None of the big three can ever discredit another club for using money to further itself and make it more competitive. Whilst the big 3 have excellent youth production lines now, it is no coincidence that these big 3 teams had substantial cash investments to help establish themselves above other sides- Wigan 80s, Leeds 80s, and 90s, and stains during the late 90s early 00s. Naturally, once a club becomes more established, it attracts better players, staff and sponsors etc. and a positive spiral ensues.

Whilst I have to admit to being envious of the big three during those times of investment, I didn't moan- that's just the way the cookie crumbles. So As108, were you complaining when McManus and co where pumping money into saints?- thought not. So don't complain when the shoe is on the other foot.

I’m hardly moaning, Wires big spending has gotten them a lot less than it should in terms of success. When McManus was pumping money into Saints we were actually successful.

The 4 produced by Saints were world class and some of the best in Super League. In comparison, Patton is garbage, Currie’s knee will stop him from fulfilling his potential in all likelihood and there has to be doubts whether he’ll be able to go on much longer, Philbin and Cooper both good players but aren’t close to be being the best props in SL now never mind back then. As for the rest, Livett and King are bang average and that’s being very kind, Jack Johnson isn’t good enough and I haven’t watched enough of the rest. Ultimately, the quality of player coming from the Warrington academy is poor when compared to Saints and Wigan. You only have to look at the number of current Saints players who’ve been recently been in the England team.

For bang average you might want to look at Richardson and Grace. The former being the reason Wire have to spend on aussies/NRL players for half backs when 'home grown' rubbish like him is lauded as being quality in this country. Trueman knocks him into a cocked hat.

Boyd was not past it (neither the other two really) Boyd was driven out of Australia due to being pretty much a violent thug, calmed down about over her and just became a good tough prop. although he was always good, but could not control himself.

I don't know how you have the nerve to criticise other clubs home produced talent when your own club currently is is one of the worse clubs in super league to produce there own, even worse is to give up on them and scavenge other clubs on the other hand there club are good at bidding wars and paying over the odds.

If we had a league comp of home product players only its very likely the wire would be relegated.

I was being sarcastic towards the bitter Weirdness fan because Widdop isn’t past it neither!

I don’t disagree with you, but you made it out like throwing money at it and having few youth team players in a squad doesn’t work. When it has, for many clubs in the past.

You are right though as it has come to light since Tony Smith left, and Steve Price has come in, that Tony Smith used to just drive back to Yorkshire where he lived after he’d done his job with the first team and didn’t spend much time at all overseeing the youth side of the club. I believe since Price came in he was surprised at the lack of culture of the youth team playing the same way as the first team and the pathway to get into the first team hadn’t been positive at Wire. For a club that once brought Iestyn Harris and Paul Shorpe within a few years of each other, a town the size of Warrington and a town that has no professional football team, isn’t good.

If we can keep hold of Price for a good amount of time I can see that changing. Our youth sides have always been there or there abouts at youth level over the years. It’s just that pathway hasn’t been as good as at other clubs.

But let’s not pretend “throwing absurd amount of money at it” (there’s absolutely nowt absurd about it at all by the way!) doesn’t work.

Leeds and Wigan yes.

Maybe he joined Warrington over Saints to win trophies and play in major finals.

The last 10 years:-

Warrington:-
9 major finals
5 trophies

Saints:-
4 major finals
3 trophies

It's a good job for you Ben Flower handed you that Grand Final win.

Let’s remember that despite Wire spending a considerable amount more, we have won a trophy more recently than you.

But have won less over the last 10 years, correct?

Doesn't matter, they're winning the youth production league constantly (which begs the question why they'd need to sign Jack Owens at any point). I know Real Madrid fans want to trade in their 13 European Cups for Crewe Alexandra's youth production line.

That is absolutely comical, you say that as though Wire have 13 of rugby’s equivalent of the European Cup when you have a grand total of zero and have won no major trophies for 7 years. You aren’t winning the youth production league and you aren’t winning anything else either.

And over the last 20 years Saints have won more, your point is?

Would have loved Gaz at Huddersfield but we do have Frawley and Gaskell who would just edge it to the starting line up I think so we're all set.

Still no SL titles though

Guffaw

I think my point is quite clear. You suggested Widdop chose Wire over Saints for purely financial reasons. I'm merely pointing out that maybe, just maybe he could have picked Wire over Saints to become more successful as in recent years Wire have won and played in more finals than Saints.

Have you grasped it now?

Good thread this.

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing.

I was hoping that wasn’t your point because it’s a daft one. It’s debatable as to whether 10 years could be described as ‘recent years’, I’d say that 5 years is. In that time we’ve won more than you so yes I’d say he has joined purely for financial reasons. Then again we couldn’t have been in for him so I suppose it’s irrelevant anyway.

Suppose finishing top isn’t bad for a team whose chairman supposedly doesn’t put money in anymore.

Edited for accuracy.

Quite amusing watching Saints and Wire fans having a b1tchfest even though, as a Salford fan, I had to Google the word "trophy" to understand what they were waffling on about



Any London, Wakey, KR fans want to join me in a thread where we can boast over who's the test?

What this all boils down to is the standard sequence of fan comments regarding NRL imports.

Stage One: ALL FANS 'We'd love to have Player X in our squad. He's a brilliant player would improve any SL team'

Stage Two: ALL FANS (except those of club with whom he is rumoured to be signing) 'Player X is clearly only coming for the money else he wouldn't have considered signing for Small Club X instead of our club.'

Stage Three: ALL FANS (except those of club with whom he is rumoured to be signing) 'How can they fit Player X under their Salary Cap?'

Stage Four: Fans of club for whom player has actually now signed 'Fantastic news for the club and shows our ambition'

Stage Five: ALL FANS (except those of club for whom he has actually now signed) 'He's crocked/over the hill/waste of money/not a good use of marquee etc etc'.

Hate to ruin this thread but...time will tell.

Riveting but it does make a change from the usual Yorkshire 'chit chat' though?