Exactly. It’s like Manchester United recently signing a goalkeeper and some fans blew up and opposition fans took the mick. He was signed as third choice and will probably never play, so why get eat up? Cap space being taken up maybe, but it’ll be minimal and we clearly have room.

If we lose a winger, Miski comes in, a centre and Thornley comes in (when fit), a halfback and Field probably moves from fullback and French goes there and the same if Field goes down. There’s no saying he’ll jump above guys like Eckersley or Astley either, especially if they get first chance and do well. It’s just a nice comfort blanket to have and saves you potentially ruining a kid who is too young and has to play every week during an injury crisis.

As cover/competition for HB along with the majority of posters I think that it is a reasonable signing for the squad. When he played in the academy I thought he could become a real star but unfortunately, it was not to be. I agree as a few have said with him him being a goal kicker is a big plus for the club and for him it could be the "golden ticket" to get some 1st team action.

As a FB I'd play young Sumner before him. Much more accomplished and he is a FB.
Not knocking Hampshire just do not see him as a FB in any capacity other than 4th choice in an emergency.

My only potential reservation with his signing is that I hope young Astley doesn't see his arris and become unsettled. Hopefully it has the opposite effect and Astley strives even harder for 1st team opportunities.

In summary a reasonable and understandable move by the club that I suspect is low in cost and risk on the assumption that his current injury isn't detremental to his undoubted pace.

Probably be used as a bench player.
Cust to 9 and Hampshire in the halves.
Better than moving Field and French if there's an issue in the halves.

Peet has something in mind signing him.

No risk cover signing, along with King we've two blokes there playing for a contract, don't see any downside to this

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"Good luck to him, he will do a good job as a squad player. My only concern is that acl injury, but I can't think of many available players that can cover almost the entire back line with the exception of centre. He's only just turned 28 and averages about 1 try every three games plus he is a good goalkicker. It'll be up to him to put the hard work in, it's a low risk signing. The majority of Cas fans seem sorry to see him go. https://www.casforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34042'" I take it Brian that the big news has yet to materialise?

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"Good luck to him, he will do a good job as a squad player. My only concern is that acl injury, but I can't think of many available players that can cover almost the entire back line with the exception of centre. He's only just turned 28 and averages about 1 try every three games plus he is a good goalkicker. It'll be up to him to put the hard work in, it's a low risk signing. The majority of Cas fans seem sorry to see him go. https://www.casforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34042'" I take it Brian that the big news has yet to materialise?

I'm perfectly happy with this signing, capable of covering multiple spots, on a low salary. The definition of a squad player.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"Good luck to him, he will do a good job as a squad player. My only concern is that acl injury, but I can't think of many available players that can cover almost the entire back line with the exception of centre. He's only just turned 28 and averages about 1 try every three games plus he is a good goalkicker. It'll be up to him to put the hard work in, it's a low risk signing. The majority of Cas fans seem sorry to see him go. https://www.casforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34042'" I’ve just been reading that and it’s good to hear that they felt he was playing really well pre injury. Some weird comments about his rehab having been organised by Cas meaning some are saying he’s a snake for leaving. Cas didn’t want to pay an injured player, so took the risk he’d leave. I read an article were they openly admitted they’d like to keep him should he prove his fitness but if you want him enough, you take the gamble. We’ve done just that because he won’t be fully fit for another couple of months and who knows how he comes back.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"Good luck to him, he will do a good job as a squad player. My only concern is that acl injury, but I can't think of many available players that can cover almost the entire back line with the exception of centre. He's only just turned 28 and averages about 1 try every three games plus he is a good goalkicker. It'll be up to him to put the hard work in, it's a low risk signing. The majority of Cas fans seem sorry to see him go. https://www.casforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34042'" I’ve just been reading that and it’s good to hear that they felt he was playing really well pre injury. Some weird comments about his rehab having been organised by Cas meaning some are saying he’s a snake for leaving. Cas didn’t want to pay an injured player, so took the risk he’d leave. I read an article were they openly admitted they’d like to keep him should he prove his fitness but if you want him enough, you take the gamble. We’ve done just that because he won’t be fully fit for another couple of months and who knows how he comes back.

Cas made him an offer but it was a very low one.

Which would seem like they’ve tried to hedge their bets a little due to the circumstances. I can’t really blame them but the Cas fans shouldn’t be bashing the lad for not taking any offer at all. I doubt ours is offering him a fortune but I guess he feels like there is some unfinished here.

They were upset when we signed Zac. Remember being at Magic and old cas chap was near on crying about it. Just leave them too it think they have bigger concerns like staying up

To add to this, and i don't think i have seen anybody here mention it yet, hampshire is a homegrown player who came through our academy so shouldn't we get a percentage of his wage knocked off the cap also?

If we are already paying him a low wage (likely), then against the cap he should be very cheap. Seems like a no brainer signing to me if i am right.

This would only apply for marquee players. More broadly, clubs are given a £100k exemption for developing players but there are no specifics in the published rules around what clubs need to do to be granted this.

'Marquee Player – Each Super League and Championship Club is permitted to have two Marquee Players whose Salary Cap value is limited to £150,000 (or £75,000 if Club Trained);
Club Trained Dispensation – Each Super League club is given up to £100,000 of dispensation for producing Super League standard players.'

Ah, so it is likely a club like ours is already using the 100k, understood thanks.

A very bold statement here from Poundland Jerry Maguire:
[urlhttps://www.totalrl.com/rugby-league-agent-ryan-hampshire-could-be-one-of-the-greatest-signings-ive-ever-seen-following-wigan-warriors-move/[/url

Let me guess he is the agent for Hampshire? He is a good backup up signing but that chap just likes the sound of his own voice and spew utter sh*te

This mon is obviously trying to get a big name for himself, nobody outside a few players had ever heard of this Craig Harrison. Now he's in every other interview it seems.

Great comparison





he was the guy saying Wigan were going to make the massive announcement a few weeks ago. If he was thinking of this i'd love to see what he is drinking or smoking

This has just ruined my week, what getting everyone's hopes up for a big name only to get a player we tossed aside years ago

and was he the one who dragged him pillar to post in search of extra coin? Not really panned out in the long run has it?

Unsubscribed his podcast as it is so Yarkshire centric and full off bull - got bored of them saying Cam Smith is the messiah....
I get they have to 'big up' their own players.....but their dream team from last season was one of the most comical things I'd ever heard.

It wasn’t in fairness to him. He said in his recent podcast that he took over managing him when he left Leigh and he did give his opinion on the fact that Hampshire was probably advised badly during his last stint here and pretty much confirmed what people have always said, in that Hampshire made his opinions on his position well known.

He does talk plenty of rubbish mind! Being a bit dense clearly doesn’t hold you back if you’re confident enough to talk enough BS.

Yea a rugby league podcast about Leeds and Bradford. I have no doubt that they don’t know the game but on that podcast they talk crap. There up there with Barry and Terry

Barry and Terry are like Einstein compared to that lot on there it's a tough listen so much hot air

The guys a magician to get him this deal at Wigan!

It is wild isn’t it. Considering they all work in the game the lack of knowledge is astounding. Constantly getting players names wrong, not knowing simple facts every normal fan knows.

Jimmy and the game caller are okay but Craig and Joe are horrendous.

to be fair he was treated pretty poorly by Wigan first tine around