I can't honestly see Deacs taking anyone's place in the first team unless there's an injury. I'd be very disappointed if that happened.

Me too. It's just that the Guardian article never even mentions him coming as a coach. I read this and take it that he is coming as a player.

Deacs has been an absolute legend for us and was the best scrum half in super league for three or four years but he's passed it now but sad to see him leave and you should be happy you've got deacs one word Legend.

We have 2 halfs that are still developing and who's kicking games aren't their strong suit at this moment in time. One of them in Leuluai also looks to be more then happy at hooker and his invention from that position along with a halfback pairing of a young exciting stand off and a steady eddy scrum half looks a terrific prospect(when we go that way).

Does anybody know what the salary cap situation would be if Deacon comes in as a player coach? what parts of his wage count to the cap? If he's down as a coach who's also registered on the playing staff could Wigan not say we're only paying him peanuts to play and the majority of his wage for coaching?

I'd like to know that, you could then decide if it's a good signing or not.

I would doubt it. If you could it would be something many clubs would exploit. I'd imagine if he's registered he counts on the cap and its simple as that.

i can see us signing deacon as a player and would be more than happy to see him in the cherry and white.

we need someone who can lead us around the pitch and deacon could. he would also bring on the game of sam and tommy. he provides another option to play and would keep the other halves and 9s on their toes.

i wouldnt mind seeing 6. tomkins 7. deacon 9. leuluai for several games next year.

He still has the potential to be a really dangerous player, but he's not as fast as he used to be and gets frequently injured. Will be sad if he leaves Odsal as I always expected he'd finish up with us, but if we do get Orford i'd be happy with that.

Like the Gleeson & Mathers deal both sides seem to happy with what they are getting out of it.

Yep. I'd be very happy, seems likely aswell with the sort of things being said. When Bradford were asked about Chris Walker they firmly denied it, for this one they just say basically, no comment.

LMAO!

Deacon is rubbish and always has been rubbish!

We all know that Deacon has never been an attacking player, but he can organise a team around the park and is up there with Sinfield and Richards as the best kickers in Super League. Personally i think Leuluai's best position is hooker. Tomkins and Deacon would be a good combination with Leuluai at 9.

That's a very well thought out post. (for a Saints fan



)

Deacon was superb when he played for England / GB. Then he got that terrible injury from a "tackle" just when it looked as though his International career would blossom.

Where would that leave Piggy then?

Personally i dont think he is good enough for Wigan.

This would leave 5 players battling for 4 places, perfect position to be in in my opinion.

I fully support the view that if it's not on a lot of money then it's a good signing for the club.

And seriously about Matt Orford, do the few people proposing him:

a) Realise he's on a fair wedge at Manly and would probably want a tidy stash to play over here to

b) Have you actually watched Manly this year in the NRL? Orford has been very poor and done very very little 'leading his team round the park', he's usually gone missing at the first sign of it getting tough this year. A lot of Manly fans want rid of him.

If this comes off I'll feel the same as I did when I found out Nathan McAvoy had signed.

In terms of coach/player thing, the salary cap rules seem to suggest that if he played any part of a game his entire salary would be counted as if he were a player, and therefore for him to be considered for games we'd need to leave an appropriate amount of space on the cap.

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I remember his debut at Hull, didnt have the best of games IIRC

Why would Deacon not be on much money. I would imagine he is one of Bradford's highest earners and is not out of contract so why would he take a pay cut?

To play for Wigan of course!

his wage wouldnt count towards cap as long as hes just coaching. The instant he plays a game then his full salary counts towards the cap.

Because he's hardly going to play a game.

That's not actually true:

a) If he's registered with the RFL as a player, and in the top 25 earners at the club, his salary cap value (and this does not have to be the actual amount he gets paid) will count regardless of if he plays or not.

b) If he's an employee (coaching or backroom etc) and not registered as a player until the club needs to play him, then the club will contact the RSCM who will determine his salary cap value using the remuneration entitlement of his basic contract as a starting point. How much the salary cap value will be will be decided by the RSCM, who will also decide if he's allowed to play (i.e. there is sufficient cap space available in whichever of Tier 1 or Tier 2 liability that the player will now be classified in).

Basically b) is voodoo and dark arts of the highest order so it could be anything

But so is the whole salary cap system, as it matters not a jot how much you get paid, but only what your value is (and the two can be and usually are quite different either + or - )

I was surprised to read about the rumoured signing on "Teletext" and although at first surprised, I am actually really warming to the idea of him coming to Wigan.

We now have back-up if either Sam T, Lulu, Piggy and Mike Mc get injured as it would enable us to have a bit of a re-shuffle with out too much disruption. Deacon would compliment Sam very well and leave him to be off the cuff whilst Deacon direct us round the park and creates pressure by his brilliant kicking game.

The more I think about it, the more I would be disapointed if this move for Deacon doesn't come off..