Kevin Naiqama, Joseph Paulo and Lachlan Coote? Stars? I guess you don't watch much NRL. They are closer to Ryan Morgan than Ben Barba.

The money in the game is spread out that much now that Championship signings will become more common place. The standard of that league is better then it’s been for a long while with a number of decent sides, so if a player like Bullock impressed at that level it will hold more weight then a few years back.

I think we’ll also see more lads like Bullock stepping back in to full time teams after dropping down because of that huge structure gap we have between the ages of 19 and first team. We’ll see plenty of lads drop down, do well and jump back up as they develop later than others.

In all honesty I hope if we get another forward in it’s a more established name then us going for a player we can develop but I’ve no issue with these signings in the right circumstances.

Yeah all good players. Especially Naiqama and Coote, who are both stepping down a level to play SL.

I love this. I make a tongue in cheek comment about signing championship players and the finger waggers come out to give me a telling off.

Keep it coming.

I have no issue with signing Championship players if they are of high quality. My issue when our signings become mainly from the championship. All areas of recruitment should take place for different reasons.

I remember having a great lengthy chat with West, stated Wigan's recruitment was based on 3 tiers;
-Developing and improving our home grown talent
-Signing talent from the SL, identifying who suits Wigan from other SL clubs
-Signing high calibre players from overseas, with experience, from a different winning culture who can add more to the team, more than just what they offer on the pitch.

This would look very much like a pyramid. with the bottom and most, being developing our own players, then a middle of SL signings and the top, being only a few, overseas players.

To be honest I think all 3 are belting signings and probably push Saints into favourites position for next year.

In relation to us, I’d love us to sign a real experienced Prop with plenty of big game experience even if he is in his 30s but I just can’t see where that would come from. Someone like Soliola would have been great but he’s picked up another year at Canberra.

Agreed.

I have to disagree on this on too. All 3 are fantastic additions to an already decent squad. So is Leilua at Leeds and Austin at Warrington. Our rivals have really recruited well and whilst I’m reasonably content with Bullock & Hankinson, Sammut really concerns me. I really hoped we’d sign and top quality scrum half and I don’t think Sammut is anything near the level of those recruited by our rivals. Only time will tell.

it was a pop at Wigan when you first put it, now your backtracking like St Helens open top bus from last year and thats fine by me, just think next time before bagging the club.

Knickers still twisted? Pretty sure I said it was a tongue in cheek comment. Interpret it as you will.

They all needed to make signings to improve as they all won naff all last year the clubs you mention. where as were the ones to beat once again. we brought Hardaker Greenwood in also but i suppose that doesnt count does it not as it weakens your statement. but your bang on with one point there though time will tell us the answers like it did last year and the years that went before.

Barba Roberts Sandow came as NRL superstars and currently have the same amount of winners medals in Engalnd as me. ing zero

just pointing out the error of your ways that's all. you backtracked rather quickly so that's fine we can now move on till next time I have to correct you.

I wasn’t making any statement at all, weakened or otherwise. My post was merely a general disagreement with Rogues about the quality of the NRL imports brought in by our rivals. I think they’re all very good players, as are Hardaker and Greenwood. I also think we’ll go very well but I do wish we’d brought in a top quality 7. I’m sure Sammut will improve us in that position though.

It’s arrogant tw@s like you that are killing this forum.

Haha! Ignore him. My first reaction is to respond to him, but that's what's he's looking for, a mindless back and forth. If you look at his posts and how he interactions you can tell he's just anxious as Father Christmas is nearly here. Just some kid sitting cosy behind his screen.

Anyway, he's looking forward to a very interesting season with a new coach and potentially a new style of play!

Thats for your comments, i will take them on board as we move forward.

I’m generally supportive of the club but with bigred on this one. I’ve no problem with signing Bullock & Hankinson. I think Greenwood is an excellent signing and hoping Hardaker will prove it doubters wrong.

I don’t get the Sammut signing, when you compare him to the quality that our rivals have signed he’s a bit of a worry. As Lam has said there is room under the cap to sign another middle then imo we’d have been better off putting Sammuts wage together with whatever is left and either signing a proven middle or half rather than a mediocre player in each position. Sammut could of course prove me and many others wrong in which case I would be delighted to eat my words.

-Never said sub-standard. not once.
-I made a joke re-signings
-Never said I know everything about the game
-Never said I don't like peoples opinions, if anything I come on here to chat around RL and Wigan, that's the whole point
-Clearly not disappeared.

What's next?

Yeah, have to say, I can't agree with that either, except I share your relatively low opinion of Morgan. I remember watching him when he was at the Eels, and he always looked very ordinary to me. But Naiqama and Coote are both excellent players, and I would have been delighted to see either at Wigan.

Naiqama yes good player but if recall Lachlan coote was at the cowboys with Thurston hence why he looked so good,Thurston would make anyone look good

1 more player to come in. Any idea who it could be?

The point I was making was that Barba scored 28 tries and had 24 assists last season. Naiqama has scored 26 in three seasons and Coote 25 tries in six seasons. Paulo has managed 7 tries in his 12 season career.

i wouldnt swap Hardaker and Gildart for Naiquama and Coote.

Amor?

The Mole @9_Moley

HO HO HO!!!
Moley's scoops a day early peeps.
*NRL superstar signs with UK club

Interesting!