I would rather see an English league with English players, I am sick of all the overseas players, even if they are class. I say 3 per team maximum. We would improve if they lowered the amount of overseas payers you can have as we have a good reserve team and academy. I know what your saying, but its just personal opinion, I would rather go to watch our local talent, but I suppose the odd Trent Barret wont be a problem though

I don't think Matt Orford will be anything like Phil Bailey. Matt Orford is a world class player who has a big reputation in the NRL. Phil Bailey is neither a world class player and I don't remember him coming over with any reputation.

Matt Orford has also won the Dally M Medal, the greatest individual honour in Australian rugby league.

Another Phil Bailey?

The last bit of the post you've quoted is the way I see it. He has captained Manly Sea Eagles to a premiership and will be 31 and played well over 200 NRL games. So already he will bring two things we're lacking. Leadership and experience. As you mentioned he will be a fantastic mentor to Sam Tomkins and could form a really good partnership with the lad.

I see Tommy Leuluai as a hooker if we did sign him which would give us a quality 6 , 7 and 9. Something which I don't think we've had since 2002.

So let's say we didn't get a fullback for 2010 and just bought a top class prop forward and stand off.

Pat Richards
Amos Roberts
Karl Pryce/Darrell Goulding
George Carmont
Sean Ainscough

Sam Tomkins
Matt Orford

Andy Lynch/Luke Bailey
Thomas Leuluai
Stuart Fielden

Sean O'loughlin
Gareth Hock

Joel Tomkins

---------------------------------------------------

Feka Paleaasina
Mark Riddell/Michael McIlorum
Paul Prescott/Eamon O'carroll
Harrison Hansen/Lee Mossop

So that would mean we would have released - Mathers, Bailey, Phelps, Smith and Coley.

And brought in Andy Lynch and Matt Orford. (Only one aussie

)

That should be the strategy although i’d like Smith to stay pairing Sam at HB. I just feel he's a natural 7 and that’s were we'll see the best of him as we did last year with Barrett. Sam has a natural running game where Smith is the ultimate organiser and has excellent distribution. It could defiantly work like Long and Pryce together or Burrows and McGuire. A good organiser/kicker/passer at 7 with a ball running 6 is the best option we need. Shame Noble doesn’t have a clue when It comes to backs tho.

I'd still get a top class centre and maybe let Carmont go if it means getting a top quality one. Goulding or Pryce would be good enough to pair a true world class centre imo just as Talau was with Lyon and Gidley or Toopi with Senior. Only one of centres have to be world class and the other just has to be a good solid player.

Btw there are three quality centres that could be available next season

SBW
Gasnier
Hape

All three aren't hitting the heights you’d expect in Union and it's very foreseeable we could tempt one. I’d take all of them but in the order above.

I agree Orford would be good but he could end up like Bailey. Bailey came over with an excellent repuatation but we know what happened to him.

As an alternative why not go for Richie Myler

Him and Sam would be awesome in 2-3 years

But would the fans be prepared to wait 2/3 years while they gel?

No most wouldn't be plus I don't get why people would want to sign him anyway. For a start he's not even proven at super league level yet, I know he may have got an international call up but do tell me how many halfbacks we have in this country that are of international standard?

We lack experience and have a youthful team as it is - Richie Myler is not the answer to Wigans problems IMO - we need a leader with experience who can lead the team like Trent Barrett did.

Did he?

To be fair, he was a fairly recent Australian international.

Looking at him now you'd never have guessed it.

[urlhttp://www.jamd.com/image/in-search/phil+bailey/#163g2650117[/url

Aussie loose forward.

Absolutely, the kid needs time to develop into an SL player, let alone one of note.

If he's represented Australia at loose forward - should we not try him out at loose forward?

Or have I put 2+2 together and got 5?

Ahead of Lockers, Joel and even Hock? In one word: No.

I seem to remember him also playing in the centre as well for Australia. He was one of a select group of Chris Anderson's favorites who he would have found very hard to find a reason to drop.

