2025 Transfer Tracker

[DoubleD]

1 minute ago, Worzel said:

He released a written statement, it was precisely what he said, you can go and read it. That's how you can know exactly what has been said. 

Anything else that "has been reported" is journalists spinning their line on that written statement. I respectfully suggest that the best thing to do is compare the written statement with how journalists and pundits have "reported" the written statement, and then ask the question "why would they all report it with that spin"? Sometimes you need to assess the motives of other actors in the play. 

Why would anyone think that Wests have the players best interests at heart? They have their own best interests at heart. Clubs always do. The idea that somehow he, his family or his agent are less likely to have an idea about what is in his best interests, and act in them, than his current employer is laughable. 

There's far more to it than that, I could spend all day here discussing, but I have better things to do. If you think it's as black and white as you portray, then you are also very naive.

[Worzel]

2 minutes ago, DoubleD said:

There's far more to it than that, I could spend all day here discussing, but I have better things to do. If you think it's as black and white as you portray, then you are also very naive.

I don't think it's black and white at all. The player wants to leave, he's told them so by refusing an improved contract. He's acting in what he sees as his own best interests.The difference between us is that I don't see anything wrong with that at all, whereas Wests and the rugby league media would have us crucify a professional for wanting to be able to choose where they work, and are working all out to spin what is a perfectly normal "grey" situation of reasonably competing preferences into the very type of "black and white" one you would allegedly decry.

There doesn't have to be a villain in this story, or at least there didn't have to be. Wests have decided to try and make the player the villain, and it will eventually backfire on them as soon as night follows day. It always does.

[The Phantom Horseman]

17 hours ago, gazza77 said:

Not the first time a season long loan hasn't lasted anywhere near a season, and won't be the last.

TBH the thing that's wrong here is clubs continuing to announce "season-long loans", unless it's accompanied by "without a recall clause" we all know the phrase is meaningless and has been for many years.

It would surely make more sense to announce open-ended loans as "until further notice" because that's what "season-long loan" has meant for a long time now.

[Harry Stottle]

10 hours ago, Worzel said:

I think you're taking the wrong lesson from Hull KR: We have hugely increased investment in the youth system in the last 4 years, and built far better ties with local community pathways, even to the extent of building them the only 3G pitch in East Hull right next to our stadium. But it takes a long time to come to fruition, so we're buying players in the meantime. I don't think there's anything wrong with that if you can afford it.

I think the lesson from the long-term high performing clubs, which I'd describe as Wigan, St Helens and Leeds, is that investment in youth is absolutely the best strategy. It gives you a huge salary cap advantage. That's why Rovers are spending so much time and effort on it, because it's the only way to be a Top Four club on a sustainable basis. You might get a few good seasons with expensive, experienced players. Being able to do that on a long-term basis is impossible, because the salary cap precludes it. 

No I ain't taking the wrong lesson which you concede what I described as happening at the moment, but I completely agree with you that youth infrastructure is the way to go, good job Uncle Ralphy Rimmer is still not in charge with his selective academies, at last my club has been allowed to have one where we may be able to have a chance to keep kids from Leigh instead of them being trawled up by our 3 big neighbours, and I will never be persuaded otherwise that Leigh were denied an academy for that reason.

If financial gain can be made by bringing your own kids through as it is with preferred contracts no club should be denied running an academy no matter what division they play in.

[Worzel]

42 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

No I ain't taking the wrong lesson which you concede what I described as happening at the moment, but I completely agree with you that youth infrastructure is the way to go, good job Uncle Ralphy Rimmer is still not in charge with his selective academies, at last my club has been allowed to have one where we may be able to have a chance to keep kids from Leigh instead of them being trawled up by our 3 big neighbours, and I will never be persuaded otherwise that Leigh were denied an academy for that reason.

If financial gain can be made by bringing your own kids through as it is with preferred contracts no club should be denied running an academy no matter what division they play in.

I agree with that, Hull KR were similarly told we couldn’t run an Academy when it was core to our whole club growth strategy.

Absolutely ridiculous that the RFL thought they could decide which clubs could build a long term platform for success and which would be constrained, allowing their neighbours to be stronger at their expense. It cost us at least 12 months, and who knows how many talented youngsters. The fact that a senior Hull FC stakeholder was on the decision-making panel made it all the more galling. 

[sweaty craiq]

Joe Ofenagaue to Leigh immediately 

[phiggins]

4 hours ago, sweaty craiq said:

Joe Ofenagaue to Leigh immediately 

Any good?

[NRLandSL]

8 minutes ago, phiggins said:

Any good?

Yeah, more so a couple of years ago in like 2022, has been out of form a bit since joining Parra. In 2022 he was averaging 122 metres a game, with 57 tackle breaks and 33 offloads. Also played 3 games for Queensland. If he can get back to that form he will be a fantastic signing, still only 29 too. Great piece of business from Leigh IMO.

[Harry Stottle]

6 hours ago, sweaty craiq said:

Joe Ofenagaue to Leigh immediately 

So for our quotation last spot we have gone for a lock/prop, not saying that is not needed but n9t half as much as a kicking/organiser stand off. 

I can see 5 drives and a speculative downfield being the preferred method/tactics going forward.

