Wakey sign..

[Old Frightful]

On a permanent deal. I didn't want to be left out of the "Wakey sign" threads...

[Kenilworth Tiger]

Fantastic signing for Wakefield - just shows the club is heading in the right direction and with the new ground set to be built by Christmas the future is looking fabulous for them

[BulldogBurt]

Fantastic signing for Wakefield - just shows the club is heading in the right direction and with the new ground set to be built by Christmas the future is looking fabulous for them

Do I detect just the slightest hint of sarcasm there KT?

[sam]

Fantastic signing for Wakefield - just shows the club is heading in the right direction and with the new ground set to be built by Christmas the future is looking fabulous for them

i agree

[Old Frightful]

Fantastic signing for Wakefield - just shows the club is heading in the right direction and with the new ground set to be built by Christmas the future is looking fabulous for them

Is that "Christmas" building contractors? Never heard of 'em.

[terrywebbisgod]

Is that "Christmas" building contractors? Never heard of 'em.

A subsidiary of "the cheque is in the post"plc

[tonyXIII]

Is that "Christmas" building contractors? Never heard of 'em.

"Yeah, we did say 'Christmas', but we didn't say which Christmas, Guv'"

As a Salford fan, I do realise that I have just loaded a gun and pointed it at myself.

[Dave T]

Good luck to him. Feel a bit sorry for how it worked out for him at Warrington, but over the past few years he has given us some briliant highlights and scored some breathtaking tries.

This is an entertainment business, and he was certainly entertaining. I thought he showed at Quins that he was too good for U21's and he deserved a run in SL, so I really hope he does well.

[sam]

Good luck to him. Feel a bit sorry for how it worked out for him at Warrington, but over the past few years he has given us some briliant highlights and scored some breathtaking tries.

This is an entertainment business, and he was certainly entertaining. I thought he showed at Quins that he was too good for U21's and he deserved a run in SL, so I really hope he does well.

yep. the improvement smith got out of others made me wonder if he could get the same out of kevin.

taking ashton on the outside against wigan, the ridiculous ones against sts and a sprint from a briers kick against salford.

[scotthouston2008]

let's see what happens with regular gametime!

[trakl]

yep. the improvement smith got out of others made me wonder if he could get the same out of kevin.

taking ashton on the outside against wigan, the ridiculous ones against sts and a sprint from a briers kick against salford.

Leeds' Ryan Hall looks to be set for that England left-wing spot at the end of the season and, in many ways, he deserves it. He's hard-working, solid defensively, reads the game well, big, strong... but not very fast and just a little lacking in inspiration. He doesn't set the pulse racing with his attacking genius - no bewildering, accelerating side-steps a la Jason Robinson or the outside-swerve and killing pace of Martin Offiah.

That's not his fault, of course. There are very few players anywhere in the world with the "complete" game. Nonetheless, it is a pity that Tony Smith appears to have conceded defeat re Kevin Penny who, not too long ago, managed to score a handful of tries of authentic genius - the kind, that for all his achievements, Ryan Hall does not look capable of delivering.

[terrywebbisgod]

Leeds' Ryan Hall looks to be set for that England left-wing spot at the end of the season and, in many ways, he deserves it. He's hard-working, solid defensively, reads the game well, big, strong... but not very fast and just a little lacking in inspiration. He doesn't set the pulse racing with his attacking genius - no bewildering, accelerating side-steps a la Jason Robinson or the outside-swerve and killing pace of Martin Offiah.

That's not his fault, of course. There are very few players anywhere in the world with the "complete" game. Nonetheless, it is a pity that Tony Smith appears to have conceded defeat re Kevin Penny who, not too long ago, managed to score a handful of tries of authentic genius - the kind, that for all his achievements, Ryan Hall does not look capable of delivering.

Which begs the question, should wingers be lightning fast whippets who can't defend for toffee(a la Kevin Penny)or strong dependable wingers in the mould of Hall etc.

[trakl]

Which begs the question, should wingers be lightning fast whippets who can't defend for toffee(a la Kevin Penny)or strong dependable wingers in the mould of Hall etc.

