Wigan Warriors sign Melbourne Storm trio

[Slackboy72]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/wigan/8834917.stm

Wigan Warriors sign Melbourne Storm trio

Ryan Hoffman has won four caps for Australia

Wigan coach Michael Maguire has raided his former club Melbourne Storm to sign three players for next season.
Australian second row Ryan Hoffman has agreed a one-year contract, with the option of a second year.
Half-back Brett Finch has signed a two-year deal with New Zealand prop forward Jeff Lima joining for three years.
Maguire told BBC Radio Manchester: "We're lucky enough to get three quality players and they'll be a great fit to the club."
The trio are being off-loaded as part of a major clear-out at the Storm as they try to get under the salary cap for next season.

We did try to get some English-born players a few months ago but the prices are very high
Wigan chairman Ian Lenegan
In April the Storm were stripped of two championships in Australia's National Rugby League for breaching the competition's strict salary cap rules.
The Victoria club were found to have spent A$1.6m (£960,541) above the set limit over the course of five years.
Maguire, the former assistant coach at Melbourne, believes the new signings have the winning mentality the Warriors need.
"They've been living for five years in a winning culture," he added.
"Hopefully we can bring that across and just get the consistency in performance."
Maguire has given youngsters a chance in the first team since his arrival in October, guiding the club to the top of the Super League table.
And chairman Ian Lenegan insists that youth policy will not change, despite signing three overseas players.
"I reject totally the accusation that Wigan are concentrating on overseas players, we're not," added Lenegan.

"Our policy is clear, we want at least two-thirds of the team to come from Wigan."
The Warriors now have one place left on their overseas quota, with Lenegan revealing he believes players in England are too expensive.
He said: "We did try to get some English-born players a few months ago but the prices are very high.
"You never say never, because something pops up and we've got that quota spot available."

Like rats fleeing a sinking ship...

 

[Dani]

Pretty sure the ship has already sunk my friend.

 

[Dummy Spit Johns]

Good riddance

 

[stormbati]

Oh, another thread? genius

 

[Timmah]

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=365030 in confirmed signings AND Melb Storm cap forum

 

[ParraFan09]

three good signings for wigan, great halves for next year
6)Finch
7)Leuluai
sam tomkins goes good at fullback that gives them 3 play makers, plus
Sean O'Loughlin can kick and pass, the only worry for them is Ryan Hoffman only signed for 1 year, perhaps he only considers this a short term solution until he can return to the storm in 2012.

 

[WireMan]

three good signings for wigan, great halves for next year
6)Finch
7)Leuluai
sam tomkins goes good at fullback that gives them 3 play makers, plus
Sean O'Loughlin can kick and pass, the only worry for them is Ryan Hoffman only signed for 1 year, perhaps he only considers this a short term solution until he can return to the storm in 2012.

More likely that Leuluai goes into the hooking role as Piggy is going back to Aus.

 

[deluded pom?]

Piggy is going back to Aus.

Not back to the NRL surely? An over the hill Aussie who took the SLE pension top up returning to the NRL :shock:

 

[ParraFan09]

More likely that Leuluai goes into the hooking role as Piggy is going back to Aus.

But the only thing letting wigan down is they dont really have a Fullback, what about Mcilorum he's a good hooker, and it wouldnt suprise me if we see paul deacon playin alot of hooker next year.

 

[JasonE]

Meanwhile,18 yo centre Ian Thornley is lost to Rugby Union.

 

[Evil Homer]

But the only thing letting wigan down is they dont really have a Fullback, what about Mcilorum he's a good hooker, and it wouldnt suprise me if we see paul deacon playin alot of hooker next year.

This is Deacon's last year, he's already semi-retired. Leuluai and McIlorum will interchange as hookers like Wireman said, FB will probably be Roberts with Goulding or Pryce first choice on the wing.

 

[ParraFan09]

i didnt know deacon was retiring he would have been a handy player to have next year, Ian lenegan CEO of wigan said he wanted to sign a english born player, is there any good hookers off contract in super league atm? and with the Fullback position amos roberts is a good player but his positioning is woeful i best spot for him is on the wing imo.