we got rid of better

Two potentially good signings, I'd already say Greenwood is.
However in the the last few signings we've also signed 3 championship players in Bullock, Sammut and Hankinson.

We all know how much of a risk Hardaker is and I’d argue that Greenwood is already exceeding expectations. He looks a tremendous acquisition and I can’t wait to see him with a full preseason in him.
Would he make someone who doesn’t usually go to a game get off their backside and get to a game on a cold, rainy February night? I’m not sure he would.

Regarding attendances, reviewing comments made by supporters on here and in genral perhaps we have identified style of play as a more significant factor in people’s decision to either stay at home or attend a match rather than paying out big money for a big name, if a big name was actually available / realistic.

According to the coach and the player, Samutt is significant in changing our style of play and I would guess that Edwards also agrees.

Interesting too that it seems like bringing in a player that would sign a two year contract could also be significant, perhaps Edwards didn’t want to bring in two new half backs for 2020 and wanted his scrum half to be settled?

Hardaker - I suspect is a marmite acquisition will put as many off as excite as many, if he ever plays for the club that is. Doubt his signing will add many to the crowds.

Greenwood has played well but again is hardly a name to bring in extra viewers.

Realistically there are not many names , who are likely to be signable, who would have much impact on crowd levels.

some desperation in trying to find his best position going on here, will he fit the warrior mascot suit ?

the guy is garbage, looks quite creative in average teams playing at average levels.

Has a lot of errors in his game.

we should have saved the money and not signed him.

prove me wrong please Sammut

This signing is an interesting move from Lam.

He seems so adamant to add 'flair and creativity' to our team he is signing a player who plays more off the cuff disregarding other elements of his play and style. Under Wane we were very structured, same can be said for Madge, was it boring and lifeless at times? Yes. But was it successful? Yes actually.

I was hoping for a middle ground, an increase in creativity adding to what we have, however I worry we might lose our way with Sammut and Williams as our 6 and 7.

I don't know if this signing is Lam getting his way, OR Lam's hands being tied knowing he only has a small budget to play with.

No he didn't mate he was dreadfull - he stopped one season and was on DR at Fev and Workington for much of that. Sorry but you're miles out.

Team One

Hardaker
Manfredi
Gildart
Sarginson
Davies
Williams
Leuluai
Clubb
Powell
Flower
Farrell
Greenwood
O'Loughlin


Team two

Escare
Marshall
Hankinson
Forsythe
Burgess
Shorrocks
Sammut
Navarrette
Ganson
Tautai
Wells
Isa
Hamlin

To fit in somewhere

Bullock
Partington
Kibula
Byrne
Mullen
Paisley
Barnes
Field etc

That squad doesn't look too bad to me. I don't see any other team with that depth.

I don't see depth as an issue. it's high quality in key areas, i.e. a 7.

Wigan didn't lose a game in 2018 with #6 Williams, #7 Leuluai and #9 Powell.

True. So do you not think we needed a new 7?

Sorry i haven't been on here a while!, This signings worry's me i understand the club is cost cutting but this doesn't get bums back on seats. Younger players need to be inspired to play the game. The quality is there but you need to deep in your pockets for quality Johnson would of been he ideal person to get. It would of generated a lot of interest and get the younger players wanting to play the game. But it is bang average at best.

I think we need some competition for that spot. However I know that the club have great hopes for Harry Smith but guess it's a year or two too soon for him at the moment.
Lam won't have seen him in training yet as he is with the England Academy team at present.
I have a feeling that under the reduced interchange rule he will use Sammut off the bench.
As I said in a previous post he wouldn't have been my 1st choice and I suspect Wigan really thought that Lams son would have been here for a year at least.
Wigan lost a lot of money in 2018, so it was inevitable that the purse strings would be tightened.

While your comment regarding the successes of Williams and Tommy at 6 and 7 were true, I feel it's a very black and white view which when you dig a little deeper realise there's a wealth of factors to why we were winning during that period, factors which don't dictate that we don't need a new 7.

For example, for me Tomkins at FB offered different elements to our attack, elements which will be missing as Hardaker operates differently from FB. As I stated, and you pointed out via your listening 2 full teams, depth isn't a problem, what is missing is a quality 7 who will offer creativity and can run a game, I feel we're still lacking quality in that area. Is Sammut the answer? I've not seen anything from him in his entire career to suggest he will be. Doesn't mean he can't surprise us, but would have anyone realistically pushed to sign Sammut? I doubt it.

If money is an issue for signings we honestly need to examine how we run our business. Apart from Hardaker and Greenwood our last few signings have been from the championship while others recruit from the NRL.

O/t but are you sure about Deacon? I seem to recall people being generally positive about his return

Meanwhile, Drinkwater is about to sign for Hull KR for a lot less than £150k.

As much as I was against the Sammut signing, I prefer him to Drinkwater who is a slightly better version of Josh Woods.

Drinkwater is one of the most over rated players in SL - his entire reputation hangs on an 8 game purple patch.

Absolutely mate. It was a whole heap of "past it", "is this the best we can do" and "we should be looking at players X, Y and Z". I think you're remembering the positive feeling around him after he'd proved himself. At the time of the signing it was overwhelmingly negative.

Hindsight very much colours people's memories I'm afraid. It's like the number of people who were at significant events. It's always way more than were actually there!

He certainly has his supporters in here though. At one point I thought that he had joined the board and started posting about himself.

Surely that tag should go to Hastings who has become a legend in even less games

It wasn't universally loved, but the vast majority of people were positive about it. To avoid hindsight bias, [url=http://viewtopic.php?f=28&t=436664here's what was said[/url at the time. I see we both (correctly) said it was a good move

Show's how standards have changed if we were unhappy about signing Deacon, a SL winner with international caps, tones of experience in SL (think he was/is Bradfords all time points scorer). There's no comparison between him and Sammut.