: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:02 pm  

SimonBarrett wrote:

No they wouldn't! imports or home grown, they still need paying....arguably the reason we can afford the 'top' imports is because we HAVE some unknown imports on less money than there English counterparts would be!!

so why arent you bringing in any 'top' imports? why are you still scratching around the 2nd and 3rd string NRL players?

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:04 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

so why arent you bringing in any 'top' imports? why are you still scratching around the 2nd and 3rd string NRL players?

I.E our top imports! Drew, Stotic, Peterson.

Just admit the point you made is wrong!! How can we attract a better class of import by having less of them??? Would really like to know?

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:14 pm  

SimonBarrett wrote:

I.E our top imports! Drew, Stotic, Peterson

they arent 'top' quality imports are they, none are close to international class, and its telling, even you only class 30% of your imports are top quality, even you accept 70% of your imports arent really that good

Just admit the point you made is wrong!! How can we attract a better class of import by having less of them??? Would really like to know?

its fairly simple, you pool the money you are paying to bring Martin, Peterson, Latu, and Henderson together, you bring in 2 or 3 young british players in who would be cheaper, or you break with tradition and give a youngster or two a first team squad place, and you buy one 'top' quality overseas player in

i thought that was simple enough not to have to explain it, it seems not

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:16 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

still, it does pose the question of why Wakefield are willing to take a punt on an untried, untested Samoan, yet not on a young british player

Come on, look at the young British players who have played in our openeing fixtures.

Halley (loanee)
Gleeson
Atkins
Ferguson
Bibb
Pitts
Blake (part timer)

Luke George, Cain Southernwood and Aaron murphy are all in our squad but out injured and of these George and murphy will probably get another taste of first team football this year, though its probably a little too early for Southernwood.

Add to these the likes of Blaymire, Grix and Snitch who aren't exactly old and I'd say that British players get as good a chance at our club as any other in the league.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:17 pm  

Smokey, you make the assumption that none of the avenues you have detailed have been explored. By the nature of the signings Wakefield have made in the past (bargain basement, players no one else wants, etc) the club are more then adapt at findings players who can do a job for Wakefield from a variety sources for a modest fee. If they were available and of the required standard then they would’ve been recruited.

With regards to retaining youngsters, well that is an issue for the club but unfortunately in this competitive world of ours there is always someone who can afford to pay more. Until the club increase its turnover and improves its profits then this is an area Wakefield will always struggle in.

Also I fail to see how signing an overseas import is any easier then signing a top player on loan from a SL club or signing up a free agent form France. For starters, fed trained and French players do not need a visa!

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:18 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

they arent 'top' quality imports are they, none are close to international class, and its telling, even you only class 30% of your imports are top quality, even you accept 70% of your imports arent really that good



its fairly simple, you pool the money you are paying to bring Martin, Peterson, Latu, and Henderson together, you bring in 2 or 3 young british players in who would be cheaper, or you break with tradition and give a youngster or two a first team squad place, and you buy one 'top' quality overseas player in

i thought that was simple enough not to have to explain it, it seems not

Must remember to run potential recruits/imports past Smokey to see if they can be classed as 'top quality'.

Sorry, will remember next time!

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:19 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

what would you class as a lot? 30? 40? 50?

What would you class as a lot

Given that Wakefield have had ten years in SL but the first two were without any SL money. The number of juniors produced has steadily been increasing.

Hust a few off the top of my head are:
Westwood
Ellis
Brough
Feather
Mason
Houghey
Blaymire
Applegarth
Snitch
Ferguson
Spicer
Handforth
March
March
Stephenson
McDonald
Pitts
Bibb
Murphy
Griffin

There's sure to be more from the past and I know there are a few coming through.

As has been said the reasons behind this signing are pretty extreme and well documented.

As a club Wakefield have dipped into the championship for players probably more than any other club in the SL.

We have as good a track record in junior development as any club outside of Leeds, Sts and Wigan and probably better than some.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:21 pm  

Uptoncat wrote:

Come on, look at the young British players who have played in our openeing fixtures.

Halley (loanee)
Gleeson
Atkins
Ferguson
Bibb
Pitts
Blake (part timer)

Luke George, Cain Southernwood and Aaron murphy are all in our squad but out injured and of these George and murphy will probably get another taste of first team football this year, though its probably a little too early for Southernwood.

Add to these the likes of Blaymire, Grix and Snitch who aren't exactly old and I'd say that British players get as good a chance at our club as any other in the league.

you can say that all you want, it doesnt make it true, you have 10 overseas players in a squad of 25, thats not faith in youth, nor it is it faith in british players,

if you were giving british players a chance you would have 40-50% fewer overseas players

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:31 pm  

The Clan wrote:

What would you class as a lot

Given that Wakefield have had ten years in SL but the first two were without any SL money. The number of juniors produced has steadily been increasing.

Hust a few off the top of my head are:
Westwood
Ellis
Brough
Feather
Mason
Houghey
Blaymire
Applegarth
Snitch
Ferguson
Spicer
Handforth
March
March
Stephenson
McDonald
Pitts
Bibb
Murphy
Griffin

There's sure to be more from the past and I know there are a few coming through.

As has been said the reasons behind this signing are pretty extreme and well documented.

As a club Wakefield have dipped into the championship for players probably more than any other club in the SL.

We have as good a track record in junior development as any club outside of Leeds, Sts and Wigan and probably better than some.

if your claiming brough, you cant claim, Griffin, March or Blaymire, and that isnt a particularly impressive list is it? for 11 years of Super League rugby?

it is nowhere near as good as Bradfords or Hull FCs, or Cas or Wires track record either

but maybe its better than Salford, Hudds, and Quins, and Hull KR

so at least its better than an expansion club (who at the moment have more players from their academy in their squad than Wakefield, and have more British players in their squad than Wakefield) A club who have been in SL for half as long as wakefield since promotion, one which is in its first year since promotion, and one which is in its third year, wakefield meanwhile have been in SL for 10 years

also all of Quins, Hudds, and Salford have fewer overseas players than Wakefield

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:35 pm  

SimonBarrett wrote:

Must remember to run potential recruits/imports past Smokey to see if they can be classed as 'top quality'.

Sorry, will remember next time!

well they clearly arent 'top' quality, the same as donald and Lueluai arent, how do we know this? because they were only ever fringe NRL players, Top Quality players acheive more