[url=https://wiganwarriors.com/news/2018-12-01-sammut-joins-the-warriors?fbclid=IwAR0oNXQRMCLfeyolK75H72_mtKccB6svvXvux6WVcct1H6CzXRUh9ybxPNIIt is what it is[/url

Wonderful news to wake up to on a Saturday.

We’re definitely cutting the playing budget with signings like this. It may work out ok but I’m not convinced but whilst he’s in a Wigan shirt I’ll back him. He certainly seems the sort who’ll give it his all.

Massively underwhelmed but it's what it is.

Panic signing

Ugh

Dennis Moran mkII

Truth is he could end up playing well and being a good signing.
But as it stands now we've signed a 31 year old half who didn't excel it at the following clubs:

Panthers
Bradford
Wakey (who put him on dual reg to play for Featherstone and Workington)

So, considering all the half backs in rugby. considering we're the current SL champions and one of the biggest names in world rugby, is this really the best we can do?
If so something is seriously wrong at our club.

Some might say he'll be good for the money? I'd like to know how exactly? If he's on a lower wage and here for cover (like Hankinson for example) why have we bothered when we have depth with Williams, Powell, Tommy, Woods, Shorrocks and Escare who can all over the positions if needed?

More worryingly I think we've signed him as a starter.

For me, at a time when the club need more bums on seats they make a signing which not only doesn't attract more fans, if anything it leaves us current fans feeling deflated.

On paper the worst signing I can remember for many years, but things don’t always pan out as you would expect.

I usually back the club, but I can't get my head around this one. One last contract to an old player who has been there and done it at this level (see Long to Hull FC, Deacon to Wigan, McGuire to Hull KR) I can understand, but Sammut isn't even a has-been.

Is he better than what you have? I think so. He's better than Powell, and a 2018 version TL at scrum half, so it's not the worst signing in the world.

What a terrible question, 'is he better than what you have'. Should be 'is this the best we can do? we shouldn't just be looking for slightly better (which is debatable in itself) we should be chasing the best we can possibly get.

Honestly, I’m absolutely stunned we’ve signed Sammut, stunned. He’s a good Championship player and at best a below average SL player. I can’t get my head around this one at all. What a massively underwhelming signing.

Maybe he is for the money (or lack there of it seems) you have available.

I’m underwhelmed as we all are however we need to look at what he brings.

We have lacked pace, a kicking game and an elusive direct runner in the halves.

These are Sammut’s key strengths.

What has always let him down in my opinion is his attitude, which has prevented him from having a better career and also his defence which is bang average.

We are clearly looking to play a more entertaining style of rugby, Sammut will bring that, weather that translates into success on the field remains to be seen.

I don't care what he's here for. Money? We have a marquee spot available and we're offloaded Sam Tomkins and John Bateman, plus a few more younger players, we have the space.

Thats a very positive post. But in reality no one can be anything but downbeat to hear our starting 7 for 2019 is Sammut.

Surely people aren't still claiming we have the cap space for a marquee player. If it wasn't clear before that we didn't, it certainly is now.

Why wouldn't we? Offloaded Sam Tomkins who was our marquee player and top earner. It's a live cap, we've only brought in Hardaker since Tomkins and Bateman left, and Hardaker isn't a marquee signing.

Like most I’m rather underwhelmed, possibly even disappointed. I’m not surprised though.

We might have a marquee spot available, that doesn’t mean that IL is prepared to spend the money. It is well noted IL is cutting the players wage budget.

I’ll support him like every other player in a Wigan shirt, if he can perform consistently like he did in the final against Toronto then he’ll do ok, I’m not sure he is capeable of that.

One thing is for sure, we’ve found this years scapegoat

Has Lam said that he will be starting at scrum half??? I have missed that one if so

Absolutely disgraceful signing. We could have enforced Sams contract for £75k cap space this year and we’ve signed this plodder.

Why would we sign him as a back up when we already have:

-Powell
-Williams
-Tommy
-Escare
-Woods
-Sharrocks

to cover the halves?

Can you confirm that lam has said he will be starting at 7 or have you just formed an opinion. And not all the players above you mention will be at Wigan next season.

Sam wanted to go. He wanted to experience a different culture of life. Not my words them as i not even sure what it means. I wish Sam all the best, like i did with Edwards Hanley Gregory Offiah ect.....

When did I say Lam confirmed it? Or did I say it would be downbeat? If you read my post you'll see I never mentioned Lam confirming it.

But I will say this, and feel free to quote me on it:

On paper, right now, it's a poor signing. No need to spend the cap on another back up, we have the positions covered. As a starting 7? Makes me feel very downbeat. Will the signing turn out to be a masterstroke? No one can predict the future, but right now, on paper, it very much feels like a poor signing.