You made a wise choice mate

Haha this is not Ben.

Good luck to the guy, Wire have a fine history of Wigan born players being amongst their greats - Jackie Edwards, Brian Brady, Parry Gordon, Mike Gregory, Andy Gregory, Paul Wood, and lots of others who have graced their team (yet they still hate us?) Perhaps in time they can produce a few local born players?

this still makes me laugh, the amount of times i must have used that. Quality.
Although some people say that's actually his brother or something.

You could have shown me that picture and asked me to the name the player and I wouldn't have had Gerrard in my first ten named. Looks feck all like him!

No no i think it does look like him!

Although he looks quite cute unfortunate he had to turn into what he is now.

I'd have probably said Owen. Sure it's not him?

Well well..

you sad ****

Sorry, I have to correct you, you sad ****** ****

Wigan youth support super league and you bring this up? You highlight the fact your own team managed to throw more money at a 16 year old? Great achievment for the Warrington youth system.

There were more Wigan born players in the Wire team on Friday than Warrington born players.

Our town is the cornerstone of that Wire side at the moment isn't it.

Chris Hill, Ben Currie, Matty Russell, Jack Hughes, Stefan Ratchford and Brad Dwyer are all from round here aren't they?

Incredible really.

Still half-term in Warrington?

Wigan is Wigan, Golborne is Golborne, Lowton is Lowton, Leigh is Leigh.

Like Wigan doesn't like being called Gtr Manchester....even though it is, we feel the same.
So either you stop calling yourself Lancashire when you're not or you can't lay claim to surrounding towns being 'Wigan'.

Funnily enough that 'more money and guaranteed first team squad place' strategy has just been used by Warrington again for a far from local player.

Rather makes a mockery of being promoted on merit and unfortunately doesn't reward and value players who show loyalty and a desire to play for their home town club.

So players who originate from the Wigan area are choosing the Wire. What does that say about your ability to attract/retain local talent. On the flip side what does it say about Warrington's ability to attract/retain the best players.

Ill give you Chris Hill as we dont seem to be able to bring through any good young props anymore but:

Ben Currie - Joel Tomkins, Liam Farrell, Gareth Hock, Harrison Hansen, 'Sean OLoughlin'
Jack Hughes - As above
Stefan Ratchford - Sam Tomkins
Brad Dwyer - Michael McIlorum

Now I understand that not all of the above are 'Wigan' lads but they all came through our academy and went onto first team so i dont think we do too bad of a job developing and retaining young players and there are plenty more I can add to that list

Unfortunately there could be some truth in that. I saw Josh Jones in the pub on Saturday night and had a chat with him for about half an hour. First time i had met the guy but he was polite and professional. I told him that when the news broke about him leaving Union i put a post on here about Wigan signing him as he was from the borough and i said that plenty of people agreed with me and wanted him down here too. You know what he said. "It's irrelevant because i would never sign for Wigan" So that to me says that somebody in the club somewhere has screwed him over at some point.

Or that he's just another one grandstanding over the Flowers incident.

I assume a wad of cash would soon put paid to that. Assuming Wigan were prepared to give him some, which I strongly doubt.

Yeah i asked him if there was any interest from us, he said there wasn't. Although we had already signed Willie Isa for that centre/second row utility position.

It says that 6 Years ago - That's SIX YEARS AGO! Ben Currie chose Wires offer over Wigan's.
This wasn't last week!!!

Not sure if any of the others were ever offered anything by Wigan at any point in their development but I know a Young lad who at around the same time chose Wigan despite an offer from the Wolfs nearly 4 x times as much.
At the time a lot of youngsters were being offered that type of money/incentives etc. by Warrington as I can only assume they desperately needed to attract youngsters to the club.
Not a problem Wigan had or have I guess?

Touched a nerve?

Take a look at our board, someone posted a link to this thread there, so I came and read the comments. Just couldn't resist commenting..

Have Warrington won something?...

It wasn't a dig, I just fine it a crazy situation really that so many Wiganers are playing and playing very well for that Warrington team.

Ultimately a couple of them couldn't get in front of others players here so choose to go elsewhere rather then be squad players and one left for more cash as a junior. The others have never been here and I don't recall bids being made for any of them. If they don't get the choice to sign for Wigan it's not surprising they're elsewhere!

Out of them all I think Wigan fans will be in total agreement that we'd give our right arm for Chris Hill.