I've seen quite alot of people callin him a "luxury" signing and saying we don't need him. In my opinion he will be the best 2nd row we've had for years if he plays even half as good as he played for the storm. He's 26 so is still relatively young and he comes with origin experience and test caps for the kangaroos!

I would like to know why people are already writing him off when he hasn't even played a second for us yet??

No one is writing him off, just merely pointing out the fact that we have alot of choice in that spot with our own homegrown players. IMO he is a luxury player, but im looking forward to seeing him.

Can see why he is being called a luxury signing but if he rips in and shows his NRL/representative form people will be begging him to take up the 2nd yr option of his contract without a doubt, even with all the quality competition in the back row. He will also be a good presence for people like Farrell, Tuson and Mossop to learn from.

I don't think he is a luxury signing. I feel he along with Lima are exactly what we needed. Other than the games we lost by taking our foot of the gas we lost because we were out muscled.

While Tuson and Farrel are good players they lack the experience, size and strength to go toe to toe with their opposite and beat them. The wire game at home last year where we were in my opinion ground down by Wire's bigger set of forwards (yes I'm aware that Coley was banned from playing in this game). But now with Lima and Hoffman on board we'll be the one's doing the bullying.

i agree and after seeing him in the flesh today i doubt there will be anyone with a brain (that rules out saints and wire) willing to try it with him hes HUGE!!!

You can never have enough 'fire' and 'grunt' in the pack !

I think he will be a decent sighning.

I think he'll be a cross between Bryan Fletcher and David Furner.

That's good enough for me.

Yep.

He is not a "luxury" player. A luxury player would be someone like Feka with essentially only one aspect to his game, and who needs covering for.

This guy is the complete opposite.


Too often in the past our young players have been thrown in at the deep end with negative effects on their development.

Great to have "youngsters" who are chomping at the bit, but can't quite make it into the team.

He is a top player from Aus who 2 years ago was probably one of the top 3 SR in the world, he is not filling a gap but he s adding to our strongest position. He is a luxury signing. I don't have a problem with it, I am chuffed to have such a good player in the team but I think after a year unless he has had a significant world class impact he should probably make way for our own younger home grown stars.

I saw him in town a couple of weeks ago, it's fair to say nobody will be bullying him. My guess is you will be begging to keep him.

Spot on



I think Hoffman will be a good signing,,, wouldnt be suprised to see him in the front row.

Hoffman
Lima
Fielden
Coley
Hock
Prescott
Mossop
Joel
Hansen

All BIG units there, they'll take some bullying

I personal wasnt calling him a luxury signing i just dont understand why people are calling him that i personally believe we will be begging him to take the 2nd year option and fully expect to see him in the dream team come the end of the year

where has this thread come from,world class player ok maybe for one season(i think due to salary cap in aus) just give the lad a chance,stop being pedantic.

i wasnt calling him but on other threads a few people have called him a luxury signing and saying we dont need him. you always need a world class player no matter wat strength you have in that position

I think it is the matter of him being a player that we did not really need given the strength of our backrow. But having said that he clearly improves our team, and it will be interesting to see how he and others are used throughout the year.

I think he will be a great asset to us next year, but I would also not be gutted to see him go home after the 1st year of his deal if we could bring in a top class centre to replace George and take Hoffmans space on the cap.

Why not take it up with those posters on those individual threads then?
Strange thread which potrays the general opinion in a way I haven't seen nor subscribe to...

In the days of the salary cap I do not think that is always the case.

I think in all honesty its more about will or won't Hoffman stay. He's only signed for a year, we have Gaz Hock returning and he's of an age where he will get a deal at most NRL clubs, including Storm when they sort out their finances.

Personally, I'll be surprised to see him at Wigan the season after next.

Agreed, I fully expect him to be a Melbourne player again in 2012.

Especially if he sees this thread, and realises that Wigan fans are debating whether they need him or not.

That would be a difficult pill for any new signing to swallow, but for a world class player who's basically better than anyone else in his posiiton in the whole of the UK, it must be amazing.

Agreed, I must point out that although you quoted me, I wasn't one of those people.

Hoffman will be the best forward we have, not just back row.

I have always believed his intention and the understanding would be he returned to the Storm in 2012. I would however love to be wrong, but with the riches we do have, its what makes the most sense.

What's his style? Never seen him play before so would be interested to hear what he's like. He's a big un that's for sure, reckon he'd be able to play prop if required? Just thinking about how we would get round dropping one of our established back row

I would call Lima your luxury signing.

How ?

When prop was a position we needed to strengthen

The thing is he is a luxury player but I'm still excited to see him play.

Without him Wigan have the best back row in the league & with him it's simply, on it's day, one of the best in World RL IMO.

But if he gets injured or suspended he'll be missed but we will still be heads and shoulders above the rest. That IMO means he's a luxury.