What a player does or the potential he shows at the academy level means very little if he can’t transfer that into SL. Just look at Luke Robinson or Matty Smith for perfect examples.

On the one side you’ve got a PROVEN SL player in Colbon and on the other you’ve got Charnley who has potential but hasn’t played any SL rugby yet. How can you say Charnley is better?

Aren't Robinson and Smith Superleague players?
Robinson is the same age as Colbon but has played over twice the number of games.

I like Colbon and was one of the few who would have liked to keep him at Wigan due to his versatility.

Exactly. I can back you up on that. Attitude is better than Ainscough. Has more brains that Ainscough. Maybe a bit less pace but a better overall player in my view. I'm in total agreement from what I've seen at academy level. Good luck to him, Hull KR is a good move I think for a month and their next three games are on Sky Sports which is good for us to see him in action.

I was using them as perfect examples of players who haven't lived up to the potential and hype they got from their accademy performances. Who is to say Charnley won't go the same way?



Look I don't know if you are being difficult on purpose but let’s just cut to the chase here do you honestly think Charnley is currently a better player than Colbon? This isn’t about having the potential to be as well. If the answer is yes I’d love to know what you are basing It on as academy games vs SL ones mean zip.

No one knows. But the sport and our club wasted academy players for fun in Luke Robinson's era. It's less likely to happen now with dual-registration giving players opportunities. Just look at Liam Farrell and Chris Tuson - both have benefitted dramatically by going away this year.

So is he a left or right centre?

Played with Josh, hes brilliant

Mainly right wing in his recent academy career but has played left wing and right centre at times.

This year he's claimed 17 tries in 10 Under 20s games.

I imagine he will feature in the centre for us seeing as though all four of ours have been wiped out in Welham, Webster, Ratu and Walker

I think everyone is getting a little mixed up here.

I’m in no way shape or form doubting Charnley has potential and I don’t doubt the current set up makes it a hell of a lot easier for them to make the transition. Madge not only makes the use of the dual reg system but he gives them more than a fair crack of the whip.

All I’m arguing is that no one knows for certain how a player will adapt to SL rugby and you can’t say a player like Charnley is a better player than one like Colbon until he’s proven he can adapt to SL rugby.

I’m confident that Charnley is talented enough to make it but he’s not there yet that’s all where as Colbon is

Good luck to the lad. Hopefully I'll get to see him make his debut on Friday against Leeds.

Reading the thread people say he's not particularly quick so what's his real strengths?

..........................maybe

didn't know that yous had all 4 injured thought you's had a decent chance on friday as well with the way the rovers have been playing recently especially in defence.

Yep the last three are gone for the season and Welham is awaiting the results of a scan

He is quick, he has played wing position and has shown he is fast.
He's strong, and very fit. He's constantly in the right place and knows when to open his mouth n tell the team whats right.

I will defiantly be there tomorrow, i see a big debut ahead.
Understand a few of the concerns with him not playing SL before, but watching him from academy to under 20's i think he will adapt well in my opinion.

Without being over the top... i failed to find something bad about Charnely in the past few years.

Thnx for the heads up buddy.



Just about to set up SKY+ to tape tomorrow's match.

I am not basing it on tries scored but on what I have seen of the player when he has played for Wigan. However some of the tres scored were far from walk-ins and took some scoring in case you forgot. He is clearly SL standard. The defence issue is the most exaggerated issue on this message board and we have other players who are suspect in defence such as Phepls who are not constantly beaten up about it. In my opinion Ainscough's defence is just an excuse those who for some reason best known to themselves don't like the player to justify their position.



You are ignoring the fact Pryce and Goulding can't be a dual registered players (they earn to much and/or are too old) and Ainscough can be and is. With Pryce it was stay in the U20's all season or get a chance. He could not be given a chance anywhere else so the club had only one way to see if he was up to it - play him in the first team. He's has been and now been dropped again but I'd wager if Ainscough were given the same opportunity he'd make far more of a case for himself. Writing him off after one game in the poorest side we have put out all season is a joke.



We ended that deal and when we did they had players back and that is why they didn't take him back and also I think you can't re-instigate such a loan deal once it's been ended at the drop of a hat. There are rules that mean you can't just loan players out, take them back then loan them out again (unlike dual registered players).



Castleford clearly wanted Ainscough. I assume the reason they went for him in the first place was because of what they had seen before in 2009. Or do you think they went after him because he clearly wasn't SL standard?



And why do you think Wigan would want to or can end his dual reg deal at Widnes to send him to HKR for a month? Do you honestly think the practicalities of the situation mean Wigan do not take into account Widnes's views? Widnes are hardly likely to continue take dual reg players if at the first sniff of a loan deal we whip them away and then expect them to have them back after the loan just because it suits our clubs purpose. It also doesn't make much sense to shift him form club to club. He had a long spell at Cas, that came to an end now he's at Widnes. Moving him again would be stupid IMO.

Loan deals and dual registration deals depend on a lot more things than simply a players ability.

Dave

In Super League - as many times as you have.

Dave

Dave how many times have you seen Charnley play?
Don't move the goalposts.

He is. He's also very good under the high ball, in both attack and defence.

josh has improved his game massive amounts in the last couple of years. Hope he goes well and gets the experience and the chance he deserves. well done to the lad

got to agree with you there brian. i'v mentioned it at the under 20's games that i rate charnley very highly. i'd have him over ainscough anyday of the week!! there's another young winger who i think will go quite well.. matty russell.

young ryan king is faster than both, deffo one to watch and superb under the high ball.

We seem to be blessed with talented backs coming through the academy and reserves at the moment.The likes of Marsh, Thornley, Charnley, King and Russell are really looking the part and are terrific talents. The first three have received a lot of praise on here before, but I think King and Russell have a great chance of making the breakthrough to the 1st team in the future if they continue progressing at their current rate.