It's a good question even if your characterization of Penny not being able to "defend for toffee" is too harsh in its definitiveness.

Kevin Penny has made some high-profile mistakes defensively but might with dedication, growing confidence and good coaching learn to defend as well as did Martin Offiah.

Penny, like Offiah, will never be a defensive colossus but remains the only English winger capable of scoring the kind of tries which made the latter in full flight one of the greatest sights in all of sport.

These scoring feats are beyond the capabilities of Hall - which is why I'd be in that minority of choosing Penny ahead of him for England.

[terrywebbisgod]

Correct,players like Hall can't score the tries that the likes of Penny can and Offiah could.Tony Smith will have worked with Penny no doubt and he probably doesn't fit in with how he wants his team to play,wingers of Penny's ilk are a dying breed I fear.

[MrPosh]

He's obviously not the best player, but I don't think there's an individual in this country I'd rather see play than Kevin Penney.

[The Future is League]

a very exciting player with ball in hand. the problem for kevin is when the other team has the ball and they target his poor defence. i'm sure John Kear will be working very hard on this weak point in Kevins game in the pre-season.

[Wendall]

Penny wasn't quite the player Smith wanted which is a shame because he is the most exciting winger in the country, if not the most complete winger.

[NEIL FOX IS GOD]

Penny for Blanch that will do for me

[The Best The Beautiful The Only]

As good as Offiah was, he would not have the same impact against FT players playing the modern game as he did back when he was the man.

Back the you could get away with just having pace, you cant now.

[giwildgo]

As good as Offiah was, he would not have the same impact against FT players playing the modern game as he did back when he was the man.

Back the you could get away with just having pace, you cant now.

Hugely disrespectful to say Offiah had 'just pace' - his speed has been replicated both before and since, what really made him unique was his acceleration and his ability to change direction / body swerve at full speed. Penny is one dimensional in comparison.

To make a statement that a player would not have had the same impact against FT players is a complete myth - he wasn't FT at Widnes and many teams were full time whilst he was at Wigan. The guy was a phenomenon and would've been in any era.

Edited September 26, 2010 by giwildgo

[Wolford6]

Hugely disrespectful to say Offiah had 'just pace' - his speed has been replicated both before and since, what really made him unique was his acceleration and his ability to change direction / body swerve at full speed.

Martin Offiah played in an era when there wasn't as much emphasis on defending the bomb. However, at 6Ft+ and with natural ball skills, I suspect he would have been nowhere as weak as Kevin Penny.

Next season, it looks like Wakefield will have Kevin Penny and Rikki Sheriffe as their wingers. Plenty of excitement, entertainment and gaffes from both so fans will get their money's worth.

[adelwire]

Sorry to see Kev go. Really exciting player. Yes gaffs but some fantastic tries. Disappointed witth Smith and especially Lowes (when in charge)for their apparent attitude towards his defensive problems. Lowes dropped several people seemingly for poor defence and in their absence it just got worse. Right to blame the player or the coach? Good luck at Wakey

[goldcoaster]

It will be good news for Penny if he gets regular game-time next year.

But have Wakey signed anyone beyond next year, or is it inevitable that 2011 will be their last season in the top flight?

[PREPOSTEROUS]

It will be good news for Penny if he gets regular game-time next year.

But have Wakey signed anyone beyond next year, or is it inevitable that 2011 will be their last season in the top flight?

Yep, Kevin Penny for one.

[SUPERSTUD]

Hugely disrespectful to say Offiah had 'just pace' - his speed has been replicated both before and since, what really made him unique was his acceleration and his ability to change direction / body swerve at full speed. Penny is one dimensional in comparison.

To make a statement that a player would not have had the same impact against FT players is a complete myth - he wasn't FT at Widnes and many teams were full time whilst he was at Wigan. The guy was a phenomenon and would've been in any era.

He played outside some fantastic centre's too.

Sorry Kevin but i cannot promise that you will receive the same level of service at my beloved 'Wildcats'.