I hope you guys are right, and that this has been conducted above board and that Noble is being consulted. I just worry, because IL has several times announced things or allowed rumours to float that have destabalised players and/or the team (I am thinking of Higham here, etc). To me things are shaping nicely, the last thing we need is a lack of focus by the team again. I am not questioning IL's right to conduct business behind the scenes, but I may be questioning his ability to do this in a non-disruptive manner. Just how it appears to me.

As I mentioned before. This story allegedly first broke on Christmas Eve. Yet Noble seemed fine to me at the Fans Forum (more so even than usual), and was gossiping quite happily with IL after our last friendly.

This doesn't necessarily mean he isn't peeved. But for a guy who on a number of occasions has supposedly made enquiries about positions at other clubs, and went public in Australia last autumn about problems he had with the chairman, why would he keep quiet now?

I'm hoping this indicates that any approach made was done after IL and BN discussed it. But of course I don't know that for sure.

Noble is in a good mood because he has resolved some personal issues

Whether Noble stays or goes when his contract expires Jones could not come in as first team coach. He's no experience in League and would be laughed out of the dressing room.
If he is to be Wigan bound then the "player performance director" succeeding Joe Lydon seems the most obvious job.
Also the PPD title would seem to be a euphemism for "Union Scout".
Really got my doubts about this one but if it takes place then the club will be broadening its scouting beyond Rugby League territory.

Just to add why do supporters think Noble and Lennagan would not appear comfortable in public?

Both have egos that they like to be stroked. They surround themselves with 'nice friendly people' who will stroke their egos. They both have a very public persona and a private one.

For the reasons already stated (i.e. they haven't always done in the past). No others.

If for no other reason than he's not qualified as a RL coach.

That is what excites me about the prospect we will increase our potential scouting player pool two or three fold.

I would also add Jones is often seen as a bit of a maveric when it comes to his coaching ideas, which may not enhance the first team, could certainly give another view on our methods and i would think also add to the development of our younger players.

But why would any decent talent possibly wish to defect from union, irrespective of the poacher's credentials? The flow is all the other way at the moment and will continue for the forseeable future. IMO the only recruits from union will be returning "failures" like Pryce, Walker, etc.

The only way I can see Union players becoming realistic for League is if their salaries became exempt from the cap but I daresay and rightly so the league players would be up in arms.

I do not think we have to aim at the top International players who are earning thousands of pounds a week. In my opinion there are many union players some who are not even playing in the Guiness Premiership who would be much more suited to rugby league than they are in rugby union, i would suggest this would be the same world wide.

The man will have a network of contacts throughout the world, clearly young talent are still attracted to the game in New Zealand for example despite union being the national sport and a much bigger sport.

Given the federation trained rule and the loop hole of 3 full seasons prior to the age of 21 Jones may well be able to identify realistic targets who could be brought to the club at a young age and included on the federation trained list.

Its all speculation, clearly but you do not always have to look at the big earners in Union to unearth the talent suited towards our code of rugby, i think much of it has to do with ignorance of union, which having someone like Jones on board would put that issue to bed.

I take your point but the last thing English RL needs is an influx of teenage Kiwis - not that any of this is likely to happen.

I do not disagree, but i am sure we would not mind the odd one here and there if they were potentially top class league players, the kiwi's especially in union tend to turn out year in year out these massive pacey wing men who would be perfectly suited to our code, would not mind bagging one, a Lomu as a 16 year old for example.


While i agree it maybe unlikely the potential for him to do this is there and IF he were to come i think the clubs horizons would be significantly broadened.

Lenegan eyes one more recruit
[urlhttp://www.wigantoday.net/warriors/Lenagan-eyes-one-more-recruit.4940146.jp[/url



Wonder who they are?

Richard Moore?
David Solomona?

Hopefully neither. We are better off as we are than adding either of them.

Considering Moore has lost over 2 stones with a mystery illness thats definatly the case!

And Solomona could do with getting the same one!

Moore and Solomona won't be comming on mega wages but also they wont be cheap and it’s very likely there will be a transfer fee involved also as both are under contract. Is there no one else realistically available who would command the same wages and a transfer fee?

I’d personally try and get Guisset back if that’s the level of player we are looking at. At least we know we’ll get a committed lad who won’t take a step back and he’ll be on the same pay bracket.

Is there no one else tho?

That would be a great signing, just the sort of player we need.
It was a shame us missing out on Ryles though.

I think a few of our players are going on loan to Leigh. Mossop being one of them.

IL stated a while ago that Wigan have a max of 20 grand left on the salary cap so who will go if a player of quality comes in? You won't get much really for that amount without letting somebody go whether it be sold or on loan.

A few will go on loan me thinks.

Solomona has lost around 5kg supposedly

I got told that off a mate of mine who did also say that he'd said people may not be able to tell due to the fact that the bulls play in a white kit and it doesn't flatter him





In all seriousness though if he has got himself fit i'd take him in an instant because he's a fantastic ball player and is different to anything we currently have but i don't see any truth in it.

Id love to play poker with you. You dont believe everything you hear.

Last year we had just over 100k and got Carmont, Pryce, Mathers, Smith and Phelps.

We got Pryce, Mathers and Carmont from 140k but Pryce was never registered meaning we used his money to sign Phelps and Smith on short term deals.

At least thats my understanding of how things went.