Now we're a couple of games into the season we now have the chance to reflect on the near signing, and missing out on Greg Bird.

Are people happy now that we missed out? Or would people still like him in Cherry and White?

On a personal note, I'm pleased we missed out, at the time I was excited at the possibility of Bird/Smith 6/7, but with the success of Wigan youngster Sam Tomkins at 6 I'm more than happy with super Sam.

Thoughts people?

No more imports please.

There's no doubt in my mind that he's a very talented player but as you have mentioned is he worth risking for to take a place instead of Sam Tomkins or any of our other young players coming through? No I don't think so.

Agreed if they are middle of the road and/or in the spine of the team. Leeds and Saints have shown us the way forward!!

Bird looks slightly over weight.

Would sooner have Sam for many reasons.

It might be a bit premature to judge really.

Tomkins has been fantastic since his inclusion to the point where Noble can't drop him. If he continues his good form then I would I agree that it was a good omen that we missed out on Bird.

I'm pretty happy with what we already have.

Can't believe he has been made captain of Catalans

I'll still be interested to see what happens if/when he tries to play in UK.

AFAIK he hasn't tried to play in this country yet.

It could be very embarrassing if he is detained at half-time in a match and deported as he has no visa to work here.

How have we missed out? He cant get a permit to work in the UK.

Hopefully there will be a Wiganer on passport control when it comes to their JJB fixture.

Bird would have been another attempt at a quick fix, which has'nt worked for us in the past. We need long term stability as regards half backs and I think we are now heading in the right direction by playing sam at 6.
This lad is our future and it's finally a relief to see us getting things right after so many years of short term imports.
It's a pleasure to see our young lads coming through and other clubs talking about them rather than us looking at the likes of Saints and Leeds wondering why we can't produce future stars.

Definately haven't missed out. We aren't going to be a Grand Final winning side this year but on the other hand we can't go down, therefore there isnt a great risk in giving players like Ainscough and Tomkins valuable experience rather than throwing another import in the 13.

Even though he wasn't availible for a work permit I still feel Lenegan was right in not offering him a decent salary.

He played at Wakefield a couple of weeks ago.

Well said pal

I think you will find if IL offered him anything at all it is what our salary cap allowed us to pay.

There was clearly a desire by either IL, Nobby or both to get him here. They didn't deliberately offer him a lower salary because there was only a half hearted interest as your statement above implies. One or both of them wanted him as a Wigan player.

Dave

speaking to a few catalans' fans, they are less than impressed with him and would much rather have a young french lad getting some experience.
there's a thread about him on the catalans forum.

Another who believes the myth. In what parallel universe have Saints produced more kids than us?

The one where Eddie Hemmings is the voice and master of all things RL where Wigan RL are scum and anything Rhino, Wolf or Saint requires him to chance his pants after mentioning them.

Quality not quantity.

Tell that to Eddie Hemmings. He seems to think the game is awash with your youngsters when, in reality, you have produced KFC 15yrs ago, Wello 10 yrs and Roby and Jamrag 3 yrs ago. Definitely not quantity. No-one is arguing about their quality.

Both Wigan and Saints have and are producing good young players.

That isn't the issue with Wigan, the issue is how the young players have been handled in the past.

The implication was Saints have in the recent past produce many young players. They have not.



Correctly at least 95% of the time IMO if by the above you mean who got to stay and who was let go. It's another myth we didn't. There is only one Wigan produced player who I really think was a mistake to let go - Long.

Name me another who has come back to haunt us?

Dave

Noble wanted him as was said at the fans forum. Lenegan rated him but wasn't prepared to get rid of a few players in order to make space on the cap, as we have done a few times before with ML. From what I can gather Lenegan wanted Sam Tomkins to be given his chance straight from the off.

The point I'm trying to make is with Tomkins and Ainscough we have two lads with real potential star quality. First time in many a year. Probably since Jason Robinson.
They have put a bit of passion back into the team which has been missing for many years.

And KFC, Wello, Etc are not my youngsters, see sig at the bottom.

Please accept my most humble apology!