Official Phil Bailey

[Google News]

... have signed Cronulla and Australian Test centre Phil Bailey on a three-year contract. Bailey, 25, who has made 119 appearances in Australia's NRL, will join ...

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/wigan/4990152.stm

Wigan land Sharks centre Bailey
Last Updated 17 May 2006, 12:16 GMT 13:16 UK

Wigan have signed Cronulla and Australian Test centre Phil Bailey on a three-year contract.

Bailey, 25, who has made 119 appearances in Australia's NRL, will join Wigan for the start of 2007.

"This is great news especially following the signing of Trent Barrett," said Wigan coach Brian Noble.

"I know Phil well and he is an honest and genuine player who never stops trying. He approaches every game with a never-say-die attitude."

Former champions Wigan are bottom of the Super League with two wins from 14 games but Noble, who became coach on 20 April, is adamant the club can escape relegation.

"What really pleases me is the fact that the Wigan club are not losing any of their ambition even though we find ourselves in a difficult situation this season," he said.

"We have certainly not accepted our present position and we have 14 games left to move up the Super League table."

Bailey, who played twice for the Kangaroos in 2003, said: "I am totally thrilled to be joining the Wigan club.

"I had a long conversion with Brian Carney and Adrian Lam and they both consider Wigan to be the best club they have ever played for and a great part of their rugby league lives.

"I can't wait to play outside Trent Barrett who is one of the best ball distributors in the game.

"I know Wigan are struggling at the moment but everyone in Australia still believes in the club and I will be joining Wigan next year when I will give my best to help them get back to the top."

 

[Google News]

Warriors seal Bailey deal

Wigan Warriors have confirmed the signing of Cronulla and Australian centre, Phil Bailey, on a three-year contract. Bailey, who ...

Source: http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/sport/sportheadlines/display.var.763071.0.warriors_seal_bailey_deal.php

Warriors seal Bailey deal
12:37pm Wednesday 17th May 2006
By pcockerton@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk

Wigan Warriors have confirmed the signing of Cronulla and Australian centre, Phil Bailey, on a three-year contract.

Bailey, who celebrates his 26th birthday next week, said: "I had a long conversion with Brian Carney and Adrian Lam and they both consider Wigan to be the best club they have ever played for and a great part of their Rugby League lives.

"I can't wait to play outside Trent Barrett who is one of the best ball distributors in the game.

"I know Wigan are struggling at the moment but everyone in Australia still believes in the club and I will be joining Wigan next year when I will give my best to help them get back to the top."

Head coach Brian Noble said of Bailey, who has made two appearances for Australia: "I know Phil well and he is an honest and genuine player who never stops trying.

"He approaches every game with a never say die attitude and will give you his best whether it's in the centre or in the second row."

Noble added: "What really pleases me is the fact that the Wigan club are not losing any of its ambition even though we find ourselves in a difficult situation this season.

"We have certainly not accepted our present position and we have 14 games left to move up the Super League table."

 

[Google News]

Bailey Will Join Wigan

The Cronulla star has signed a three-year contract with the engage Super League strugglers, who despite the appointment of Brian Noble are rooted to the bottom ...

Source: http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/06/05/17/RUGBYL_Wigan.html

BAILEY WILL JOIN WIGAN

Wigan have signed up Australian Test centre Phil Bailey for next season.

The Cronulla star has signed a three-year contract with the engage Super League strugglers, who despite the appointment of Brian Noble are rooted to the bottom of the table.

Bailey, 26, said: "I can't wait to play outside Trent Barrett who is one of the best ball distributors in the game.

"I know Wigan are struggling at the moment but everyone in Australia still believes in the club and I will be joining Wigan next year when I will give my best to help them get back to the top."

Noble said: I know Phil well and he is an honest and genuine player who never stops trying.

"He approaches every game with a never-say-die attitude and will give you his best whether it's in the centre or in the second row."

 

[Google News]

Warriors snap up second Aussie ace

Wigan Warriors have continued their rebuilding process by signing Cronulla and Australian ... Bailey, who scored 31 tries in 119 NRL appearances, admitted he was ...

Source: http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/sport/rugby-league/warriors-snap-up-second-aussie-ace-$440116.htm

Warriors snap up second Aussie ace
17 May 2006 14:11

Wigan Warriors have continued their rebuilding process by signing Cronulla and Australian Test centre Phil Bailey for next season.

