Shirt numbers don’t really mean anything these days, didn’t Big Dave have number 35/ throughout his Trinity playing days. Just like big Dave, perhaps Murphy wants to wear his original playing number.

Wow across social media Wakefield fans find another new low to have pop it's now shirt numbers! Who cares what number a player has the numbers are meaningless unlike the days when you had 1-13 on the pitch

Are you for real?

It's just a number ffs, he's not back in anywhere.

Dave Fifita was 35 last year and played virtually every game.

Pathetic.

Quality trolling from the club!

Shirt numbers mean naff all. Whoever performs will be in the team. Also with Saints sniffing does anyone really think Murphy will hang around? I'd be surprised if he does.

What?

Is that really how you think it works?

No evidence other than the paranoia spreaders on here that Saints are remotely interested.

As it happens I reckon he will sign for us for another two years (so long as we avoid the relegation zone), be stupid not to.

Sts have already replaced Grace.

But numbers are real aren't they? Dave played his first season in 35, played number 8 the proceeding seasons until he ultimately selected to wear the No.35 again for his last season. Symbolic to Dave, maybe not to you.

Many players still see the awarding of squad number of 15 or below as a recognition, and as such many congratulating Corey Hall recently having being "promoted" to number 3, and similarly wondering with trepidation what Samisoni Langi will wear now that Reece was awarded No.4. Similarly, Batch played in 16 last year, and also chose to wear that number for KR this year. I don't think it's that difficult a concept. But it is real.

Which bit was pathetic?

All of it

You seem to think it's a slight and that it defines who will play and who won't, that's nonsense.

They are squad numbers not positional numbers in the old sense of the word. All clubs have different ways of allocating them, and players like different numbers for different reasons.

Truth is they are in many ways utterly meaningless, for example what number did Murphy play with last year? Didn't stop him playing in every game.

When Murphy plays on the wing he will be either 2 or 5 regardless of the number on his back, as he was last year.

So why make a big fuss because the 'pig' as you called him got the number five. If he actually plays ahead of Murphy then you may have a point, but for now it's plain nothing.

But it isn't 'pathetic'. No need to do that. It's just an opinion.

Pig isn't an insult. It's the nickname he gave himself.

I agree numbers mean nothing when they start playing. But right now the club knows that fans will read the implication that it is the preferred line up.
It never is, so why put any of them in their correct position.

Don't agree, an opinion based on what?

No pig was an insult in this case, look again at the context in which he used it, then tell me that was the use of a friendly nickname.

I know you love to be contrary with me, and why not if it makes you happy, but this time I'll defend my position.

They’re just squad numbers. I would imagine in pre season we will get to see a few combinations and I will support whichever player puts in the effort and pulls on the shirt come match day.


There could be a number of reasons. Not anything to lose any sleep about.

Well if they are just squad numbers, then what is the point of this charade of releasing them on a daily basis. If they are totally meaningless, I dont see the point of it all.

Were'nt the other day you wanting a big fanfare to go with it?! Highlights reels, player profiles etc, etc! Is it because you don't agree with them that you have changed your mind??

Can we not just assume we do this back and forth for once and you understand that calling someone's opinion pathetic is inflammatory, whether its right or wrong.
Just prove him wrong with logic and knowledge rather than that.

I agree about the way he uses pig but it's still the name he gives himself.

Would be stronger with a full-back i'd say

If Lineham plays in front of Murphy or Kershaw or Jorge then he's doing the business. If he doesn't and stinks the place out he will be on the sides line/reserves/on loan. What the number on his back is not relevant. The squad numbers and how they are revealed is just a bit of fun in the run up to Christmas. There's novreason to get all snowfakey about but all.

But you started your argument (that numbers were pointless), predicated on Dave playing most games last year, whereby to Dave himself numbers clearly meant something. You implied that the meaning of squad numbers is of no value to anyone.

Seemingly, having lost that argument you have now perpetuated the same premise to Lewis Murphy, attaching gravitas to the fact that the number of games played is not directly linked to a squad number. And also that I called Tom Lineham a pig.

I know how squad numbers work. But this wasn't your argument. And I didn't called Tim Lineham a Pig per ce - he is "The Pig", "The Flying Pig".

Is that clear?

How am I using "Pig" PT?

For me, the same way I would say "The Bopper", or "Bopper" as opposed to "The Big Bopper".

Detente on the Trinity message board. Wow.

Well they have and they haven’t.

They have signed Ritson on a 1 year deal, with a second year in their favour.

I think he is formally signed on loan for this year and then if Saints want they take him for the second year.

Obviously if Ritson smashes it they won’t be looking but I’d wager they will be aggressively knocking on the door for 24 and their success/failure with those attempts will dictate if they take Ritson for 24.

You tell me. Did you mean it as a compliment?

I'm not fussed personally. It was a mild dig at best.

I'm worried about how this looks in my cynical world. I'm worried that Ritson is an insurance policy for Saints if they can't tempt Lewis in 2024.

I would dearly hope that Lewis signs an extended deal with us next year, but if he doesn't I would be gutted. It's a short life in RL though isn't it. And I saw Allan Hunte start his career at Wakefield and before we knew it within a few short games Alex Murphy had seduced him. Gutted.

As I remember it, he'd already signed or intended to sign before he even played a game for us.
At the time it was probably the right decision for him.

On Sts, I'm not sure Ritson is even their first choice. They've said they are still happy playing Bennison.