Whilst to the untrained eye it does seem like Clubb is our first scapegoat of the season it isn't without warrent. He just isn't doing enough of value. Like a few on here I made a mental note at the match to follow his movements in his first period, I got the feeling that he was trying to 'look busy/upping his stats' without doing the hard graft.

Low minutes.
Few drives.
Low metre gains.
Missed tackles.
3rd/4th Man in.

I was pretty livid with him at the time, surprised he even came on towards the end, didn't expect it. I think he made a decent drive during that time.

Now it was only when I got home I managed to catch a view of the dressing room at half time where a physio was working hard on his heavily strapped leg. Now I'm going to try and give him some benefit of the doubt here........ Is he match fit? Is he struggling with an ongoing injury?

Or.... Is he being instructed to play this way?
Or.....Is he simply not putting the effort in?

To me, I don't think he's fit and needs some time off.

It doesn't help when you tell the coach who to pick and where to play them like Hampshire did

That Sam Tomkins fella did okay didn't he?
That Farrell lad who has played a few games for us these past ten years, he's pretty good?
Or what about that Gildart boy? Or the even younger Marshall kid, he's not bad either.

Then there's young Williams who's bagged himself an NRL contract along with that Ryan Sutton lad?

Then there's Manfredi before he unluckily got himself seriously injured.


I could go on........

Ryan Hampshire could have been anything he wanted to be by now, playing at a top club and winning trophies had it not been for rank bad advice with silly demands being whispered into his ears by those closest to him.

Exactly Jukesy. I was dismayed at Clubb on Thursday. It was chalk and cheese when Bullock and Clark came on. I know we can't know what's on his mind but, from a distance at least, it looks deliberate and was really highlighted when those two came on as, all of sudden, we had forward options around the ruck. Surely it can't be a coincidence?

Spot on with Lockers too. I despair that there's still fans out there who can't, or more probably won't, see what he brings. I was going to post a reply to the post you mention but all I could think of to say was "are you sure you're facing the right way when you watch the games?" I can't think of any other rational explanation. I didn't dare address the disgusting comments regarding hoping his injury would end his career or I'd have picked up a ban.

he never got a chance to be

Burgess and Powell

I've literally never heard anyone say that about our academy forwards. It's been a constant area of weakness that we have never produced quality props IMO.


I don't know about the attitude stuff but I do think he is/was talented enough to have been a real star by now at Wigan. Wakey rate him.

Similar to what happened to Corey Hall.

Played at centre in the Academy team for most of the season and then dropped for the end of season games including the Semi Finals and Final for a new player called Holt (any connection to Holt's Injury Update which appeared around the same time).

Left the club, signed by Leeds and now part of their first team squad and just been selected for the England Academy Performance Squad.

Now wonder the lad left the club after being treated like that!

I don’t mean the young lads!!! I mean the older established forwards we sign.

Pettybourne, Tautai, Navarette, Nua’asala, Clubb, Lauaki, Hopkins, Larne Patrick.

Whoever it is who is scouting these players are picking duds. It’s a lot easier to scout young players because they cast their net far and wide. Sign a boat load of good kids and release the ones you don’t want, in a process of elimination.

Larne Patrick...Jesus wept

I thought they'd let him go ....reconsidered, and then re-signed him?

I think it was more of his demands. Thought he could get better elsewhere, no-one offered it to him, went back to Wakey

I could be very wrong about that though

Absolutely. Spent years at Wigan claiming he's not a fullback only to end up playing fullback and even being shoved on the wing for Wakey

And that probably sums his career up

Exactly. I'm sure he sometimes thinks back...... If only, if only, if only.

Your point?

Nobody said we've not produced some good young players. My post was in reference to Rogues. He says every crop of young players coming through are going to be world beaters.

Hes had years at Wakefield. I dont see many top clubs queuing up for his signature.

Do you think we should bring him back to Wigan?

World Beaters? Put your money where you mouth is then and quote him where he's stated that.

I think Hampshire got confused by the change of emphasis on the role of players. The old school remember the half backs as being the playmaking maestros just as we have with Hastings again today. Hampshire came through when the emphasis as playmaker was being shifted to the fullback. By the time he would have got his chance in his favoured position he had already been loaned out.

Leeds wanted him when he was at Wigan but Wigan talked him into another contract loaned him out and he never played for us again. I know a bit about this as I spoke to someone close to him and the club (not going to post his name on here) and he said the club treated him terribly through it all, offered him the world and in effect ruined his chance of signing for another big club and reaching his potential

He probably looked at George and thought he’s playing ok in the halves and I used to outplay him in the academy so why can’t I

I still occasionally watch the Magic game against Leeds so the answer is he probably could.

I was obviously typing tongue in cheek. Rogues tells us every set of young players are something special. Hes been doing it since the 00's.

OK. I accept that.

In his defence I would say we have done extremely well over the last fifteen years with our youth production line. In fact I would state that it's the backbone of our success since IL came on board.

Now granted not EVERY young kid that has come through has made it to the very top. But our academy have won almost every title over the last ten years, the cream of the youth have helped us win several SL titles and a WCC title as well. Some have left (can't keep them all) and carved out successful 'mostly' careers elsewhere be in RL or RU (Chris Ashton still swandiving over the line these days)? Plus Owen Farrell can thank his early start to our club as well.

Yes now and again we have a dud but overall we ain't done bad. We could be worse we could be Wire or Hull, two clubs who spend big on young players from other areas. Even Leeds (who traditionally match us for a strong production line of talented youth are stuttering a bit these days).

Of everything that's happened good and bad since DW and Uncle Mo left I would say our academy products has been our greatest success and we are looked upon with green eyed envy from every club in the league year on year.