Bailey, 25, who can also play in the second row, will move to the JJB on a three-year deal and becomes the club's second high-profile Australian player this week.

Trent Barrett has also agreed to join Wigan and coach Brian Noble said today the capture of Bailey following Barrett is "great news" for the club and the fans.

"I know Phil well and he is an honest and genuine player who never stops trying," Noble said.

"He approaches every game with a never say die attitude and will give you his best whether it's in the centre or in the second row."

Bailey, who scored 31 tries in 119 NRL appearances, admitted he was "totally thrilled to be joining Wigan".

"I had a long conversion with Brian Carney and Adrian Lam and they both consider Wigan to be the best club they have ever played for and a great part of their Rugby League lives," he added.

"I can't wait to play outside Trent Barrett who is one of the best ball distributors in the game.

"I know Wigan are struggling at the moment but everyone in Australia still believes in the club and I will be joining Wigan next year when I will give my best to help them get back to the top."track

 

[Google News]

Struggling Wigan sign up second Australian

The Cronulla centre or second-rower Phil Bailey capped twice for the Kangaroos in 2003, has signed a three-year contract at the JJB Stadium even though they ...

Source: http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyleague/story/0,,1777259,00.html

Struggling Wigan sign up second Australian
18 May 2006

Wigan have signed a second high-profile Australian for next season despite the threat of relegation to National League One.

The Cronulla centre or second-rower Phil Bailey capped twice for the Kangaroos in 2003, has signed a three-year contract at the JJB Stadium even though they are five points adrift of safety at the foot of the Super League.

"What really pleases me is the fact that Wigan is not losing any of its ambition even though we find ourselves in a difficult situation," the Warriors coach Brian Noble said. "We have 14 games left to move up the Super League table."

Bailey joins fellow Australian international Trent Barrett in signing for Wigan from 2007.

 

[Yahoo News]

Wigan Hook Up With Shark Phil

WIGAN have made another big-name signing for next year in former Australian Test star Phil Bailey - despite being haunted by relegation.

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/topstories/tm_objectid=17095631&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=wigan-hook-up-with-shark-phil--name_page.html

WIGAN HOOK UP WITH SHARK PHIL
18/05/2006

WIGAN have made another big-name signing for next year in former Australian Test star Phil Bailey - despite being haunted by relegation.

The Cronulla Sharks utility player has I signed a three-I year contract although the Warriors are five points adrift of safety at the foot of engage Super League.

Bailey, capped twice for the Kangaroos in 2003, said: "Everyone in Australia still believes in the club."

LEEDS Rhinos full back Richie Mathers is out for the season as he needs a knee reconstruction.

 

[san29]

bailey going

Good Sooner The Better

 

[Yahoo News]

Another Top Aussie Signed Up By Warriors

Wigan's latest recruit Phil Bailey says he is determined to help put Warriors back on the top of Super League. (18/05/2006 09:13:06)

Source: http://www.wigantoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?sectionid=68&articleid=1509874

Another top Aussie signed up by Warriors
18 May 2006
Wigan's latest recruit Phil Bailey says he is determined to help put Warriors back on the top of Super League.
The Cronulla Sharks centre will join fellow Australian Trent Barrett at the JJB Stadium next season after agreeing a three-year deal.

The 25-year-old insists Wigan's offer was just too
attractive to turn down.

He said: "There are exciting times ahead for me.

"I know Wigan have been struggling this year, so the challenge for me is to help them climb back up towards the top of Super League.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the club. I had a long
conversion with Brian Carney and Adrian Lam, and they both consider Wigan to be the best club they have played for and a great part of their rugby league lives.

"I can't wait to play outside Trent Barrett, who is one of the best ball distributors in the game.

"It was an attractive offer from Wigan and it gives me a chance to extend my career in England."

Bailey – who can also play in the second row – has been coached by former Wigan boss Stuart Raper at Cronulla for the past two seasons.

And Raper has given the deal his blessing.

He said: "I fully understand Phil's desire to travel overseas and to also test himself in a different competition."

Bailey has played for New South Wales on three occasions and toured these shores with the Kangaroos in 2003.

He has featured in 95 top-grade games for Cronulla and 119 NRL games in total since joining Sharks from Northern Eagles in 2002. He has also played for Manly.

Bailey turned out at centre last weekend to help Cronulla beat Canberra Raiders 38-28 in their own backyard, a win that pushed Sharks up to a healthy sixth place.

