My heart bleeds

What did Wigan give St Pats or Ashton for all their hard work devloping the lad?

Nice post... NOT

I think you'll find that Wigan actually does a fair ammount assisting the Amateur clubs in the area, and specifically have a scheme to help them develop coaches, raise funds, and increase their profile.

Or you could just continue to imagine the club does bugger all and just steals players.

How do we know the issue is money?

This is a novel attitude.

Professional clubs should pay amateur clubs for the privilege of taking players off them who they themselves have never paid and never would. Or perhaps it's wrong that we take players from amateur clubs under any circumstances?

Perhaps the solution is that all the pro clubs develop their own amateur tier as well, so that young kids can join Wigan, Widnes, Saints when they're seven years old and then progress up through the ranks.

Can't you imagine it? Wigan RL have their own junior sides, and all the lads have to do is turn up, sign a bit of paper and they get a game. That'd be great for clubs like Pats, Judes, Shevy, etc, wouldn't it?

Grow up.

Stef as not signed for sale is words not mine.

Get youself a keyboard with a "h"

And you get one with an 'r'.

I said the same when I heard the figures offered to him at 16, don't be so sure that he's going yet.

People also have to realise that the comparisons with Charnley and Marsh can't be fully considered yet as he is at least a year younger than both of them, if he stays for next season then that is the time to look at whether maguire rates him as a possible first teamer.

Apparently he didn't need to sign at the time because his contract had 12 months longer to run than the club thought. As with many contracts the option for adding another 12 months was a discussion point. His number was taken off him, then it was realised he had another year to run. It was too late to retract the press release about his college studies by then. Allegedly.

Thornley move now confirmed:

[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=18433[/url

He also confirmed that Stefan Marsh is staying at Wigan.

Shame to see Thornley go particularly when many under 20's watchers on here rated him. But glad to see we've managed to keep Marsh.

IMO this situation is a perfect example of why we should have been in for Shenton.

You can never predict or bank on your reserves. It's great if they come through but when quality proven SL standard players are available you go for them.

Going off what IL has said we did make moves for Shenton but he was offered money from Saints that we refused to match. Same problem with LMS too

I'm not sure it's much of a problem given what we've managed to acquire instead. Besides, of our three young three-quarters, we've kept the better two in Marsh and Charnley.

Shenton isnt as good as our centres

Maybe not but Gleeson and Carmont are both the wrong side of 30 and won't be around forever

Excellent short sightedness there.

Senior wasn't as good as the centres we had when he left Sheffield but he turned out ok didn't he

You've gotta look at long term gain and swapping Shenton for Carmont is smart in the long run.

Why is it short sightedness? Senior was the top scorer for Sheffield and had won a trophy with them. He was also younger than Shenton is.

I dont think Shenton is that good and posted on the Saints site that I dont think he is Saints quality.

Shenton has bags of potential, he's young, British and has proven he can play against the GI's of this world and not be made a fool of. That ticks all the right boxes for me.

He has slightly gone off form but then again Cas is a club in turmoil. I'd love to see him at a stable club with a great coach like Madge he'd really kick on.

The quota is reducing next season and with Hoffman potentially staying another year we will have to look to either our academy (can't be counted on e.g Thornley) or an English centre from another club.

Who do you suggest we sign?

For the centres? No-one, Marsh and Charnley.

I know you really like Shenton, and I think he's a good player, but if IL looked at the price tag and said no thank you, then I don't see how it's wrong.

I do appreciate and trust his judgement but I'm just trying to think who we will replace Carmont with that's all.

I'd love Marsh, Charnley or even Pryce to get the gig but the whole Thornley incident proves you can't always bank on them.

Either way if Shenton did turn us down I bet he regrets it after today.

Why do we need to sign anyone? We have centres in the academy.

Just because hes British doesnt mean hes good enough. I thought we had a spare spot this year already so when it reduces we will be ok. Also we can have a south sea islander signing if Carmont goes.

If Hoffman goes then I would go for either, Hodges, Morris, Idris or Matt Cooper as they are all available for 2012, if he stays then I would look at Charnley

I hope Thornley turns out to be a load of rubbish in Union, can't stand these players who use and abuse this fine club.