[DoubleD]

2 hours ago, phiggins said:

Any good?

Not a patch on Amone on current form

[phiggins]

19 minutes ago, DoubleD said:

Not a patch on Amone on current form

Not many are to be fair. Or at least a patch on Amone on 2022-24 form anyway.

[Harry Stottle]

39 minutes ago, phiggins said:

Not many are to be fair. Or at least a patch on Amone on 2022-24 form anyway.

Obviously not impressed the Dogs coach Cameron Ceraldo at all, all the while Ceraldo as been giving rookie forwards game time. 

As Ceraldo has been at the Dogs for a couple of years I would have thought he would have been instrumental in approving Amones signing then he let's him go so quickly, something doesn't seem right here, maybe I am looking at it to deeply, and Tom simply does just not suit the Aus style of game as he does SL. That is why in my opinion it is hard to evalue no matter in how good a player is here in SL he will be just as effective in the NRL irrespective of whether he is British or Australian.

Edited April 17 by Harry Stottle

[NRLandSL]

8 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Obviously not impressed the Dogs coach Cameron Ceraldo at all, all the while Ceraldo as been giving rookie forwards game time. 

As Ceraldo has been at the Dogs for a couple of years I would have thought he would have been instrumental in approving Amones signing then he let's him go so quickly, something doesn't seem right here, maybe I am looking at it to deeply, and Tom simply does just not suit the Aus style of game as he does SL. That is why in my opinion it is hard to evalue no matter in how good a player is here in SL he will be just as effective in the NRL irrespective of whether he is British or Australian.

Definitely looking at it too deeply. Aussie ‘style of game’ Is largely a myth, of course there are differences, the game is quicker and there usually less space  in defence but it is rugby league and pretty much the exact same ‘Style’. I would suspect it is a case of Amone not fitting into the bulldogs style of play more so, or perhaps he hasn’t been committed at training or is unfit, we don’t know.

[Harry Stottle]

9 minutes ago, NRLandSL said:

Definitely looking at it too deeply. Aussie ‘style of game’ Is largely a myth, of course there are differences, the game is quicker and there usually less space  in defence but it is rugby league and pretty much the exact same ‘Style’. I would suspect it is a case of Amone not fitting into the bulldogs style of play more so, or perhaps he hasn’t been committed at training or is unfit, we don’t know.

Totally disagree.

You say "The game is quicker and usually less space in defence" that statement alone says everything, that different methods and quality of players make the difference. 

No point carrying on with this discussion obviously we are poles apart in our evaluation.

PS Amone Unfit, probably did more minutes the last couple of seasons than any other prop in SL.

Edited April 17 by Harry Stottle

[Wakey Til I Die]

4 hours ago, NRLandSL said:

Yeah, more so a couple of years ago in like 2022, has been out of form a bit since joining Parra. In 2022 he was averaging 122 metres a game, with 57 tackle breaks and 33 offloads. Also played 3 games for Queensland. If he can get back to that form he will be a fantastic signing, still only 29 too. Great piece of business from Leigh IMO.

Must admit this signing does have Herman Ese’ese vibes. Could be a shrewd move. 

[Click]

Wasn't quite expecting Christian Wade to be signed by Wigan ...

[Damien]

 

 

[Coggo]

34 next month. Good signing but a short one.

[Damien]

5 minutes ago, Coggo said:

34 next month. Good signing but a short one.

Well yes as its only for the rest of 2025. Its cheap, in terms of salary cap anyway, cover then see what happens.

[Curly perm]

Wade is an absolute speed demon and, although I haven’t seen anything of him since going back to union, he’s obviously still an athlete if they’re giving him a go. 

I wonder about how he’ll adapt after 15yrs+ in the other code. From what I saw in the NFL, he often ran away from his blockers - hard to change your instincts after so long. I could see basic things like being pushed into touch (which doesn’t happen too often in RU) catching him out.   

[Bedford Roughyed]

1 hour ago, Coggo said:

34 next month. Good signing but a short one.

Quote

 

Wigan legend Martin Offiah, who himself left rugby union to join Widnes in 1987, said Wade's signing was big for the sport.

"Wigan's signing of Christian Wade is the biggest coup for the sport of rugby league since Jonathan Davies joined me at Widnes back in the 80s," he said.

 

Yeah at 33/34 I'm not expecting much.... Not sure what Offiah is on?

[LeeF]

On 16/04/2025 at 12:35, Just Browny said:

Poor Riley Dean. More heritage numbers than he's had hot dinners.

He thinks if he gets a full house on his card he gets a cuddly toy

[EastLondonMike]

Good PR for Wigan with Wade signing, and always happy to see RU players have a crack at RL, but not sure what he really adds to Wigan, aside from a bit of press/PR.

Best of luck to him though. Even if it’s only a few months it’s always interesting to see how players crossing over adapt,

[Damien]

47 minutes ago, Bedford Roughyed said:

Yeah at 33/34 I'm not expecting much.... Not sure what Offiah is on?

Pretty lucky to get a quote from Offiah where he doesn't talk about himself!

[Damien]

Gloucester fans seem gutted about losing Wade so maybe he still has something to offer.