Well the more I've thought about it the more I've warmed to the idea, although I'm not red hot about it. He'll be for starters free which can't be quibbled at. Secondly he'll provide us with another body in our squad who can cover centre, an area we are light in. So in summary it'll only be for a year and it'll have been a free experiment.

For the record Marsh should be loaned to Widnes next year, and Goulding if he can find someone to take him should leave. For those crying out for King to play, Ryan's a winger so his place shouldn't be threatened by Thomas in the slightest.

How many times have you seen Thomas play?
How many games will he get next season?
Which of these Wigan youth queuing up do you think are ready for the first team in the centre position?

Do you not think that the Wigan coaching staff realise it's an area we are desperately short of cover for?

Whats so wrong with having this guy around the club ?

I know your scared he'll be first pick but thats not going to happen..I just cant see the negatives with having him around the club at all.

Don't be so bloody childish.

The guy is not going to get into the first team at the expense of anyone if he's not up to it, just as Karl Pryce didn't. Those days went with Noble. And if he does get in at the expense of others, then it's their attitude and form that needs to be looked at.

Let's get serious for a minute. Thomas is a massive signing in terms of publicity. Whether Wigan can turn that into hard currency remains to be seen, but he's costing us nowt so why the gripe?

I understand the puzzlement, but please don't start "you are NOT welcome" campaigns. That is NOT the way we do things at Wigan.

I think you're clutching at straws here a little, there are far better players available if we wish to have 'cover' for the centre position

Spot on.
Don't forget that Thomas is a man who has shown that he can take a challenge, and this is a massive one. He is the most capped Welsh RU International ever

As Cruncher & I have said, if he performs better than the likes of Goulding and Marsh he will get his chance, if he doesn't he won't. Remember all the doom mongers when we signed Deacon?

Who, and for how much?

Deacon was always a cracking player at Bradford though, Thomas is an average SL player, that's the difference Rouges

And wont play if thats whats proved to the coaching staff..Its not Rocket Science

A voice of sanity escapes the asylum.

Why are people so upset on this one.

He's signed to bring publicity to the club firstly and to provide playing 'cover' secondly. He won't be first choice and he won't get many games but he will get his face and our name in the papers and on tv.

He'll probably spend more time on things like come dancing and question of sport then he will on the field.

When you get your head around the fact he'll hardly play for us it becomes a clever bit of 'business'.

Lenagan isn't daft.

I agree it is out of order to say hes not welcome but we are are Rugby team and we should be making signings based on rugby not revenue. I understand money is required to keep the club running at it's current standard but players shouldn't be signed purely on a potential profit making basis.

Cant understand the happy clappers on here over this. The club can do no wrong in some eyes, this is not a good signing...

I would also like to know why the coaching staff thinks a Second rower is a better option at centre than the Marsh and Goulding and the rest of the guys who so called wont get their chance know Thomas as signed..

maybe they dont think there good enough or not yet ready ??

1. More than enough to pass judgement.

2. None if I get my way

3. Goulding? Marsh? Joel Tomkins? There's 3 waiting. But NO! Lets sign a borderline retired Rugby Union player whos been playing Rugby League for less than a year.

Cant see how you can defend this signing, in terms of the team not bloody 'Publicity'.

Isn't he out now with a pretty legnthy injury, I just can't get my head around this one IL what are you doing?

Checks date and sees it is September 1st not April 1st.

This has to be a joke surely.

He hardly set Wrexham on fire, and at 37 his best has gone.

Still, I played League and Union in the 1960s and 70s. Any chance of a contract for me ?

Broken arm I believe. Although he should return in time for the Four Nations at the end of this season.

Not a good signing imo but I think its benefit of doubt to IL he's not got much wrong since he came to the club.One think is for sure if he pulls the cherry and white on and gives 100% he will have my full support.

If Goulding or Mash perform better than Thomas, they will get the place (as they will if they play better than Joel or George), look how Charnley overtook Goulding this season.

Thomas is not costing Wigan anything, so I don't see a problem.

if he's dog$h!t he won't

He won't play much yet we'll still get lots of publicity.

No happy clapping here just common sense.

I do. The fact that we are seen (by the rest of the clubs in RL) to have been 'offered' his services FOC by the RFL gripes me a little. Doubt we will ever shake off the 'Same old Wigan, cheating the cap' tag it now seems.

But they all ready ARE performing better than Thomas. So why would we go and bring in a 'big name' (cringe) when we have these waiting. This only suggests one thing, that Wigan lads will get bumped for the Welshy.

As long as Goulding, Joel and Marsh are fit and healthy they should play. If this doesnt happen, then I'll be fuming.

I have heard why Wigan have signed Thomas and it is very little to do with his playing ability and more for the commercial side of things. Also there are a lot of very talented young Welsh RU and RL players and if Thomas' signing means that the club can attract these players instead of them going to RU then he will be well worth it. I must admit I was astounded when I first heard the news but the more that I have been told about it the more I think it is a shrewd move.