I honestly think it's true. I'm not saying they should have to, but it does seem to work that way

I really wouldn't bring race in to it. I'm somebody who thinks the foreign lads get a harder time then the English lads and inparticular Wigan lads but that's because people like to see the local kids doing well rather then the other way round.

There's a natural patience given to them.

I will make my final judgement on Gelling when I see him play in his correct position. He has been asked to play in an unfamiliar position and yes has made mistakes. I think he has the making of a decent second row, however, until i see him given a fair chance in his preferred position i will just appreciate the job he is doing for us.

I'm actually stunned by that comment.

All the black players I can remember at Wigan were held in great affection by the fans, even going back to the 60s and 70s. Even an underachiever like Ronnie Braithwaite was popular with the crowd.

Possibly the stupidest post iv ever seen in all my time on these forums.

Your on very thin ice I'd imagine.

Thin ice from what? It's not like he's come out with anything racist himself or in anyway condoned what's he thinks he's seen from a section of fans.

It might, imo, be misguided in regards the colour references but I certainly don't think he's a million miles away from the point in regards to antipodeans not being offered the same time or leniency as what academy lads are. You can sugar coat that or spin it in a different way if you want but it is a form of racism.

Some sections of our 'fans' are hell bent on the academy lads and it's frankly quite pathetic and not that far away from the policies of the BNP or UKIP who i personally detest.

Wigan born players don't have a god given right to opportunities just because they were born in the borough.

you said you didn't rate him, and the points you cite as to why, is two knock ons and him not putting the ball down closer to the posts. And when I challenged you and pointed out other players who'd made very similar mistakes, receiving no negative comment from yourself, you chose to ignore it, and insulted my post.

Now if you don't like him, for whatever reason, that's fine, you're entitled to your opinion, just as I am to mine. But, if you continue on your little mini-vendetta you have against the lad, do please be prepare to be challenged. If you cite such ridiculous points, prepare to be challenged. If you insult people's posts, prepare to be insulted yourself.

I think you make some very good points here Sgt. The world is a smaller place and people have the right to work across all sorts of national boundaries.

I've never heard anyone make the point you raise about Wigan born players, but you are right.

However Wigan are bucking some sort of trend with the squad at present being mainly Wigan born players. I think what most people like is that Wigan are producing their own players rather than buying success by going for expensive foreign imports (e.g. like Saints/Warrington/Wigan - of 10 years ago) and that has got to be for the good of the club if it is to be sustainable in the future.

If the orignal poster were to consider non-UK players and race then there's a higher minority bias in the non-UK player pool. However the moaning is pretty consistant to non-UK not non-white players so to make the statement is really an attempt to make a rasist slant where none exists.

If we were to make the comparison to the UK players we simply have a statistically low pool to pick from, Dasi Williams seemed to have got criticism in his very short time but no more than Ainscough or Pat Richards in year 1 at Wigan and certainly more than Jason Robinson, Ellery Hanley or Billy Boston.

There is a bias to local grown tallent and why not? Pride in the local community isn't a bad thing and if Wigan can bring tallent through v's buy from another team (UK or not) then why not?

he was not showing much in the way of potential, than I could understand people getting on his back.

By no means does this make him exempt from criticism, but, I feel he comes in for harsher criticism than other players, and I feel this is unfair.

Racism is treating someone differently or abusively on the basis that you believe that they come from an inferior race. A race of people have the same genetic make-up. (So yes, it does mean in most cases, someone with different colour skin)

Hope that helps!

Quote ="Aboveusonlypie"Racism is treating someone differently or abusively on the basis that you believe that they come from an inferior race. A race of people have the same genetic make-up. (So yes, it does mean in most cases, someone with different colour skin) Hope that helps!'" rac·ism (rszm) n. 1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. 2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race. race 1 (rs) n. 1. A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics. 2. A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution: the German race. 3. A genealogical line; a lineage. Race is not just skin colour. www.thefreedictionary.com/

Quote ="Aboveusonlypie"Racism is treating someone differently or abusively on the basis that you believe that they come from an inferior race. A race of people have the same genetic make-up. (So yes, it does mean in most cases, someone with different colour skin) Hope that helps!'" rac·ism (rszm) n. 1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. 2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race. race 1 (rs) n. 1. A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics. 2. A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution: the German race. 3. A genealogical line; a lineage. Race is not just skin colour. www.thefreedictionary.com/

Maybe Shaun Wane is racist and that is the reason he isn't being played on a regular basis or maybe just maybe it's because he thinks he isn't good enough. I tend to think it is the latter and agree with that assessment.

skin.

Observing from afar and watching his performances on tv I think Gelling brings a lot of the criticism onto himself due to his level of performance.

This is a similar type of thread that you had on here for a couple of years when Karl Pryce was the great white hope. I hope that Wigan give Gelling a contract extension like they did with Pryce.

The term "great white hope" came from the desperation to find a white heavyweight boxer good enough to beat Jack Johnson.

Hardly suitable to use it for Karl Pryce!!!!

The lad has more heart and desire in his left nut then Pryce had in his whole body. He works hard for the team, taking in tough carries and scores as many if not more then Pryce. He's been playing top flight rugby league for about 15 games unlike Pryce who started off at Bradford at around 17 and had years under his belt before taking the easy life and money in Union.

It's a non starter to compare the two and here's hoping we extend his contract but for serious reasons rather then to give an opposition fan, desperate to see any form of Wigan failure, however small, a thrill!

I don't know why I feel the answer to all of these could be "the population of Leigh Asda"

Gelling is the product of two separate NRL club's development systems. He hardly came to Wigan as a rugby league novice.

How's Kevin Penny doing these days?

no he came to wigan as a bricklayer and had a bit of experience in the 2nd row never playing first grade, and he's playing better than karl pryce ever did so its a none starter. But your right i hope we do offer him a 2 year extension he's only going to fill out and become better its clear to see he can be a good player.

He got binned off by Sydney Roosters for crapping on a hotel's floor and then went to play for the NZ Warriors feeder club. I make that two NRL club's development systems but willing to count again if you think I might have mis-counted somewhere.

ok so he was lying when he was saying he's day job was a brick layer? he got sacked from the rooster AS A SECOND ROW and went playing part time for the vulcans who just happen to be used by the new zealand warriors. He's been played out of a position every game he's managed to get because of injuries and he looks a lot better this season than last and i am happy that he's at wigan

Complete rubbish.


It was a table

He s where he wants,
He s where he wants,
Anthony Gelling, he s where he wants!!

Some nonsense on this thread.

Comparing Pryce and Gelling is just silly.

And as for the racism issue, that is deeply offensive as a suggestion.

There has been unfair and nasty criticism of particular players going on for a long time . It really is quite depressing. The worst example is the abuse aimed at Lockers for a number of years.. We have an annoying amount of idiots but they are just idiots rather than racist idiots, to be fair. There aren't many Wigan fans who don't appreciate what black players have done for our club and the game. Some of them are all time greats of rugby, not just club legends.