fine player, but is it any coincidence that Ryan Hall has a better try scoring record for England than Leeds. That's two off the top of my head. How about Ryan Atkins? Another who has had a decent career.

I can't understand this particular thread at all. I know it's the off season, but let's not criticise a player who was performing brilliantly before his injury. It's hardly his fault he got injured, and hardly his fault that others did well and took their chances.

To answer the questions/points,

Of course I watch Rugby League

I agree with Ryan Atkins (only 4 try assists) but the other two I can't agree with

Watkins with 16 try assists (30 games) and Moon with 15 try assists (27 games).

Compared with Thornley 1 try assist (9 games)?

Do you understand the meaning of the word "Brilliantly" ?? Was you watching the games......? I guess its a matter of opinion.

Your comment was "the only centre I know who can't pass". As you watch loads of Rugby League, you do know about other centres.

Have a gander at the Leeds boards and there are plenty who agree with me about their centres, they are good players but passing isn't their best suit. Similarly with Atkins at Warrington and Kirk Yeoman at Hull, both internationals.

Thornley is far from being the only one who 'can't pass'. He has other attributes and as Sarginson proved from about August last season, the penny can drop regarding passing. Don't write Thornley off.

I hope he gets fit. He has all of the attributes to become a top class centre. Centre is a hard job to learn, and for some it takes longer than others. I would definitely keep him.