That can be the only reason Phil Bailey ever played for Australia. At least, on the strength of his performances in Wigan's colours.

There can't have been many occasions when being a reasonably solid defender who doesn't offer anything in attack got someone selected for the Green and Gold.

I may be wrong but i think it was at the Elland Road test when David Waite was GB coach and he played Centre and either scored a try on the outside of his opposite number, or got the outside line and put his wingman away beautifully.

When it was announced we were signing him this image sprung to mind sadly it was the last time i ever saw it.

Or maybe move Lockers and Hock to the second row with the space provided by Bailey moving to loose forward allowing Joel Tomkins and Harrison Hansen to remain part of the 17. IMO Sean O'loughlin's best position is at second row (won MOTM playing for GB) and we know Hock and Joel can play there and if it brings more out of Bailey I don't see much wrong with it.

i read birdbrain is landing in france tomorrow stgeorge.yourguide.com.au/news/l ... 44105.aspx CRONULLA Sharks' rising Kiwi star Fraser Anderson's move to rugby follows the decision by his Sharks team-mate Dustin Cooper to also take up a Japanese rugby contract. The Sharks yesterday denied any moves had been made, but they are likely to begin negotiations with off contract Melbourne player Michael Crocker , who has played under coach Ricky Stuart for Australia and at the Roosters. Sharks new signing Reni Matuia, Mitch Brown and David Simmons, who has been trialling as winger, are the likely replacements for Anderson in the immediate future, while the club holds out hope for big Blake Ferguson and boom teenager Karlos Filiga, now returning from injury along with Reece Williams.

i read birdbrain is landing in france tomorrow stgeorge.yourguide.com.au/news/l ... 44105.aspx CRONULLA Sharks' rising Kiwi star Fraser Anderson's move to rugby follows the decision by his Sharks team-mate Dustin Cooper to also take up a Japanese rugby contract. The Sharks yesterday denied any moves had been made, but they are likely to begin negotiations with off contract Melbourne player Michael Crocker , who has played under coach Ricky Stuart for Australia and at the Roosters. Sharks new signing Reni Matuia, Mitch Brown and David Simmons, who has been trialling as winger, are the likely replacements for Anderson in the immediate future, while the club holds out hope for big Blake Ferguson and boom teenager Karlos Filiga, now returning from injury along with Reece Williams.

Greg Bird to union www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... 497730.htm

Greg Bird to union www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... 497730.htm

Quote ="Bill_Barlow"Greg Bird to union www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... 497730.htm'" Thats a let down if he goes to union, he is more suited to our game and I would love to see players like him in super league, Im fed up of all the average overseas players who get signed just because they are Austrailian, he is the real deal.

Quote ="Bill_Barlow"Greg Bird to union www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... 497730.htm'" Thats a let down if he goes to union, he is more suited to our game and I would love to see players like him in super league, Im fed up of all the average overseas players who get signed just because they are Austrailian, he is the real deal.

It will be on a 1 year nothing deal to keep him fit till he is able to join another NRL team or SL next year when cap space is more available, or if his court case has concluded in his favour.

Yep, it will. He isn't a Union player. Will be back in 2010 assuming he isnt locked up.

It would still be great to have him here for a season.

Think of the impact Lyon and Barrett had in one season, they had another one afterwards but they still made an impact straight away.

It's this rule which covers all Catalans Aussie/Kiwis players entry in to the UK for matches.

D. I do not hold a passport from any country in the EEA or Switzerland. Do I need
a work permit (in addition to a visa) to come to the UK?
• You do not need a work permit to come to the UK, if you are:
• coming to the UK as a visitor; or
• a sportsperson, coach or technical official coming to the UK to take part in a
specific sports event or a series of sports events, providing you are not
seeking to base yourself in the UK and you are genuinely seeking entry to the
UK to perform at the specific event(s) (this is known as the “Sportsperson
Concession”).

I think it was at the JJB Stadium, Wigan when he somehow managed to make Keith Senior look like a world beater, Bailey in the centres =

Didn't Bailey also score in that match?