'Which Wigan Warriors signing exceeded your expectations the most?'

We ask our 18th Man columnists to give their thoughts on star recruits and Magic venues...
George CarmontGeorge Carmont
George Carmont

Which Wigan signing exceeded your expectations the most?

Alex Graham: Considering George Carmont was still working in a chicken factory aged 25 and earning the nickname ‘Chicken George’ there wasn’t a huge amount of expectation, even after a solid couple of years donning his trademark ponytail at the Newcastle Knights.

I remember when Wigan announced the signing and following some research I came across a Knights supporters’ online petition page demanding the club to re-sign him for the 2008 season, so it was obvious he was a quiet achiever and popular among the Knights fans.

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Considering his modest background Carmont become one of the best centres in both Wigan and Super League history. Despite being perceived as a quiet man he was a tough bloke and an overall well rounded, consistent player who was a key part of building the foundations for success in 2010 and beyond. It’s likely he wasn’t on a large salary either and what the club got in return was a trophy winning marquee quality player.

Robert Kenyon: I’d have to say George Carmont, he was a signing that went under the radar in the Noble years and I think he was about to hang his boots up, we signed him to no fanfare and he was brilliant.

He was a diamond in the rough and we don’t get many examples like that at Wigan, our signings that do well are either local academy lads, antipodean stars or British proven players. There aren’t many surprises but Carmont was one, I just wish we could have had a few more years out of him.

Jon Lyon: Having started watching Wigan in 1985, for many years we were mostly signing world class players so most could only meet those high expectations at best, and boy did they!

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There have been a few players who I’d not really heard of or previously thought much of that have played better than expected like Michael Dobson, Ben Flower and Sam Panapa.

The biggest improvement of any player I think would have to be Anthony Gelling.

Signed as what seemed a project player by Shaun Wane, Gelling had not covered himself in glory after being sacked by the Sydney Roosters for, shall we say, improper use of a hotel room.

Plucked from domestic competition in New Zealand, Gelling’s first appearances were littered with poor handling and a total lack of defensive discipline.

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Thanks to the coaching staff and no doubt the sharp tongue and encouraging arm round the shoulder from Wane, Gelling developed into a very dangerous attacking centre who could throw some magical passes out of the tackle. Has there ever been another player to embrace the town of Wigan in the way Gelling did? The Man of the People has left an indelible mark on our club, and whilst never the greatest player to wear the shirt, he is one of the most memorable and entertaining.

Darren Wrudd: One player who sticks in my mind was a young lad, working at Ashton Golf Club helping the green keeper and yet playing for the youth sides at St Pats, but never going to make it on the big stage.

His spindly frame looked fragile and weak a bit like watching Bambi on ice, all arms and legs flailing about wildly. Nothing like the ruffty tuffty lads surrounding him on the field. But he had heart and found a way of adapting his style and taking the hits when he needed to, getting back up again and again.

This earned him a chance to play when Brian Noble saw potential in him in a pre-season friendly against Warrington after playing in our academy for a couple of years. But he made his mark and woke up a few supporters with a blistering five try full debut against Whitehaven in the Challenge Cup and a star was born.

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Finishing the rest of the season in the reserves, Sam Tomkins waited for his chance and worked hard.

Winning many accolades and awards on the way, he grew into the very special rugby league player that we all recognise today.

In a Wigan shirt, he was a joy to watch and terrorised opponents with his jinking steps, now of course he does that to us and as a Catalans player he can be something of a handful. He has achieved so much form such humble beginnings and has shown that if you work hard, sometimes very special things can happen.

Jess Foxley: I can think of lots of stand out signings for Wigan, recently we have had the reigning Man of Steel Jackson Hastings and the electric Bevan French but for me the signing who has exceeded my expectations the most is probably Blake Green.

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When Wigan first signed him I was a little sceptical as he was arriving from Hull KR and personally hadn’t taken much notice of him whilst he was playing for them.

Obviously I knew he had played in the NRL but wasn’t sure what he would bring to Wigan as he wasn’t a “big signing”. Also, the year he joined he was paired in the halves with Smith, a brand new halfback pairing but one that would go on to prevail.

The stand out game for me has to be the 2013 Grand Final in which Blake Green won the Harry Sunderland trophy. Green scored the try that put Wigan 24-16 up at a very crucial stage of the game and who can forget the incident with Ben Westwood? To play on after suffering such an eye injury is a great testament of character. Overall, a very successful signing for Wigan. He was just what we needed at the right time, I was sad to see him go and would have loved to have seen him in Wigan colours for a few more years.

Tomorrow marks five years since the Magic Weekend moved to Newcastle. Where was your favourite venue and why?

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Alex Graham: Although the original concept for Magic Weekend was a good strategy to help grow the sport it’s now become a lazy money spinner and stale jolly for the converted. My favourite venue was probably the most purposeful at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in 2007 as South Wales-based Celtic Crusaders we’re about to enter Super League.

In my opinion the Principality Stadium as it’s known now is the best national stadium in the UK and every time I’ve visited there’s always been a well charged atmosphere. The stadium is also located in the heart of the city close to the bars and restaurants which adds to atmosphere.

Robert Kenyon: I really liked Murrayfield because you could go for a mooch around Edinburgh and I really liked the place. Anfield and The Etihad are too far from the City centres with Anfield being a terrible stadium, I was looking forward to it but it was a let down. Millenium Stadium and St James Park are good venues too but I did like Murrayfield, probably because of the 2002 final. In my opinion, the magic weekend needs to be a part of a bigger plan in growing rugby league in a certain area over the space of a few years, but that’s another story.

Jon Lyon: Newcastle has always been my favourite choice for Magic Weekend. Its a nice stadium, located centrally in the city of Newcastle, with all manner of places to see for the fans. The locals seem interested in the event and are a lovely bunch of people to socialise with. I wouldn’t be against trying somewhere new as a one off, and would love a weekend in Dublin perhaps, but moving back to Liverpool or Manchester, which are simply not as good, does nothing for me.

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Darren Wrudd: If I am totally honest, I am not a fan of Magic weekend, another fabricated fixture when we already have too many. We did go to a few and I lost all enthusiasm when stood waiting to go in to the Etihad Stadium, watching the stewards empty food and drinks out of the supporters bags into a skip. Selling the same stuff at extortionate prices inside. It shamed the sport for me.

When families that I know personally, taking kids and grand kids to an occasion to watch two or three games on a hot day, trapped in a stadium for hours. But all the sport could think of was how much can we screw out of this lot. I emailed the RFL for comment, which they ignored, but then rang them for a comment.

They insisted that the stadium management was to blame and it was nothing to do with them, laughable-possibly, incompetent-unfortunately. So I sit at home and watch it on TV instead and don’t really care where they take it on the road.

Jess Foxley: I have been lucky enough to attend every Magic Weekend over the years. I thoroughly enjoyed it being played at the Etihad for the ease in the travelling and I thought the ground itself was lovely but there really wasn’t much else around. Personally for me, Newcastle is where it is at. Its bang in the centre of Newcastle with so much to entertain you other than the rugby. It’s got hotels a stones throw from the ground for fans staying over. Its got the night life if that’s what you’re into! And the stadium itself is brilliant. There’s always a buzz at Newcastle and I genuinely feel like the Geordies have welcomed the event with open arms. I’m all for it staying at Newcastle for the foreseeable.