Don't quite get this??.....Why would Wigan/Wire dominating be any better for the game than Leeds/Saints??.....I think for the true good of the game, we need 2 new names on the trophies, Huddersfield and Hull maybe?....or Hull KR and Salford?.....or Crusaders?.....You get my drift??...



What I think you mean is that we need an open competition where all 14 sides are in with a shout of the honours (or at least half of them), unlike now, where most pundits would admit the trophies will probably go to either Wire, Wigan, Leeds or Saints.

Wigan have won the U20/ reserve comp for the last 3 seasons.
Warrington have yet to make the final.

Stupid comment to make. That's why the majority of rlfans think Wigan fans are utter tools.

Doesn't mean we don't have good players coming through does it? But don't let that get in the way of a dick measuring contest. Wigan have always had a very good youth set-up due to the great rugby roots in the town. How many players in SL come from Wigan? I bet it's a few.

Only time will tell.

Yes you have.
If you read my posts I was praising Rhys Evans back in 2009, when the majority on here had never heard of him.

However it's a big step up from U18 to Superleague and that means that winning the U20/reserve league is the next step.

I expect that Warrington may do that this year, but Wigan will be their biggest threat, but it wil all depend on who goes out on loan.

Loads on here had heard of him. I don't know of many regulars who hadn't? Clever lad as well.

I'd be interested to see which team has promoted more academy kids to the full time squad this year us or wigan...?

last years stars appear to be next years Widnes players....we were doing that years ago....

[urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/feb/04/wigan-warriors-widnes[/url

Wigan have promoted six
[urlhttp://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=5380&type=news[/url

And that is added to Marsh, Charnley, Tuson, Farrell, Walker and Mellor last year.

With the players you have signed, how many of them have a realistic chance of 1st team rugby?

Which is what I said.

Sorry Rogues misread it.I have edited it now.

That's a difficult question to answer.
Charnley will IMO be a top class player, he was the most improved player at Wigan in the 2009 season.
Marsh, possibly.
Farrell, certainly, should be in contention for young player of the year this year (any of you on here who like a bet, it's worth a shot)
Tuson, not sure, unless he converts to the hooker position.
Walker, good lower division player.

On the others who have been promoted this year.
Crosby, I like him, a late developer.
Logan Tomkins, has a lot to live up to because of his two brothers, but I haven't seen anything yet to convince me that he will make it.

Powell, surprised me in the U18's v Australia because I didn't think he had the pace for a scrum half, but then again neither has Deacon, and he's done well out of the game.

Both Russel and King are very quick and should make good Superleague backs.

Jack Hughes is an excellent back rower but may find his way blocked to the first team as it's probably the Wigans strongest position, in fact I believe the best strength in depth on Superleage.

You can't judge a team's academy by how many they bring through to first team, its how good the ones they bring through are that counts. It should be fairly obvious that if you bring through say 3 good young players in a couple of seasons, then those players are going to be in that team for a decade, so you aren't going to have a big turnover in those positions, like you would if they weren't good enough.

At Wigan they are going to find now that a lot of good Academy players who would have been given a shot in the Noble era, now won't be able to get in the Wigan side so they will have to leave to get first team rugby. Leeds went through this a few years ago. It has also happened to Saints in some positions as well.

Back in the mid 1990s there was a lot of talk about Newcastle Knights youth system because not only did they have the Johns brothers coming through but also Brett Kimmorley and Scott Hill....what great strength in depth that would be. Kimmorley and Hill weren't planning on hanging around and being the Johns brothers back up though....

Correct
You then get the "Oh, there letting another Youngster Go" Quotes. And to be fair, you aren't going to let the right ones go all the time.

PS

It's nice to have the choice of which ones you'd like to sign though isn't it?

We've just had that with Matty Sarsfield, and Johnny Molloy.

Both are back row forwards (and very promising ones), but in front of them are Joel Tomkins, Hansen, O'Loughlin, Mossop, Hoffman, Farrell and Tuson.
Add to that Hock, and the two England U18's of Bridge and Hughes.

Add to which Wigan did make him an offer, he just chose to take the Hudds one which is fair enough.

But despite that you have signed 3 overseas players to go with the 4/5 you already have(not sure who Hansen reps for?) with probably your first choice halves of deacon and finch. Finch will be 30 half way into the season if he's played by then and deacon Will be 32 in a few weeks!

For all those kids you are producing you still have a few old timers, plodders and big pay day Aussies and kiwis about?

And that sgtwilko, is what us lot in Wigan call 'strength in depth'.

I never stated that you did.

Because Leeds and Saints have dominated for so long. I said Wire/Wigan taking over the mantle would be a good thing. As a Wire fan I think that this is a fair hope.

Because those 3 overseas players replaced Feka, Riddell, Bailey + Phelps, that's one less overseas player.

Hansen was born here, played his entire rugby career here, and represented England at junior levels, why on earth do people keep mentioning him!


Roberts
Richards
Carmont
Lima
Hoffman
Finch

+ Leuluai but he is exempt (without the use of any loopholes). So 6 really, and out of those i'd say there is only Carmont (who is still quality) that aren't top overseas players.

I agree that it'd be nice if Wire could pick up trophies on a regular basis, but if we and Wigan were to take over and dominate, a la Leeds/Saints, then it'd become as tedious as those pair ever was.

Just for a few years then?