on Wish FM this morning Deacon likely to sign for Wigan in a coaching capacity and cover for sam and tommy

not sure bout this really

thoughts

Depends what his coaching credentials are really. If they're good - i.e. if he's pased all his exams with flying colours, etc - then I don't see why not. It would presumably only be in some junior capacity. But MM must have okayed it first.

Rumour in Australia is that Bradford have signed Matt Orford.

I'd be very suprised if Deacon is pretty much hanging up the boots though but then he has had his fair share of injury problems.

yeah it's for the junior side. when i said cover for tommy and sam i meant in a playing capacity also. but i can't see him getting much of a game with piggy and mclorum cover for hooker.

think it's a pointless signing we don't really need an extra half back.

Were crying out for a Scrum Half.

Would be really p!ssed if bradford get Orford before wigan

i herd yesterday that he was likely to come to us. mm wanted to bring in 1 more person for the coaching setup and deacon seems to be the man.hel be coaching the backs.

Matt Orford will be 32 at the beginning of next year and will be looking for a minimum two year big contract.

If we were to bring Deacon in a coaching capacity to help Tomkins, Mellor and Powell to develop, and be used as emergency backup then that would be great idea.

Deacon was probably the most underrated scrum half in the game, and had the best kicking game.

He wasn't.

He's an average all round scrum half with a good kicking game. Lee Briers without the temper tantrums, but also without the ability to do something off the cuff.

Lee Briers without the three SL championship rings, 2 CC winners' medals, 3 WCCs and a Harry Sunderland. Or did I get things mixed up?

I would have Paul at Wigan. Good solid pro coming towards the end of his career if he can pass a little bit of SH knowledge (kicking game and on field leadership) onto the like's of Sam & Tommy then it would be worth it.

He wouldn't have 2 do something off the cuff when or if he plays as either Tommy or Sam can do that stuff.

All he's gotta do is kick us around the park and get the ball to our other off the cuff players like Gleeson, Carmont, Sam and Tommy.

He would be an excellent back up who we can bring in if needs must.

Andy Wilson reckons it's on. www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/no ... n-bradford

Andy Wilson reckons it's on. www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/no ... n-bradford

He would have good to sign him as ap player 2 year ago but if he helps out in coaching and could help to get a 2nd kicker.

To quote Pulp Fiction

What i mean is i would like to sign him up as a kicking coach to try and gets us a back up kicker for pat as last season proved we dont have one.

Good professional, good character, Wigan born and a decent player.

I'm more than happy to have this type of player to have within the squad and club and to lend experience to our younger players.

The only query I'd have in regards to the signing would be how much of the cap he'd take up, but we'd have to aknowledge the signing would be much more than just a on-the-field perspective.

not sure where he fits in tommy, sam half back, tommy mclorum piggy hooker. you need your half backs to play the full 80 not swap them around.

that's the only issue i have.

I would have to look at it that way to see it positively.

Never really rated Deacon, goalkicking aside. But if they think he's an excellent coaching prospect and someone who can help our younger players plus giving us backup that we don't currently have then fair enough.

Can't help but wonder whether we should be in for Orford, but I guess he's just not an Ian Lenagan signing. 32, probably after a big paycheck, Australian. Undoubtedly a class act though, in a way I'm pleased that Bradford have got him - I'm hoping they can make some improvements next year, its never good to see a former top club decline so badly.

Another little side issue to this - there's a snippet in the Sun that Wakefield are desperately trying to get Huddersfield to pay a fee to sign Danny Brough because of their financial issues. Could never make my mind up as to whether Brough would be a good player for Wigan.

I'd hope his role at Wigan would primarily be in a coaching capacity. But I can see how he would be a useful player to add to the squad.

I would always play Tommy and Tomkins over Deacon but what if either pick up an injury? We don't have cover for 6 and 7 and would have to look to the reserves or think about moving the team around. To be able to draft someone in of Deacon's quality is a great fallback plan. Sure he's not going to set the team alight but he's got experience, a great kicking game, organisational and leadership qualities. A great replacement in times of injury.

Plus Deacon has the right type of mentality and will be a great influence on all the young players coming through. With him and Radlinski involved in the club the players have a couple of insiring role models to look to.

People want both Tomkins and Leuluai to start leading the team around the park, thats the major element lacking in both of their games. There's not many people better in super league in that respect to learn off. If he's also rated as a young coach then even better.

As for playing time, if he's backup I have no problem with that, he'd still get in a number of SL sides as first choice so to have him as backup can only be a good thing.

There's no way i'd sign the 2009 vintage Matt Orford he's been gash.

I think this would be a very good signing, last year we lacked somebody to organise us, I have a feeling that the new coach may see Tommy as a hooker and not a scrum half.

Had briers been in that team they'd still have won those trophies. Whereas long was a major catalyst for us, the likes of lowes and paul were more important to you than deacon was imo. I can see why wigan would sign him, a steady eddie who is better than leuluai, but to state that he was massively underrated is giving him too much credit.

In a coaching capacity yes I'm all for it.

In a playing capacity no I'm dead against it.

Simples.

Fits in with Radlinksi's wishes, according to his book anyway, of having specialist coaches for specific positions

Radders - outside backs
Deacon - halfbacks
Wane - forwards

Was MM a stand off in his day? If so he should be able to look after the middle backs, or delegate this between the existing staff