Alffi 7

Sales at Everton looking good, only comers left and a few CAT1 and Corpo seats left...

Yeah, Warrington don’t need their own car park (though they do lease some spaces for corporates) there must be 3,000 car parking spaces within around half a mile of the ground, I’m probably underestimating and I’m not including on street parking. Bus station and train station 1/4 of a mile away. Initially before the current site was agreed it was looking like a site near the old Burtonwood Airbase just off the M62 around 4 miles outside the town centre - so glad we ended up where we did.

Out of interest is there anything in the IMG rulings to say this isn’t accepted? I know in the football FFP you can’t have an owner sponsoring the club an exorbitant amount right?

Yeah a low risk play I think, doesn’t count on the cap so he’s not taking up space that an established player could use, plus due to his age more likely to be able to make a go of it compared to Burrell.

Serious hamstring injury in preseason kept him out for months, his first training session back he did similar to the other leg so wasn’t fit to play at any point of the year. He’s not on our list of players leaving, so presume we have taken up an option to extend for another year.

I wouldn’t let my lad wear one, if they have headgear on it gives them a false sense of protection for me. Let them learn to keep their head out of the way. I’ve heard the same on protection from head guards too in terms of it won’t stop that ‘brain rattle’.

Had to check as sure he was older than 31 - he recently turned 36 (not that it matters, still a real shame). There’s no suggestion of any long term damage here though right? Just medical advice?

Hope he stays. We’ve seen other players sign long term deals then head to the NRL anyway - especially from Wigan.

Is it’s still a max of £100k of salary cap that can be offset or did they get rid of that rule? Obviously they could make use of the £50k marquee cap, but presume they are utilising that on French, Field and Thompson?

Can’t help but wonder with these deals whether it’s just a bit of protection for the club to get as big a transfer fee as possible from the NRL when the time comes. For the sake of the SL comp, hopefully he stays at Wigan.

Matty Lees is the strange one for me. Can’t believe he’s been in the top two in his position.

Won’t be seeing Fitzgibbon back again this year unfortunately. Rumour mill has it we won’t see him next season either - but I’m hoping that’s overly dramatic.

Vaughan suspended alongside Fitzgibbon (though Fitzgibbon wouldn’t have played anyway through injury - the Bateman signing making a little more sense now). Dufty back in contention, but think he will return next week vs London. Harrison returns though. So I guess CTW, Thewlis, Tai, King, Ashton, Williams, Drinkwater, Yates, Powell, Harrison, Nicholson, Bateman, Currie. Subs Walker, Musgrove, Philbin, Crowther.

Wigans big game experience to bring them home.

Though I’m not sure it would qualify as an upset, I’m wondering whether the fact Saints will have more to play for will swing the result. We’re pretty much guaranteed 3rd regardless of what happens. Hopefully Burgess can get them firing, we’re due a good home performance.

Should be a good game with Leeds picking up some form. From our side we should have a pretty strong team to choose from, with only the long termers Wrench & Hayes missing with probably Fitzgibbon also unavailable. Should be pretty fresh after resting plenty vs London. Be interesting what Burgess does with Bateman. I’d have Nicholson, Fitzgibbon & Currie all starting before him, but guessing he will line up in the second row with Fitzgibbon succumbing to injury. Whos missing for Leeds?

In terms of foul play. If the referee hasn’t seen it, it shouldn’t be carded - deal with it at MRP. For things the referee has seen I’d implement the RU method of an initial ten minute sin bin, during which time the VR reviews and has the power to upgrade it to red. Maybe to add to this if a player feels it is a potential red card scenario and the ref has missed it, he can call for a free review by the VR, but game plays on whilst this takes place? That way you are picking up the very dangerous foul play, but not delaying the game. I like the idea of a player review system for tries scored, takes it out of the referees hands and hopefully the annoying site of players appealing to the referee. The only problem with this could be players ‘using up’ appeals towards the end of the game when really, they know the outcome. A bit like players using the full ‘shot clock’ time to take a drop out, when everyone is ready to go.

King, Fitzgibbon & Philbin not playing tonight. Team as vs Wigan but Bateman coming on to the bench in place of Wood.

I see a lot of upside in this for us. Yes he may not be the player he once was but as it’s looking unlikely he’ll be back at Wests in 2025 he’s got a lot of incentive to give everything so he’s in the best place he can be for 2025 be that in SL or the NRL. He gives us some depth in a position we would struggle with if we pick up another injury or Fitzgibbon is out longer term, he also gives us plenty of experience in terms of winning big games. In a full strength Wire team he probably comes off the bench - probably in place of either Crowther or Philbin - which is a great option for us. The club have a lot of faith in academy graduate Adam Holroyd, he’s a similar stature and style to Bateman. So a few months working alongside him will do Holroyd the world of good you’d expect. The only potential downside I see is to squad harmony, but I’d trust Burgess to keep that in check.

Interesting to see if Saints can back it up and/or if we can raise ourselves up after some performances post Wembley when we have been poor then playing teams struggling for form. The next 3 for us Saints A, Wigan A, Hull KR H need to be play off intensity.

Rovers seem to be on a high right now, be interesting if they can maintain performance levels - often a couple of games & results like they have had can take it out of a team. We have dropped off a little since the Saints game so I’d make KR favourites for this one.

Only a few games in but it seems to depend on the referee. As Harry mentions sometimes it looks no different to last season, however one referee can be much hotter on it than others. Some focus on high tackles, some focus on offsides, some focus on play the balls. We haven’t had an ‘adult’ ref yet, so that could be interesting and a truer reflection of what to expect in future.

Martin Gleeson is attack coach, Marshall focuses on defence.

Surprised the vote is so close. We’ve come up against top 3 opposition twice this year and lost both times. Saints intensity will be too much - but hopefully another step on the road to show Burgess’ Wire are developing and will compete against all. Saints by 8.

Victim of circumstance at Warrington, Sam Powell has done well as bench 9 and does a good job at 13 too. 3 frontline hookers was never going to work in a first team squad. Makes sense from a Wire point of view. He’s a 100% kind of guy, great attitude, can’t speak highly enough of him in that regard. Watched him at Wire for a long time. He can be dangerous out of dummy half but has his drawbacks. He’s chaotic and his concentration can be an issue - see his defensive effort for the Burgess try today. He’s a good guy - hope he goes well for Leigh.