[uThat might be due to the fact that he's only just finished at sixth form and it was decided, as another poster has said, that he will be held off first team or any type of loan deal until that finishes. I'm surprised people are brushing this off so easily. The lad has bags of talent, as is shown by Sale possibly having offered him a big contract without him ever playing first team. I wouldn't just take this as agent talk either, they've been sniffing around since he was 15/16[/u.

I doubt it's just agent talk where Thornley's concerned. But if he goes, he goes. There are bags of talented kids in our junior ranks, and though it would be nice to keep them all, we simply can't. Thus Maguire and co have to make decisions, based on performances, attitude etc, about which ones to keep.

Those who score lower on the chart can't possibly be allowed to hold the club to ransom. This would not be a loss on a par with Ashton, who was a regular first-teamer at the time, catching the eye of the world. Thornley has never get close to the first team in a league or cup match. If the likes of Sale want to throw daft money at someone like that, they can be my guests.

Never watched Thornley play but from what I gather about him on here it seems he is the best centre to come through the ranks in a long time, it's sad to have good players leave as Thornley could replace Carmont in another year or so but if Wigan have offered him a deal and he has knocked it back then so be it.

I'm sure if he really has that potential the IL and MM and the coaching staff will see it and offer a better deal for him to stay, same goes for Marsh.

IMO, Marsh is now the better option. Thornley was good as a youngster, but Marsh has continued to progress. If Marsh were to go, I'd be much more upset.

I cant see marsh going! Hes had a taste of 1st team with his home town club and I wouldnt say hes a lad who would put money over his ambitions etc.
Hope Im right because he as the makings of being a top quality player if he keeps developing the way he as!

I'm still of the same opinion that Charnley will prove to be the best of the three.

Im sure by now the coaching staff have identified who they will offer contracts to and of what value, not everyone can stay

If some players leave with really even proving themselves then so what, if they prove them selves they will be rewarded

We've just given senior contracts to 8 youngsters. If we have to lose a couple I don't see that as a major problem, just an inevitable outcome of being a club and area that produces a ton of quality talent. Besides, they may not even like it at Sale and decide they want to come back. Union sounds like a tempting option for a lot of players - massive international game, lots of money - but not everybody is suited to it.

The RFL have got to do something about some of our youngsters going to the dark side.

To be honest I am not sure what they can do but surely they have to do something to stop this or it will become an exodus.

I know we can't keep them all, but I'd have hoped we could keep those two, along with Charnley.

Still, at least they won't be playing against us.

Sorry to say this mate but I am a Saints fan.


I am just concerned for the game when we are losing quality youngsters to yawnion wether it's Wigan,Saints or whoever.
We reallly need to do something about this though.

No need to apologise. It's an affliction.

The solution is simple. Home grown youngsters should be discounted from the salary cap.

Ian thornley wont be at wigan after this week . do not know the score with stefan marsh

If that's the case, good luck to him.

ive also been told what sale have offered him to defect to union. Now if the figures are correct i can completely understand him going.

So it's for purely financial reasons. I think we all pretty much guessed that It'd be the case.

I wonder whether the departure off Thornley and Marsh has anything to do with the possible signing of Quinn? We will be a little light in the backs for next year if both do go.

If both leave then lets hope we've signed Pryce up for next season.

We need cover

I am not saying it is purely finaincial by any means. If he lives up to his potential he may be playing for england etc etc . that may be a factor also. From the info i have recieved wigan were trying to get him to sign months back but he refused. IL nearly got shut of him at that time. I knew this was going to come at some point this season.

I don't think it's quite the death knell for Stefan Marsh just yet. Wigan rate him a lot more highly than they did Thornley.

"IF" he is going for the cash, then fair enough.

If he dont want to play for us then let him go.

If he was the next big thing then i would be disapointed, but he is a young lad with a lot to prove.

I am sure the sausage factory that is our youth set-up will chun out more promising youngsters.

I can certainly appreciate if Lenegan was a little vexed at this. After all it will have no doubt cost Wigan a fair amount of money to develop Thornley, and now after all all that financial assistance and countless hours of hard work by the staff at Wigan it's all gone to waste in his case.



I hope so. it'd be a real shame to lose another of our brightest prospects just when the club appears to be heading towards good times.

This is of course true. But we have to say these kinds of things because we've no choice in the matter.

I hope, if this happens, that IL makes some kind of representation to the RFL about yet more talent draining to RU because no RL club was in a position to make a similar bid.

Even if Wigan have decided they don't want Thornley, it's a same he has to leave the game.

The problem people seem to miss is that although Thornley might not be as good as Marsh & he might not have had the attitude to make it at Wigan he could probably have been better than some of the dross that is currently playing in SL.

We’ve got a league where players like Sykes and Yeaman are in for international contention at so called big clubs.

We need more talented players like Thornley in the league as it raises the bar for all.

Well put. That's more or less what I was trying to say.

And i completley agree, i genuinley do

but i have no confidence that the RFL will pull there finger out of there arris and actually do anything about it. They are far more concerned with tinkering with the rules and trying to keep a level playing field. I honestly have no respect for the majority of them because they have done nothing to prove that they are even interested in keeping our young'uns.

TBH i just feel really jaded about situations like this. It used to really bother me, but now i just think "sod em".

Fair play to these young lads, the cash is there so why not.......it just means that i no longer have any respect for them as a Player of the game. This is harsh no doubt, but it is just the way i feel.

I desprately hope youngsters will one day be exempt from the cap but that will never happen. After all where will Hudd'd, Wakefield and the like get there players from? and that is who the RFL protect.