True enough, though I think the jury is still out on the last four you mention, they could go either way.



If there are a few bad results I think there's even less chance of him blooding youngsters, he'll retreat even further into his shell, rather than trying to change it. Injuries may be the only chance they get.

The tone of that blog is so negative towards the club it's bordering on ridiculous in terms of bias.

Isn't he a big Wigan fan too?

I agree. It is interesting though that this sort of thing is being written.

Dave

Sam Tomkins will play more games than Kallum Watkins this year.

Where do you think Watkins comes from?

Manchester area?

I'm pretty sure he played his amateur Rugby at Latchford.

I disagree though, I think Watkins will become a regular this season.

The shame is, why can a 17 year old Watkins be old enough to become a regular when a 20 year old Tomkins appears not to be in Nobles eyes



Proof that if your good enough your old enough

Correct.
So what is the point.

Shouldn't he be at Salford.

If we want equality and salary cap rules, shouldn't it apply to junior talent.
How good could Oldham have been with Harris , Sculthorpe x 2, McDermott O'Carroll, Eastmond etc.

True.

Watkins has played FOUR first team games for Leeds.
When they have a fully fit squad he'll be pushed back.

He's a Salford junior.
Why is he at Leeds.

MONEY.

Because Brian Noble is stubborn and doesnt no genuine young talent even when it wacks him in the mush. Hes just about realised that Joel is improving massively and could posibly push for international honours in a couple of years
He still hasnt realised that Paul Prescott offers more that the awful, awful Andy Coley, or that Shaun Ainscough is better than Phelps

To be fair leeds had about half a dozen players missing and he's only played a couple of other first team games so he probably wouldn't have been in if they had a fully fit squad. If we had 5 or so players out then i'm sure Sam would get a game. I just hope it doesn't take an injury crisis for him to get some games this season because then we would really have cause to question the youth policy.

Watkins is exeptional.

I remember seeing him play for the academy for the first time and realising that this lad is a one off.

Dont worry, Phelpsy will smash him

But can't you see my point.

Leeds will be applauded by Eddie, Stevo, Paul Wilson and the rest for bringing in another youngster. (Watkins)

However the truth is they PAID him more than his local club could. It doesn't affect the salary cap so what the hell.

Eastmond at Saints, O'Carroll at Wigan etc.


What should happen?

Wigan should have control over St. Pats, St Judes, Rose Bridge etc and provide funding for those clubs. They then should have first pick of ANY players from those clubs.

Similarly Saints should have control over Pilks, Thatto Heath, Blackbrook etc.

Totally agree Rogues

A lot worse than they are now.

Fantastic post Brian. I totally agree regarding the club partnering up with the Juniors. Wigan should be putting any spare cash into the local amateur teams, Judes, Pats, Cuthberts, Shevington etc. If we cant spend the money on the salary cap then we should be preparing for 5, 10 and 15 years into the future. Get the current players down there coaching sides. Employ ex wigan players to coach them. Either way, give them some help. There is probably a team of wigan lads floating around superleague that would beat wigan which shouldnt happen

Which could happen with the names mentioned in the article at Saints. That is point I was making.

Dave

And do you know why the likes Leeds wouldn't agree.

They don't want to invest in the junior game. All these great Leeds academy players. Where do they come from.


Well the majority don't come from Leeds.

Fordy,
Don't get me started.
I'm almost in full flow.

What about sides outside areas that have such a lot of established amateur clubs?

What about players say in the Oldham or Rochdale areas? Who would they come under? Would they be denied the chance to play for Wigan or Saints because Rochdale had first pick or just because they were not from one of Wigan's amateur teams? Same applies to lads from Cumbria.

I am not sure it would work in Yorkshire either were some top clubs are very close together there would be a bun fight as to who go t certain amateur clubs.

Dave

all that would do is deny players from outside areas with a super league club the chance to ever progress their career.

what would Greg McNally do, stay at Whitehaven forever, and have no chance of hitting the big time? What benefit would there be in Eastmond staying in Oldham (for him and the game of RL as a whole)?

Of course they would have a chance of hitting the big time, if they show that they are good enough.

Didn't Tommy Martyn and Chris Joynt play for Oldham, Sonny Nickle for Hunslet, Neil Cowie and Martin Hall for Rochdale.

Last year Saints sent Dean and Smith to Widnes, Wigan sent Flanagan to Halifax, is that the end of their careers?

All I'm saying is that professional clubs should be made to invest in their own amateur clubs, and then should have first pick of the players coming through those amateur clubs.