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

He will in the top tier of HB's in SL, which is perhaps more relevant?

I think he's a fantastic player, but so was Matt King before his first year in super league! I will reserve judgement on any player. The way some signings fall appart when they go to other teams I don't think it would be a shock if this deal worked better for us than for you.

He will but his wages are that of one of the worlds top players which he most defo isn't!

I just don't think it's the right move for Bradford

People seem to be assessing how we will accomodate Deacon into the side as if he will be our first choice 7. I don't see that happening unless when he does get a chance he impresses to the extent that we can't drop him.

i can see deacon starting, with leuluai at 9. and either riddell/ mcillorum as the other hooker.

I can't see him signing a playing contract that takes him from Bradford's 1st choice 7 to a situation where he might not get a game at Wigan.

There would be two ways this could go in my opinion.

1. It's already been said by the likes of SW there will be genuine competition for places in the first team so if for example Riddell doesn't buck his ideas up he may not make the side. So Deacon is signing with a view to forcing his way into the side.

2. What I don't want to see is how this signing would have been handled with Nobby still here which you can guarantee would have seen Deacon a shoe-in for a starting slot with McIllorum as the junior player most likely to miss out for no other reason the established senior pros would get picked.

Given what SW has said I expect 1 to be what happens and if so we could easily see Deacon win a place in the side IMO. Not just at Riddell's expense either. TL might be deemed not really a 7 for example.

Dave

No official announcement from the club as to whether he has signed, when will this be or is this another rumour which has been made because of the Orford to Bulls signing? Wouldnt suprise me if we didnt sign Deacon at all.

We all know IL doesnt rush with announcments.

He could have signed last week and will be annoucment next month

Ditto, could see Nobby and Celtic being interested if Deacon was available.