If Blair goes to Wests and Hoffman back to Storm and can see us looking at Chris Highington as Blair could well be replacing him at Wests.

He's already declared an interest in playing for England as he holds an English passport which would also means he wouldn't be on the quota.

Also he said this in 2006.





Or am I looking into this too much?

The other thing is that coaches come and go. It must be very rare - I can only think of Millward in modern times at Wigan - when the appointment of a specific coach has led directly to players wanting to leave.

I think, as others have said, it's just paper talk.

im sure Mr Smith knows nowt

Didn't he only put his hand up for an English shirt after being constantly over-looked for his first choice, Australia?

He is a machine, never stops running and tackling with fantastic leg drive in the tackle.

If we are in the market for a backrow forward he would be a great player to look at, if Wests are potentially sacrificing him and Ayshford for Blair I think they want their heads testing. Blair is top class without doubt but I think sacrificing 2 excellent performers to make room for him on the cap is a massive call.

Heighington is a beast with a huge engine on him, he'd bolster our pack no end. Would love for this to happen.

Thread on the VT saying Widdop is on just 35k a year..... sign him up!!! Offer him a deal!!!! Please IL!!!!!

Just signed a new contract, and who can blame him.

id jump at a contract like that 35k n stay in aussie, where do i sign!

So we possibly have carmont and possibly deacon and coley retiring and hoffman going home.

We only have hock coming in as a direct replacement for hoffman.

Add to this Gleeson leaving early this year.

That says to me we have a huge lump of cap to spend.

We need definate replacments for Carmont, deacon and Coley.

To maintain our strength in depth we need 3 new signings for next year.

Whilst it's massively important to make sure you sign quality players next year there is simply no room for error.

As Tricky Dicky said:

Carmont
Coley
Hoffman
Deacon
Gleeson
+ the biggest loss with Madge

Simply that's a massive chunk of talent and leadership walking out the door. All apart from Hoffman had key roles in last years success and Hoffman is top draw as well.

We need to sign players of this calibre next season or we WILL fall behind quickly.

Potentially add in Roberts to that equation who will be on no small wage and it looks like we may have a huge chunk of change left over.

2 top signings plus upgrades for the youth?

I dont think 2 top draw signings will be enough. Its 3 minimum for me, at very least a centre, a halfback who can play 6 or 7 and a forward

I'm hopeful Joe Mellor can step up next year. If Tommy were to leave then I think we'd need a top class hooker/7, but apart from that it'd be 2 centres or a centre and a 2nd rower (depending on Joel, who I would like to try and centre for the rest of the year)

Looks like Waterhouse is coming to us, to be announced tomorrow

Will be on a fair wedge id expect, does this add flames to the king rumors?

King and Anderson are the rumours going round, King is looking for an Aus club but there doesn't seem to be much interest so another SL club may come in for him, whereas strong rumours linking Anderson to Catalans, i've read on the Oz forums that Waterhouse is looking for £400k

Louis anderson and solomona are leaving so probably not

Solo doesn't count on the quota

He shouldn't be allowed to demand that at the tender age of 31!

You can always half any and knock some more off any figure quoted anywhere in Australia.

He'll be well paid but obviously nowhere near that level and he comes with a reputation that means he should be worth a good wage.

Hopefully from our point of view we'll sign King, Griffin and a halfback or hooker but the quality has to be right or else theres little point. We may aswell give more of our youngsters a chance then bring in sub standard NRL players.

I've only got that off the forums, Waterhouse doesn't want to leave the Panthers but SC means they can't keep him, he's wanted at the Knights but he says he just couldn't line up against the Panthers so if he must go it's to SL

Christ almighty; its bad enough idiots from Wigan quoting such stupid figures let alone a Warrington fan doing it.

That figure would be for the whole of his three year contract.

You do realise because he said it, that it's now true? So basically a quarter of the cap on one player.

I did say i lifted it off a forum, i didn't pull it out of thin air or make it up, chill