People are missing a vital point here. You can't simply just get rid of a contracted player. You'd have to pay them off which counts on the salary cap.

The power is with the player if you want to get rid of them, unless they want to leave, which means that you pretty much have to pay the rest of their contract. How do you then replace them if you have already used up their salary by paying them off? It just doesn't work.

Is this a fact or is it just that he was a paid a lot more to stay at Salford?

Fact, It was mentioned around the time we tried to sign him

For me :

Sarginson < Bill Tupou/Peter Matuatia
Powell < Brad Dwyer
Clubb < Craig Kopczak
Isa < Matty Ashurst/Jack Hughes
Leuluai < Sam Tomkins (7)

Also can go - Davies, Navarette and maybe Tautai and Marshall should we need cap space.

Funny how a thread with a title of realistic targets has turned into a thread of a wish list! In relation to the comment above, Tomkins ship has set sail and should not be brought back. He’s been good for us but his loyalty isn’t to the club, it’s to his wallet. That’s fine, no issues but wouldn’t want to to come back again.

Powell might not be the best but he’s not bad enough to wish Brad Dwyer on us! I’ve never seen a player who’s as one dimensional and predictable.

Kopczak signed on extended terms at Wakey, Sam Tomkins is unrealistic and Hughes/Ashurst are also on long term contracts.

except Powell

He’s not as bad as Dwyer by a long way. He’s an absolute headless chicken and butchers teams attacks with how ball greedy he is.

We need to try and strengthen the position but if Dwyer is the answer I’m not sure what the question is.

Sam Powell has had enough time at hooker to make a judgement on and he still looks as though he’s a makeshift 9, no doubt he can fill in there as a squad player but not our starting 9. He is slow to get the ball to the runner and never scoots, you talk about one dimensional?

Brad Dwyer has ripped teams to pieces this season, when he passes to a runner it’s quick and accurate AND from the floor. When he scoots he is quick enough and cunning enough to make a success of it.

It’s typical that he’s having a good game in a night I criticise him but I’ve honestly never rated Dwyer and still don’t. We’ve been a side good at controlling the ruck, so a scooter like Dwyer has rarely if ever done anything against us. I always feel he’s greedy and kills more attacks then he starts.

This isn’t to give Powell much backing either as I also feel he’s lacking in too many areas and we definitely need to look for a hooker. I can’t see that Dwyer would improve us though. He’d be different but they’re both not in the league of superleagues top hookers.

For the rest of the game watch how quick Dwyer gets the ball from the floor to the receiver, then watch Powell.

I think he’s gone off now for another player we potentially could look at in Parcell but as I say I ain’t backing either of them. Neither are good enough IMO to be Wigan’s first choice hooker. I look at Roby, Clark, McShane etc and they’re well behind.

If I was targeting a hooker from another superleague team I like Kruise Leeming. He’s got a bit of everything to his game for me and plenty of improvement in him.

If I’m honest I’d have Matt Parcell, Dwyer is a Wigan lad that’s what threw me.

Dwyer May grow an extra leg at Wigan ala Terry Newton.....no way as I type that is unbelievable from Dwyer

I’m getting my coat



One and a bit dimensions then. What a night to post that! I still don’t feel any differently on him mind.

Do us a favour, tell me I won’t win the lottery tomorrow

You won’t win the lottery

We going halves?

Who dis?

Brad Dwyer isn’t a bad hooker but he’s not a cracker either. He seems to offer a bit more when he comes on from the bench that when he plays a full game (admittedly I don’t watch him every week).
I don’t see him as our answer at 9 and would prefer to let Shorrocks have an extended run of games. He’s added plenty when he’s come on in the last 2 matches and I’d say even when Powell is first again, I’d leave Shorrocks in the 17 ahead of him.

We would be going back down the route of playing a player out of position at 9. Powell wasn’t good enough to play 7 but managed to fill in for McIllorun at 9 when he was injured, he’s done well filling in but he’s not a hooker. Hookers are horrible nasty little grubs with good rugby brains, usually overweight and frustrated scrum halves with chips on their shoulders and that’s what’s we need, Powell is too nice and too honest to play there IMO.

The game has moved on from that kind of hooker IMO. Roby, Hodgson, Clarke, Smith etc don't fit that mould. I think with the reduction in interchanges we'll see hookers be good athletes who can play 80 and make a shedload of tackles and distribute the ball quickly and accurately. They will need to be fitter than the Cunningham and Lowes of old, even if that means playing a more simplified role. I'm not saying Powell is our man, but the position has evolved from what you describe IMO.

What I did was describe a nasty streak or a bit of mongrel, something all RL players need at every level at every age in every position especially in that position they need to be ruthless. The primary skill a hooker should have is he ability to pass accurately and speedily from the floor and Powell cannot do that, even when he isn’t jumping from 9 he still takes an age to make a basic pass quickly which slows our attack down from the start.

Agreed. Always liked him since he first came into SL. Smart young player.

Last season I saw young Jayden Brailey play hooker for Cronulla and I watched him play the other day and I think he would be a good signing. He’s a young lad so won’t be on mega bucks, but he’s an out and out hooker who works harder than a Japanese POW (But a happy one) and has all the attributes to make a very good player. Not blowing my own trumpet but I’m usually good at spotting talent, I reckon this lad will make a very good player.