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Dobson

edabomb

First Grade
Messages
7,208
Edwahu said:
Widnes are not an ESL side, they are first division, the level below ESL. It was a challenge cup game. The standard of that comp is very low and they were understrength.

Yea I agree with that. But Dobson still showed some good vision, and a lot of time with the ball in hand. From all reports he's been doing very well in the ESL too. I think that's one think Carney lacks ATM, time with the ball in hand. It looks like he's rushed quite often by the defence.
 

thickos

First Grade
Messages
7,086
Clearly we're in a battle to keep him now:

Wigan chase Dobson

Wigan look set to sign exciting Catalans Dragons half-back Michael Dobson.

It is believed that Warriors club officials talked to the Australian scrum-half over the weekend and that a deal is imminent.

Dobson, 19, was named man of the match after Dragons knocked Widnes out of the Challenge Cup at the Halton Stadium yesterday.

The former Canberra Raiders half-back was brought over to Super League by Catalans earlier this season as a replacement for skipper Stacey Jones, who broke a bone in his hand.

Dobson has been impressive, but is about to lose his place in the French side now that Jones is fit again.

The teenager admitted that he has probably played his last game for Dragons after the cup game yesterday, adding that he would like to stay in England.

Several of the Catalans players attended Wigan's Challenge Cup clash with Salford at The Willows on Friday night, when it is believed the Warriors spoke to Dobson.

Wigan coach Brian Noble said last week that the club's recruitment drive is to continue with imminent signings for this season.

The past few weeks have seen Australians Trent Barrett and Phil Bailey brought on board, but these are long-term building blocks for the 2007 campaign and Wigan's priority is Super League survival.

Noble has confirmed that Bailey will count on the club's overseas quota next season, as will Barrett, who was recruited last month.

Meanwhile, Wayne Godwin is struggling for fitness after requiring 25 stitches in head and leg wounds picked up during the fiery encounter against Salford.

The Warriors hooker needed 15 stiches in his thigh and 10 in his head after colliding with team-mate Bryn Hargreaves, then being raked with a stray stud.

He was taken off the pitch just before half-time never to return.

Hargreaves also needed several stitches in a head wound, but has more chance of recovering in time for Saturday night's clash with Saints at the JJB Stadium.

Teenage full-back Chris Ashton was knocked out towards the end of the game, but it expected to be available.

It is believed that a Salford player may face disciplinary action after video footage of the incident has been studied.

Meanwhile Wigan prop Oliver Wilkes is being linked with a move to Widnes.

Wilkes was signed by Ian Millward from Whitehaven when the Australian was in charge at the JJB earlier this season.

http://www.wigantoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=68&ArticleID=1517175
 

dubby

Bench
Messages
3,005
:roll: How many more Aussies do Wigan need?
If they thought about development a few years ago they wouldn't be in jepoardy now would they?
But then again, why develop when you can just buy who you want? They sound like the Roosters to me...
 

Stuart

Juniors
Messages
799
Hopefully if they do sign him it is only for the rest of this season, ie he just goes "on loan" again. I wouldnt mind that, we have Zillman, Carny and Herbert in PL (when Withers and Smith are fit anyway) ATM, so that may be the best way to facilitate the development of all our promising halves.

There is no doubt in my mind we should keep him on for at least 2007, which is when he is contracted till.
 

Paullyboy

Coach
Messages
10,473
You sure about that? I know they do that in soccer and probably in the ESL, but Id be very surprised if NRL clubs can obtain transfer fee's - otherwise we'd see it much more widely used
 

Raider Ultra

Bench
Messages
4,819
Wigan is an ESL club. If they want Dobson, they will have to pay us compensation to release him from his contract (A transfer fee). Unless we grant him a release, which I can't see. It doesn't happen in the NRL as it is counted under the cap.
 

Chachi

Bench
Messages
3,068
No surprise that Wigan are after him really - I think they have spoken to just about every Australian rugby league player (on and off contract) over the past 12 months. The reality is, if they get relegated my understanding is they'll only have about a A$1 Million salary cap so good luck to them for affording anyone else outside of Barrett and Bailey.

Anyway, from that article it sounds like it may be just a short term signing for the rest of this season so they can stay in ESL before Barrett and Baily arrive - if that's the case good luck to him.
 

