Copied my post from Red Vee to save time but have to say Wigan were very good last night. Was stood with some Wigan staff who I am mates with and they were very confident that nearly all of the U16s team will be signed. Wigan tried to sign Robertson lots of times and thankfully he turned them down for Saints but the future is bright for Wigan with this crop. Farrimond can kick too and looks like he could easily play Academy.
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I went to watch the U16s game last night v Wigan. Wigan were very strong, looked much bigger than our lads and ran away with the game second half especially with the wind in their favour. Their 7- Jack Farrimond was outstanding as was their 6.

However Harry Robertson for us was superb too, played at 6. Reminds me very much of Ponga with his build and gait (even wears a skull cap) so if he turns out to be half as good as him we will be okay! Whitby at 7 went well too, hits like a forward, he crumpled a couple of Wigan players with tackles. We also had a good centre- Dagnall who looked good although he was sinbinned for 10 mins after giving a mouthful to the ref.

Not sure an elite level game should be played at St Jude's but hey ho.

Cheers for that, Wigan and Saints do things the right way and you can bet a few from each team get an opportunity at SL in the next few years.

Yeah, noticed that Warrington this week secured their Head of Youth role, for far too long bringing through talent from scholarship to Academy to first team has been secondary to having a team of big name signings. I know plenty scholarship lads over the last couple of years have gone over to Wigan or Saints (mainly) and a few to Widnes. But not Warrington, why not? They should be fighting over the best lads, taking them to see their facilities.... Don't get me wrong for selfish reasons I'm glad they haven't been but you can definitely see why they are decades behind, it must be a financial budgeting reason and by the time they've signed your Williams, Widdops of this world there's very little left to run good youth teams.

Its strange really how things change. Saints U16s last year were real standouts comprised mainly of the whole of the all conquering Rylands team that Saints signed. How does a team playing in Warrington have nearly every player signed by Saints.

However there were two Wigan lads last night signed from Blackbrook which is a real feeder team for Saints ordinarily so clearly Wigan are now looking at clubs outside of their normal ones of St Judes, St Pats, Orrell St James etc. Indeed Farrimond who I mentioned was signed from Leigh Miners. Robertson who was our stand out is a Widnes lad signed from Halton.

I agree. My lads are past the scholarship age now so I wasn't aware that Rylands 16's were the top team to plunge from. This seems to happen every year, the year prior the all-conquering Judes team (only lost 2 games in about 8 years) were plunged by Wigan. A few years earlier it was Halton were the leading team (You guys got Lewis Dodds), you also signed Lewis Baxter from Judes currently on the brink of the first team squad. There's always going to be a bit of criss-cross with the two teams being so close and the chance of a successful career. I agree Warrington 'should' be in that mix as a strong third option but they just don't seem to be. Very strange. It's a bit like they want success immediately by signings, a bit like Koucash was on a smaller scale, it's like Warrington are trying to emulate Wigan of the 90s but they don't realise that we also have a significant blend of local youth, for every Offiah we had a Betts (Leigh Miners) for every Tuigamala we had a Radlinski. We even pinched Jason Robinson from Hunslet Academy cause Leeds turned him down.

This x100.

I always want to beat Saints and i love the rivalry, but you know what - the bickering and blinkered approach of both fans is laughable. The nitpicking of 'was SOL' that good, or is Knowles/Welsby really that good, doesn't benefit either team. Celebrate that talented local lads are getting invested in and given a chance Vs the approach of other clubs.

Here's the key point - what's good for Saints as a club is good for Wigan as a club too i.e trying to push forward dispensations/cap relief for home grown players. Getting more TV revenue based off what big sides bring to the league etc.

to be fair Rylands were all conquering as saints signed them and put them in there not signing them from there, there are 4-5 from miners this year at wigan, 2 and saints, 2 at warrington and 2 at salford, thats a great Miners team, Farrimond was the leagues player of the season last year and is a great prospect, Paul Andersons lad looks very good also at Saints and should definitely get signed

Ah ok cheers thanks for that.

