I think most Wigan fans have the same idea; Welsby is a very good player, but we wouldn't swap him for any of ours.

This

I think most people recognise Welsby as a great player.

As opposition fans we have the usual irritation when a top quality opposition player being constantly talked about as if the sun shines from his ar*e. I think that's where most of the animosity comes from.

Would any of us swap him for Bevan or Jai - no.

Would any Saints fans want a swap the other way ? I doubt it. Both understandable positions.

On a side note I thought Jai's influence on attacking down the flanks at the GF was vastly underrated. Pretty much every break was due to his pace or how scared Catalan were of his pace.

Welsby will get big offers from NRL in the very near future - probably more likely than Bevan or Jai getting tempted back due to a) age and b) build. Interesting to see how he would cut it there.

I do think he needs to move to 6 though to get the best from him.

Genuine question - why do we think Welsby needs to move to 6 to be successful in the NRL?

Granted there are some live wire 1's out there , but there are also guys like Mitchell, Edwards etc.

I think moving to half will provide him with his best opportunity of success in the NRL.

Most NRL fullbacks tend to be athletic freaks either by size, or athletic gifts, sometimes both. I do think he’s a very good 1 but the competition out there is next level for fullbacks, especially now it seems players like Crichton and Farnworth are dropping back there next season too.

At the other end of the spectrum the NRL are desperate for halves so it is probably a better bet for him if he is to make it out there.

Samy Kibula signed for Castleford, last chance saloon ?

Like so many props. Has the frame but not the mental attributes to go with it. Doesn't run his weight i suppose i am trying to say. He falls into the Joe Greenwood, Dan Norman mould. That might change as he gets a bit older and braver but i don't think he will ever make it and is lucky to have a Super League side seemingly hell bent on turning themselves into a Championship one with their signings.

It’s now obvious that Smithies is going to Canberra but no official announcement from either club . This suggests to me that Wigan are waiting until England RU are out of the World Cup so they can announce Owen Farrell to soften the blow . I really hope this is case . Farrell would be a tremendous asset despite his age

What is happening to Reece Walsh?

He was unreal in the semi and final.

Or that Wigan knew the deal was likely to go through and got Luke Thompson in?

He'll stay at full back. Farnworth is moving to the Dolphins

Farnworth's going to the Dolphins

Yeah it’s a good listen Stu, in season it’s normally on a Thursday.

If you like the first half of NRL360 it’s much like that, just Journos chatting.

I love the Aussie Journos how they know so much about what’s going on behind the scenes. Buzz Rothfield is on it during the season and he cracks me up!

Cheers. Funnily enough I've just finished it this morning, I've subscribed now so will listen going forwards.

Yeah Buzz and Anasta have a bit of a love/hate relationship going on with NRL 360 but its good entertainment.

Is Buzz the old fella that would cause an argument in an empty house.

Yeah that’s the one

Wandering around Paris this morning before I make my way back, had a chat with a few Union fans. They've heard the Farrell rumours and seem to think he's leaving, one even suggested he's going to announce it while lifting the World Cup trophy

Well if we didn't know already - Owen Farrell can kick a ball. He also seems to be a master of backchat.

Owen Farrell absolutely bossing it tonight for England.

The biggest tragedy for us and RL was never Andy Farrell leaving. It was Owen Farrell going with him. What a player he would have been in League.

The drop goal was brilliant and he kicked everything else with aplomb but I thought (which was a tactic) that England and him kicked quite poor out of hand. After winning the ball back after the try the kick by Steward (I think it was) was awfully executed but also a poor choice, surely kick it down the field and hopefully out of touch and make them go 80 meters in 4 minutes. The set pieces themselves kill minutes.

I'm sure OF did absolutely what the coaching staff asked of him. But it was dull and torpid stuff. you don't beat the beat sides playing like that. Although SA were far from their best either.

First game of Union I have watched in years and my god it was boring

Yea was dire. The effort to stop that try was poor as well

I was impressed with the penalty goals and drop goal however. Some shots from far out

Owen Farrell - “it’ll be some peoples last world cups obviously and erm some people are going elsewhere”

Interesting

If it’s the same interview as soon as he said it I thought that’s a bit of clue.
I’ve tried to find it again this morning but without success. Did he say “pastures new” rather than elsewhere? Irrespective of his actual wording it did sound like a very big clue.
Interesting times.