Wigan coach Brian Noble said: "This is great news for us, especially following the signing of Trent Barrett.

"I know Phil well. He is an honest and genuine player who never stops trying.

"He approaches every game with a never-say-die attitude and will give you his best whether it's in the centre or in the second row.

"What really pleases me is the fact Wigan are not losing any of their ambition, even though we currently find ourselves in a difficult situation this season.

"We have certainly not accepted our present position and we have 14 games left to move up

 

[Yahoo News]

Cheekbone fracture leaves Bailey 'deformed'

SHARKS backrower Phil Bailey told yesterday how he felt like someone had 'hit me with a sledgehammer' after suffering a broken cheekbone on Saturday night. -

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/cheekbone-fracture-leaves-bailey-deformed/2006/06/18/1150569211299.html

Cheekbone fracture leaves Bailey 'deformed'
Glenn Jackson
June 19, 2006

SHARKS backrower Phil Bailey told yesterday how he felt like someone had "hit me with a sledgehammer" after suffering a broken cheekbone on Saturday night.

The injury left Sharks medical staff describing how Bailey's face effectively collapsed after an accidental elbow from Manly centre Steve Matai.

Bailey will almost certainly require surgery in the next few days to have a plate inserted after X-rays yesterday confirmed a depressed fracture. "When I got hit, I knew it was all wrong," Bailey said. "It was a searing pain. I put my hand on it and there was just a big dent.

"I felt the hole. When I walked off, the doc took one look and said, 'Have a shower, you're done'. It's just all caved in. My jaw and my mouth are all puffed up but up towards my eye there's just an indentation there. Where the jaw runs down from the sideburns, you can pretty much see the jaw-line."

Bailey was up much of Saturday night watching World Cup soccer because he was so uncomfortable, but the pain was tolerable yesterday. "It's not hurting that much," he said. "It's just like a real bad headache. Most of my face is that numb, I've got no feeling in my mouth."

The 26-year-old will be out for up to two months, marring the Sharks' seventh win in eight matches in the fixture against the Sea Eagles.

But the Wigan-bound player believes he could be back in four weeks. "Being my last year I want to squeeze every drop out of it," he said. "In two weeks I can start to run."

At least Bailey knows what he's in for. He has suffered similar injuries twice before, once in a trial for Manly against the Maitland Pumpkin Pickers in 1999 then again on the Kangaroos tour in 2003. Both times the injuries were less serious.

Cronulla club doctor Dave Givney was yesterday waiting on a report from a facial specialist but he said surgery was inevitable.

"You wouldn't recognise him," Givney said. "He's considerably deformed. He just doesn't look like he normally does."

 

[Yahoo News]

Bailey admits to feeling helpless

Cronulla utility Phil Bailey has revealed the frustration that came with watching the Sharks' NRL finals hopes all but evaporate. -

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Bailey-admits-to-feeling-helpless/2006/08/18/1155408011098.html

Bailey admits to feeling helpless
August 18, 2006 - 5:54PM
© 2006 AAP

Cronulla utility Phil Bailey has revealed the frustration that came with watching the Sharks' NRL finals hopes all but evaporate.

Sidelined with a fractured cheekbone for seven weeks, Bailey could do nothing but watch helplessly from the stands as the Sharks dropped out of the top four and then the top eight and into finals oblivion.

He returned to face Parramatta last week but was unable to turn around a side playing with very little confidence or form, the Sharks' losing steak reaching an embarrassing seven straight games with the loss to the Eels.

"It's so tough when you're on the sidelines injured because you can't do anything, you're just sitting there watching," said Bailey, who will leave the at the end of the season to take up a deal with English club Wigan.

"I tried to stay as involved as I could, mine was a facial injury so I could do a lot of the training with the boys just not the contact and the playing.

"I was still in there, still hurting when they lost, dealing with everything week in week out with them.

"It's just been tough on the whole club, a winning club is happy club and when you're not winning it's a tough place to be."

When Bailey suffered the injury against Manly in round 15 the Sharks were riding high in third spot, four points below ladder-leader Melbourne.

It has been all doom and gloom since then and next they host Penrith in what is the last throw.

Both sit on 22 competition points, four points behind eighth-placed Canberra with three rounds to go, and in need of a minor miracle to scrape into the eight.

"They're just as desperate as us, they've got to win games to make semis as well," Bailey said.

