I'd say it points to the fact that the problem isn't with the youngsters but some of the seniors.

As for clearing up the mess :

Stand-off and a scrum half
Prop with a bit of devil in him
Centre or winger with genuine pace

Currie has never been part of Wigan's academy and Tyrone McCarthy is not a prop. HTH.

What I do know is that Wigan had 7 Wigan academy players in their 17 on Good Friday including one who left the academy to sign for Sale RU and has since returned whilst Warrington had 7 Warrington academy players in their 17 so I'm really struggling to see why you are picking that game as an example.

By the way 7 of 17 is not a majority and neither is it half. HTH.

Quote ="Paul Youane"Currie has never been part of Wigan's academy and Tyrone McCarthy is not a prop. HTH.'" really? https://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent. ... &type=news or are you going to say under 16's is technically part of the academy? and Tyrone McCarthy played pretty well for Ireland at prop

Quote ="Paul Youane"Currie has never been part of Wigan's academy and Tyrone McCarthy is not a prop. HTH.'" really? https://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent. ... &type=news or are you going to say under 16's is technically part of the academy? and Tyrone McCarthy played pretty well for Ireland at prop

and then 10 against Bradford. In the next year or two you could arguably say that bar 1 player the whole spine has come through the academy. Not forgetting when was the last time Warrington was raided consistently for 4 years? But it all just reverts back to coaching.

Quote ="dubairl"really? https://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent. ... &type=news or are you going to say under 16's is technically part of the academy? and Tyrone McCarthy played pretty well for Ireland at prop'" Scholarship is not the academy. Tyrone McCarthy is not a prop.

Quote ="dubairl"really? https://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent. ... &type=news or are you going to say under 16's is technically part of the academy? and Tyrone McCarthy played pretty well for Ireland at prop'" Scholarship is not the academy. Tyrone McCarthy is not a prop.

great way to go off topic but anyway so Ben Currie didn't have any development at Wigan? And Tyrone McCarthy played as a prop as was good so that usually says he can play prop and be a prop.

I reckon the majority of his development would have been at Parkside.

I dont understand why Tyke is even being brought up, he was not super league class and certainly not good enough for a team striving to win Grand Finals, he tried his best and was liked by the fans because of that but he was definitely not good enough.

Worked alright about 12 years ago for Leeds



Haven't Warrington got a knack of signing a lot of youngsters on from outside their area? You've had a number from Hunslett Warriors

It's a good job Wire brought Westwood and Nat Wood through their youth system to inspire them against relegation..............Oh, hang on

to be fair the fact you have places like Wigan St pats is also a massive bonus. its places like that that nurture your talent first

on the whole Warrington's amature clubs are geared to open age rugby first and foremost the kids sections are add ons.

A friend of mine went to see an amateur set up in Penrith Australia and it was all about the kids, the open age team was the last in line of importance. the view was if your playing open age you've had your chance your either not good enough or are just winding down your playing days. He was blown away by it.

I had heard a conversation a few years ago Wire had "Signed" a promising youngster and had promptly sent him to St pats....

anyway Wire have one Academy product mixing it in the NRL, add that to a Scouser, a lad from chorley, and four lads from Dewsbury, its not bad

When did McCarthy play at prop for Ireland anyway?

And now he's one on the biggest earners in the NRL.
Our biggest mistake.

Great thread - topic needs changing to - Wigans youth policy is better than Wires !!


My thoughts are that we need a couple of enforcers - we are just too 'nice'. Who is going to start the biff when a game needs changing ?? Take the captaincy of Westwood - he is not the mongrel of a couple of years back.
Asotasi seems an honest enough pro - we need someone with a proper nasty streak (Hock-like)

Was always going to be a transitional season - thought we would be pushing for the top 4 rather than top 8 though

I don't get this 'transitional' period a lot of posters are talking about.
This is the TS team and I've not once seen reference by him that we are in a transitional phase.

Why would you expect him to make a reference to it being a "transitional season" especially this early on in proceedings? It's virtually waving a white flag and saying to your competitors that you aren't going to be competative so come and get us.

The transitional season line is usually trotted out by commetators, pundits and the well informed forum dwellers and usually only by the management to explain why the season hadn't gone well/according to plan after the event.

...and posters.

I know who and why it's said Rico.
I pointed out that TS doesn't say so.
So either he is being economical with the truth, he is misguided or everyone else you listed and a few posters on here, can't see the woods for the trees.

of course TS wont say it.

it didnt need pointing out really did it?

Back on topic, whether they are new signings or players that are here and going to step up we need three things,

1 A real captain, (what's this shared thing all about), to make sure everyone is putting in a shift
2 An enforcer type forward to put the wind up the opposition
3 Someone that can work out how the game is going and lead the team around the park and optimise our attacking options

So that's two players minimum for me

I give in

I'm not against you!
I've never said there isn't a transition period.
I've said that TS doesn't give the impression that it is, cos he is about the only one not saying it.

That's all Wigan do isn't it? never sign players to fix squad problems.

Fatty Bowen?
Matty Smith?
Blake Green?
Tony Clubb?
Dan Sarginson?
Jordan James?
Scott Taylor?
Ben Flower?
Gil Dudson?
Jon Bateman?
Eddy Pettybourne?

Promote within, I agree.

I think we all unserstand you apart from the duck.

The position you are in isn't something that has just suddenly appeared. A lot of your best players for the last couple of seasons have been the wrong side of 30. Young players have been brought through but not in the positions needed. I have heard that Moran offered Smith whatever money he needed to get in the right players, Smith said he didn't need it, he was happy with what he had.