I didn't realise that Andersons lad was at Saints. Going back to Farrimond he looked a class act, can kick too not just goal kicking but he kicked a peach of a 40/20 too. SOL lad also played for Wigan on the wing. They look really strong at this age group, big, physical and aggressive in D too.

Just watched the highlights on Wigan t.v. I'll watch the full game later.
Was the #17 for Wigan Trent Mason, Keith Masons son, he looked very athletic and powerful.

Did Nathan Benson play for Wigan? I know he's very highly rated.

The Saints #6 looks a tremendous prospect, he tore Wigan apart in last years game at Robin Park.


Wire seem to have signed some good youngsters, Taylor-Rae at fullback signed from East Leeds is believed to be outstanding, strange Leeds never picked him up? Wire beat Leeds comfortably at this level the other night.

Not sure on the numbers Brian. Was stood with John who said that the numbers didn't match the team sheets given out however Masons lad did play for Wigan. Not sure about Benson to be honest.

Keith Mason's son is called Lukas, he was our #10 I think?

Yes just watched it in full, don't know where I got Tent from




Keegan Boyd was the #17, very impressive.

I didn’t go to the game but my mate did. He always goes to academy games and he reckons Wigan’s 7 is easily the best academy player he’s seen in years and far better than Dodd was at the same age!

Farrimond? Hes excellent, watched him for years, best ive seen in a while

No Benson didn't play but he was class for Blackbrook the other day in a win against Woolston, both teams had numerous academy players. He was throwing great cut out passes and darting through gaps for fun. Could all be different at higher levels of rugby of course but encouraging.

Yeah that’s the one! The best thing is, Wigan are on the up now so it’s always easier for a youngster coming into a winning team than it is a team that’s struggling a la Harry Smith. So if Wigan can maintain these performances for a few years It should be easier for him to realise his potential. I’m looking forward to seeing him play in SL in the future

I can’t remember his name but the 6 for saints was nwc player of the year last season and had offers from pretty much every SL club.

Tell you what though, the amount of talent coming through both saints and Wigan’s academy is really pleasing.

nwc player of the year last year was wigans 7 at U15's which is now 16's, older than that he would be academy

Apologies. I think I’m getting mixed up. The lad I’m talking about is called Will Roberts who is academy and not scholarship. The lad rogues is referring to is Harry Robertson but I don’t know much about him

Harry Robertson was 6 for Saints. Looks a class act. He was signed from Halton so is a Widnes lad. Wigan tried to sign him for years but thankfully he only wanted Saints.

I know this because a Wigan scout I was stood with told me. He’s an outstanding prospect although I have to say Farrimond was the best player on the pitch.

There is no overall NWC player of the year award. They do a player of the year for each division of each age group. It goes to whoever got the most man of the match awards (selected by the opposition). You could both therefore be correct.

yeah there is, was the first year last year 13-15 year old

What would the rest of SL do without Wigan and Saints? Other clubs need to step up. Some are showing signs of doing so.

Yesterday I went to watch the local under 15s derby between Thatto Heath and Blackbrook. Blackbrook won 46 - 4 and included in their team three Wigan scholarship players including Nathan Benson and my great grandson Nathaniel Twiss both of whom were on the scoresheet. I cannot understand the previous comments inferring that Blackbrook lads signing for Wigan is a something new. I remember when Nathaniel's dad, my grandson, played in an all conquering Blackbrook side, nearly half of them signed for Wigan including Andy Craig who made it to the first team before going to RU and playing for Scotland. Blackbrook has always been fertile ground for Wigan

I didn't mean that Wigan never sign anyone from Blackbrook just that traditionally its been known more of a feeder club for Saints, in my opinion anyway. Similarly Saints have signed from Wigan clubs- Makinson, Lomax, Welsby to name just 3.