"We've got to win all three games to even be a shot mathematically to make the semis, but there's no use looking two games up the road when we've got to win this one tomorrow night against Penrith just to even be in the hunt."

The Panthers have no-one but themselves to blame for their prickly predicament, having lost consecutive games to the teams occupying the bottom two places on the ladder over the past two weeks.

In both games they held first half leads only to be overrun by more enthusiastic opposition, coach John Lang at a loss to explain how his men failed to get up for such a vital pair of contests.

 

[sharks195]

are you guys happy that he has left us or did you want him to stay?

personally i think bailey was one of our best in 06 as well as 05 and it is a shame that he has left us, i really enjoyed watching him play for us and it will be very hard for me to get used to not seeing bailey's name in the line-ups. i wish him well in the uk and the future, but i think it is a big loss that he has gone.

 

[Hammerhead]

Yeah he was a nice enough bloke, but i have mixed views. He was hot and cold as a player, could do great things and then he could be the most frustrating player to watch. Mind you, the players outisde him didnt always help.
He was very much in the anderson camp and from what i know he was a bit of a thorn in the side of Raper who was trying to put the anderson days behind them.
But bailey loved to talk "off the record" to the media about the problems with the team or the coach etc.. media always knew they could go to him and he'd blab. I just don't think he knew any better.
From that point of view im glad he's gone. we need a more professional approach if we are to be a unified club, and hopefully that's what we'll have under ricky.
Having said that, I think the best is still ahead of bailey. And i reckon he'll end up at the roosters in a couple of years if anderson is still there.

 

[Capmar]

You're spot on Hammerhead

If Bails kept that up with Ricky at the helm all hell would have broken out. Raper probably tolerated more than most coaches would have and he did have a difficult job as Anderson did command a high level of loyalty from his "chosen few".

He will probably go back to Easts however until he plays in the forwards on a permanent basis he is a wasted entity. You are foresaking attack for defence by playing Bails as a centre and these days with guys like Gasnier, Hodges etc you really do need an all round centre. Pomeroy and Hannay are a good duo on paper and hopefully will create a partnesrhip similar to that of Mc Gaw and ET did.

 

[timmo]

bailey wasn't so good in 05 but in 06 i think he was playing out of his skin!!! i hated it that he got injured cos i also loved to watch him play. awesome in defence and solid in attack. i'm gonna miss him guys!! all the best to him in the UK!!!

 

[sharks195]

i think that despite his flaws bailey will go on to be really successful in the super league and he may still come back to the nrl.

 

[timmo]

he'd be getting pretty old by then... i reckon he would go to the roosters with nuts and beattie

 

[Dutchie1983]

I am glad that he has departed our club, he may have been a good bloke and whatever but on the field he was very hot and cold and the centres were not for him, yes it was the coach who got him playing there every week, but I think he should have come off the bench into the forwards.

 

[sharks195]

that was raper's choice not bailey's. i'm sure bailey didn't complain about playing in the centres, because he wanted to see what raper's plan was for him, so he can't be blamed for that.

 

[Hardstyle_shark]

As dutchie said... Glad to see him go. Played outta position to much and was too inconsistent with his form. Plus he was gettin to old. he got injured way to much recent seasons. Paid way to much to just sit out in the centres and do nothing or the sidelines.

 

[Megashark]

Pomeroy and Hannay are a good duo on paper and hopefully will create a partnesrhip similar to that of Mc Gaw and ET did.

If Poms and Hannay form half as good a centre combination as ET and Sparkles did then I for one would be very happy! They were unbelievable, the perfect mix of speed and power, with an almost telepathic understanding of what the other was going to do next. A very tough act to follow but I do like your optimism Capmar!

On Bailey, he was a coach's dream in that he could cover so many parts of the field, a real "freddie fill-in". So we will miss his utility value, but we are in the fortunate position of having some great backrowers right now, a mixture of experienced hardheads some as Gallen and Thommo alongside the exciting youngsters Williams and Douglas. We also now have a player of similar utility value to Bailey in Fraser Anderson, who has had some big wraps and I think we are all hoping will prove to be a great acquisition. I liked Bailey as a player in that always rolled his sleeves up and had a go, he played with a lot of passion, although with maybe too much passion at times as he was known to give away a few penalties. I think he will be a real hit in the Super League and it wouldn't surprise me if he did return to the NRL down the track to link up with Ando at the Roosters.