Pretty fair post FT.

I think SF is in the fortunate position of being able to make his decision not soley on a financial basis.

He has had a lot of money over the last 4 years.

Ofc I haven't seen his bank account, and this is pure speculation.

If fielden decides to go, FuiFui or Willi Mason as a replacement

so where were wigan going for the last few seasons?

the last two seasons before this season, we have had average players on big contracts, now them players have been released we are slowly building again, which will take a couple of seasons, i find your comments laughable as we have a board who has brought the club into the black, the past few seasons we have made profits, our merchandise is second to none and probably the best in the league for that! not bad for a mork and mindy act is it?

money talks in this game, challenging for honours or not, players will sign a contract thats best for them financially, afer all, there not on football wages!

Willie Mason
Mike McIlorum
Gareth Hock
Ryan Hoffman
Joel Tomkins
Sean O'loughlin

You would love to see Keith Mason try anything with that pack!

It is interesting that Leeds' Maguire says that his team mates could get more money else where but prefer to stay at Leeds. That's the attitude we need at Wigan.

Fielden's won every club honour in the game and this is likely to be his last major contract - it's obvious what his motivation will be, and who can blame him?

I can't see Fui Fui leaving the NRL anytime soon and Mason is apparently asking for alot more than Fielden will be asking for.

Wigan will NOT sign Willie Mason.

Straight from IL's mouth at last years shareholders meeting.

We could sign any prop if Fielden goes! Willie Mason would not be my choice.

Only if you think Hoffman/Lima/Finch/Hock will be earning the same as the outgoing players like Phelps/Feka/Riddell/Bailey.

I suspect they'll be earning quite a lot more as a group (especially given relative exchange rates now compared to when the outgoing players were signed) - hence why SF is being asked to take a pay cut.

No he isn't.

Fielden is being asked to take a pay cut because he's on an unsustainable amount given the Mo contract and the situation we were in when he signed, not because of signings for next year. Without any new players for next season do you seriously think we'd be offering Fielden a contract on anything like a similar yearly salary?

Fielden and Feka take around a quarter of our cap space, add in other likely departures such as Deacon going FT on coaching and Pryce and we should have more than enough to afford our high quality signings from Melbourne without taking food off Fielden's table.

LMS is our replacement for James graham

If Graham does eventually go to the NRL which looks increasingly likely, your going to have to work miracles to bring in a prop from Auz better than Graham. The very top echelon of props in Auz aren't going to come to SL because they'd miss out on SOO and Rep football.

Having further talks with Hull this week, nothing concluded yet but he is doing so with Wigan's blessing. Just trying to tie up the financial details but apparently it's close to being done.

Unless we have a replacement lined up we're right back to square one again.

You could argue we're worse off.

Feka and Fielden out, only Lima in.

Yeah I didn't word that very well - I was trying to make the point you don't have Fielden's salary to spend like for like, a proportion of it will have been spent on signings and contract upgrades for your excellent young players.



Don't agree with that - Fielden's salary will have been eaten into by the quality of signings made by Wigan this year. Deacon and Pryce will have been on a relative pittance.

Obviously I don't know the numbers, but Finch/Lima/Hoffman/Hock won't be playing for peanuts and some youngsters will be due upgrades.

Fui Fui will not leave the NRL unless its for a ridiculous amount of money that would just be too good to turn down. Even then I highly doubt he will leave. We dont want Mason, useless, lazy and disruptive and will cost alot of money.

The Bulls offered Moi Moi a LOT of miney to come over as a replacement for Joe Vagana for 09 but the refused
mason is off to KR

and isnt Stuart coming back to Bradford ?

I would have thought the wages of Feka, Bailey, Riddell, Pryce and Deacon would/should eassily cover Hoffman, Linch and Lima.. Even if it did eat into some of Fieldens wage i would also think it would leave enough for 2 new players

deacon wouldnt have been on a lot cause who else would have wanted him ?
riddel would have been your top earner adn ye would probs cover finch / lima
hoffman will want a bit more

Feka and Bails aren't exactly on peanuts. I'd expect to see the vast majority of Fieldens wages available to spend

I know, I doubt you offered him the riduculas amounts that could tempt him though. Ive said this to many people that he wont come to superleague. It would take far too much money. The reason he wont come is his daughter, who has been very ill for some time. Many credit Moi Moi's surge in form last year to this and wanting to earn more money for her treatment. It must be bad enough for him that his family are in NZ.

Obviously I don't know the numbers, but Finch/Lima/Hoffman/Hock won't be playing for peanuts and some youngsters will be due upgrades.'"