It's a great signing for Bradford because they need a lift and they need a world class halfback but i'm happy with our lot in that position and we didn't need to sign a big money half.

What we need is an experienced head who can calm the side down at times and has an intelligent kicking game. The club obviously want to improve the coaching set up and to have a local element to it.

Everyones happy for me.

micky mc was awsome last year and he s a good prospect i d have him over piggy any day put piggy to prop i say he played there lot for the eels when i watched him

Quote ="wire78"You wont get a decent prop who's gonna teach Tomkins how to direct a team around the pitch, Good signing in my opinion with more than one eye on the developement of Tomkins... I think Deacon will play a lot more than most people on here seem to think possibly regularly coming off the bench with Lu Lu moving to hooker to give piggy a rest .. Yes i know u have Mcilorum but i just think this move is designed solely for Tomkins developement on the pitch more than off it and maybe Mcilorum could miss out in the short term ..'" I think that's a fair assessment, people really under value what other players can do to aid the development of a young player, just look at: www.wiganrl.com/news_full.asp?newsid=5291 Clearly shows that Sam trys to learn from any situation (not just the coaches). Having a player around with vast SL experience who's had a great kicking game (something Sam needs to continue to develop) can only be a good thing

Quote ="wire78"You wont get a decent prop who's gonna teach Tomkins how to direct a team around the pitch, Good signing in my opinion with more than one eye on the developement of Tomkins... I think Deacon will play a lot more than most people on here seem to think possibly regularly coming off the bench with Lu Lu moving to hooker to give piggy a rest .. Yes i know u have Mcilorum but i just think this move is designed solely for Tomkins developement on the pitch more than off it and maybe Mcilorum could miss out in the short term ..'" I think that's a fair assessment, people really under value what other players can do to aid the development of a young player, just look at: www.wiganrl.com/news_full.asp?newsid=5291 Clearly shows that Sam trys to learn from any situation (not just the coaches). Having a player around with vast SL experience who's had a great kicking game (something Sam needs to continue to develop) can only be a good thing

In reply to CAM I think you should read the full post especially the first couple of lines where I say 500,000 a year for 3 years, I would think this is quite plain to most people.

I've been banging for a while that i'd like to see McIlorum get a run in the second row(if he's not getting picked at hooker). He's a strong lad with a good engine and can get about the pitch. He hits like a train in defence and could preform well in that position imo.

Whatever happens the squad has some really good compatition about it at the moment.

And tbh, the whatever Deacon can do to help develop Sam, Joe Mellor etc can equally be applied to McIlorum - hookers need a passing and kicking game as much as half backs.

And that works out at £280,000 per year at todays exchange rate of
£1 = A$1.78

And that for a player who will be 32 at the start of the 2010 Superleague season.

£840,000 over three years. That's what - around 270k a season? In a world of a £1.6 million salary cap?

Even if he returns to his former self that's a massive investment in one player. One I'm certainly glad Wigan didn't make. If he continues with his terrible form of 2009, it could be the most expensive flop in SL history. Its a risk.

I do hope he goes well for them though, it would be nice to see Bradford become a force in SL again - the competition needs its big clubs to be as strong as they can be.

I really hope he does go well for Bradford, SL need a strong Bradford side. I'm just damn glad we didn't go for him.

I'd take what any Aussie papers say in regards to superleague players wages with a pinch of salt.

I very much doubt Bradford are or could afford to pay Orford £280,000 grand a year.

He's also a player who has never wore the green & gold nor has he even played origin! In fact Amos Roberts has had a better rep career than Orford!

I'm not saying he's a bad player or won't go well in SL but the amounts being banded around are laughable for a player like Orford!

He's probably earning what both Tommy & Sam earn are paid at Wigan

It makes you wonder if some of these figures are invented (or accepted unquestioningly at face-value) by the Aussie press to explain away why their finest sons would defect to the reviled English Super League.

I agree 100%, orford is good, but not amazing, he's no thurston or johns

Well if Deacon does sign it's going to be interesting to see if he signs as a player how the team selection goes.

Deacon 7, Sam 6, Tommy 9 and McIllorum interchange hooker (or even MCIllorum 9, Tommy as interchange) may well give us a better side than thhe same line up but with Riddell in there instead of McIllorum. It would certainly be popular with many.

MCillorum had a great season and if he ends up getting pushed out for a combination of ex-Bradford player approaching retirement and Riddell that doesn't really fit in with the "bting the Wigan lads through" philosophy does it!

Dave

He's certainly not in the top tier of HB's in the NRL is he;

Lockyer
Thurston
Cronk
Trent
Prince
Kimmorley

It would probably help you to read the full post after that..

The whole of his post reads:



So I'm still not sure what you meant!



(but I don't want to derail this thread so I'll leave it there and stay unenlightened!

)

NOw u ave deacs in the SIde u wil win all ova teams nxt yr deacs is da bomb

i luv wigin

No...... terryb put "Orford is a very good player but 500k for 3 years is not progress in my view,"

And Cam commented on that...

Anyway.. Obviously he'll be the big earner at the Bulls but we'll never know how much exactly.

Personally this is great news. What the Bulls needed.

Not think this could signal the end for Riddell? Not sure how exactly he has settled in to the English way of life but he might want to ask for a release? Again, not sure if anyone would have any space for him in the NRL (except Manly now of course!) and possibly ST George after Wendell recently quit.

Another plus point of deacon signing will be the fact that we've always been a little weak in the goal kicking department when pat has been injured or off form, Deacon should compensate for that now.

This is the main reason we are happy for Paul to go to you guys - the Georgeson clan go with him

I agree, not seen how Deacon's going on these days but I wouldn't take it as read that he won't be able to force his way into the first team, particularly as Riddell has hardly set the world alight, Leuluai is better at hooker and our kicking isn't that good.

Deec's is the best scrum halve in the country still .If he had bin playing aginst the Ozzies we would ahve won yesterday. Me n my mate's will be watching n chearing for wigan from know one.

Where has the Paul Deacon fan club come from? lmao it's borderline stalkers