Tidus_Raider

Bench
Messages
2,576
I dont understand. Did we release him so that he can play for Catalans or what? Why isnt he in PL pressng for a first grade spot n the NRL if he's that good. It's not like we have an abundance of quality halves at the moment. We are probably the only club in the NRL without a specialised halfback. (No I dont consider Withers a halfback)
 

sydraider

First Grade
Messages
5,704
Tidus_Raider said:
I dont understand. Did we release him so that he can play for Catalans or what? Why isnt he in PL pressng for a first grade spot n the NRL if he's that good. It's not like we have an abundance of quality halves at the moment. We are probably the only club in the NRL without a specialised halfback. (No I dont consider Withers a halfback)

Matt gafa :crazy: Jason Bulgarelli :crazy: Brad drew :crazy: Tyran Smith

We have had a clear eye for talent in elliots regime!
 

edabomb

First Grade
Messages
7,208
Brad Drew chopped it up for 3 months, and was steady the rest of 2003. I still reckon he cops way too much of a bashing here, he did more than Carney, McLinden etc ever did in firsts. We were actually a winning team when he was here and on his game.
 

Timbo

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
20,281
Marc Herbert [CNTDN] said:
Brad Drew chopped it up for 3 months, and was steady the rest of 2003. I still reckon he cops way too much of a bashing here, he did more than Carney, McLinden etc ever did in firsts. We were actually a winning team when he was here and on his game.

Seconded. I even recall some in the media referring to us as 'The Brad Drew Show' during our run atop the table in 03.
 

Bob

Juniors
Messages
1,458
Found this on NRL.com



http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/1293/Default.aspx



Australian teenager bound for Wigan

Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 5:54 PM
Red tape threatens to deny exciting Canberra teenager Michael Dobson the chance of helping English rugby league battlers Wigan avoid relegation.
Dobson, 20, was sent by NRL club Canberra to England to replace injured New Zealand match-winner Stacey Jones at Super League club the Catalans for 12 games.
As Jones nursed a broken arm, Dobson shone for the Catalans and capped his stint with a man of the match performance in the Dragons' 34-16 Challenge Cup fifth round win over Widnes this week.
Jones has since recovered but instead of Dobson flying back to Canberra as expected, he was snapped up for the rest of the season by struggling Wigan.
However, Wigan must first secure a work permit for the former Australian schoolboy representative.
Wigan want him to replace Australian halfback Dennis Moran on its overseas quota list.
English clubs Castleford and Widnes reportedly missed out on the youngster's signature after failing to secure a work permit because Dobson had not yet played first grade for Canberra.
Wigan hopes the fact that Dobson made 12 straight appearances for the Catalans will satisfy the work permit criteria determined by the Rugby Football League and the Home Office.
Wigan is five points adrift of nearest relegation candidate Harlequins.
Raiders general manager Don Furner believed Dobson would play out the rest of the season with Wigan and return to Canberra in October in preparation for a starting role in 2007.
"Because he probably wouldn't get a run in first grade this year, coaching staff thought it would be better for his development to be playing there than say in Premier League," he said.
"Next year with Simon Woolford and Jason Smith probably moving on and Lincoln Withers probably moving to hooker, he has more of a chance (of playing first grade in 2007)."
Furner believes Dobson's impressive stint in England will ensure he "comes back a better player".
Dobson set up two tries and contributed 14 points with a try and five goals in the Catalans' Challenge Cup win over Widnes this week.
"He could have played in a dinner jacket," the Catalans coach Mick Potter said.
Wigan has already hired Great Britain coach Brian Noble in a bid to avoid relegation but is still struggling with a 2-12 record.
It next meets league leaders St Helens on Saturday (AEST).

Source: AAP
 

aussies1st

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
28,154
Great move by Furner. No point in bringing him back to play PL when he could get some more experience and maybe even win a title. As long as he doesn't stay at Wigan forever then no problems here with him being loaned out.
 

thickos

First Grade
Messages
7,086
Well if that's the case I can live with it - no way will he play firsts for us in 2006 anyway.

Although Wigan are sh*thouse currently playing for a 'big' ESL side should enhance his game even further.
 

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