What's Morgan Escare up to these days?

I think the key issue here is wardle. He clearly wasn’t happy at missing out on the CC and felt he should have played (I don’t agree - he lost the shirt and the player he lost it to did nothing wrong to relinquish it- that to me is how it should be) wardle was given the chance to play on the wing, that would have given him the opportunity to play himself back into the side but he didn’t want to take it and wanted to play at centre. Wardle has a poor injury record, he missed two years of academy rugby as a result of serious knee problems, which caused knock on issues elsewhere and these seem to be a weak spot and he regularly seems to have had shorter lay offs since and that’s why he’s lost his place. It must be terribly frustrating for him as he is an excellent player when he stays fit, but he just couldn’t manage to cement that place. All he needs is an injury free season which seems to have alluded him.
Watson is quite clear to the players he signs what is expected of them in the regard of places and playing for them, and keeping them. Sam will know where he stands and must have accepted that.

That's the crux of the argument and i think it's a solid enough point to be making. It isn't about Wardle, it's about King. We've moved for King, even tho Hudds wanted him and moved on a prospect to Hudds too. Seems a little bizarre.

For me, the backline next year is fairly experienced and we could have either carried Halsall somewhat (something that happens with most young players), or phased him in over the season instead of Thornley. Next year you flip that and Thornley is in his last year and turns into the cover option.

I liked Halsall, but I'd definitely take Wardle/King over him.

Same with Shaun Ainscough. Hell ... same with Mark Cannon. Anyone remember him? We replaced him with Brett Kenny, and quite unbelievably, some people complained about that.

To be fair to Hankinson he’s done well at Tolouse and apparently being looked at by other Superleague clubs. I’d say his stock his higher now than it’s ever been.

If Halsall goes on to ‘make it’ I guarantee he will end up signing for Saints. Better for him to go there from giants than us. His family are huge saints fans. I always felt either way we would have never got the best of him.

One of the most perplexing things about Lam's time at Wigan was his use, or should I say non-use, of Hankinson. At times we had both Isa and Faz at centre and flogged kids half to death in what was already a weak pack. All the while Hankinson was out on loan.

Baffling to say the least.

You are trying to compare apples with oranges and tailoring an example to suit your arguement and the example has no relevance.

The only players I can compare is a ready made Toby King, to an up and coming Sam Halsall.

Halsall on less money, Wigan lad, can be spelled with Thornley, killed it in the reserves this season.

Nothing against King, but losing Sam Halsall in order to get a player on loan for a year does not make sense.

It has been mentioned about not keeping every prospect, we have to let some go. Well we have lost some future first team players in Nicolson, McDonnell, Halsall and Bibby. Add to that Harry Rushton.

I just hope we keep hold of Nsemba and Forber otherwise we may aswell scrap the academy.

Did the loan deal allow us to recall him?

Did we have the cap space?

His family support St Helens so Wigan will never get the best out of him?

Stop talking nonsense.

Didn't stop Sean Long and Gary Connolly and they played for both clubs.

Tommy Makinson played his whole youth in Hindley and supports Wigan...

Are you not doing the same by mentioning King?

Halsall has left as part of the Wardle deal.

You literally cannot keep them all and bring them all through at the same time. How on earth do you propose fitting in McDonnell?

So in your opinion (over the last ten to twenty years) how many players have we lost from the academy and have played only a handful of 1st team games who have come back to bite us.

There's loads. There was thingy who signed for wotsit and then there was yon Mon and what do you call it that went to thingamajig.

Loads

This boils down to a simple question. Would you rather have Wardle or Halsall?

Though I’m disappointed to loose Halsall there’s no contest. I’d rather of kept him and sent him on a season loan somewhere he’d get regular game time but if the swap was integral to getting Wardle then it’s a no brainer.

Halsall isn’t a Wigan lad and as has been said on this thread he and his family are big Saints fans. I’m not sure how much bearing King had on this at all, this is a swap for Wardle who to me looks a much better prospect than Halsall. Also a lot of the players you have listed we have wanted to keep but they have decided to leave, not a lot we could do other than spending more than we what we believe they are worth.

Define 'bite us'. What I mean is they could be at least solid first team players.

Ben Currie and Ollie Russell spring to mind and did Matty Lees have a spell in the academy?

You watch the reserves and academy, tell me McDonnell, Nicolson, Halsall and Bibby are not 4 stand out players at that level.

I'd rather have Wardle and Halsall rather than King on a 1 year loan deal.

I don’t agree but even if I did that’s on on the table.

Hudds wanted Halsall as part of the Wardle deal.

Halsall is the latest player the Facebook fans adore (Escare, Hankinson, Hamlin)

Matt Peet obviously didn’t fancy him after watching him closely for 3 years in the 1st team.

I’m a little concerned with the so many of the young players going (Nicholson was the biggest blow) but a lot of the time and I we focus too much on the long term.

It’s just not the case now a young player comes through and they play for you for the next 10 years. If they are very good the NRL will come knocking, also other SL clubs will be sniffing around whenever contracts are up for renewal.

With French and Field signed up this is our trophy winning window so having a 23 year old international centre is better than waiting for a 19 year old to develop.

All about balance.

Hudds also wanted King, so it stands to reason we could have moved aside for them.

In my humble opinion Thingy was a big loss,not too upset about Yon mon to be truthful.

In Peet I trust,delivered CC in first season in charge,seems to know what he is doing.

Lees was never at Wigan but there is a story behind it. Wigan wanted him however wanted him full time and Lees wanted to do his electrician qualifications as a fall back option (he is now a fully qualified electrician with his own side business)

Wigan wouldn't agree and told him to back himself full time. Saints agreed to let him do his qualifications and the rest is history.

Why do posters on here when faced with a different opinion have to discredit the opinion with either daft replies or justify the clubs decision with an example of when the club got it right.

You say Escare, Hankinson (Who I didnt rate at all) and Hamlin, I'll raise you Sam Tomkins, Jack Hughes, McIllorum, Ben Currie, Josh Charnley, Joel Tomkins, Gil Dudson, Lee Mossop, Dan Sarginson.

All of them picked for England after they'd left Wigan.

What about Andy Ackers, has he every been at Wigan? Is he a Wigan lad?

Not great examples

Wigan had no option to keep Sam after 2018, his mind was made up for a new challenge.

Is anyone disappointed Jack Hughes hasn’t been playing for Wigan ?

Dudson and Mossop had gone stale at Wigan and needed fresh starts to reach higher leaves. Neither have played for England since .

Wigan had Burgess, Marshall, Davies and Manfredi when Charnley returned - one good year at Wire and they couldn’t wait to get rid of him. Not played for England since.

Currie was never near the Wigan first team.

Sarginson has had the odd good spell for Salford but injury issued.

McIlorum left at the right time IMO