: Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:46 pm  

Both Wigan and Saints have and are producing good young players.

That isn't the issue with Wigan, the issue is how the young players have been handled in the past.

[DaveO]

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:07 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Both Wigan and Saints have and are producing good young players.

The implication was Saints have in the recent past produce many young players. They have not.

That isn't the issue with Wigan, the issue is how the young players have been handled in the past.

Correctly at least 95% of the time IMO if by the above you mean who got to stay and who was let go. It's another myth we didn't. There is only one Wigan produced player who I really think was a mistake to let go - Long.

Name me another who has come back to haunt us?

Dave

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:21 pm  

DaveO wrote:

I think you will find if IL offered him anything at all it is what our salary cap allowed us to pay.

There was clearly a desire by either IL, Nobby or both to get him here. They didn't deliberately offer him a lower salary because there was only a half hearted interest as your statement above implies. One or both of them wanted him as a Wigan player.

Dave

Noble wanted him as was said at the fans forum. Lenegan rated him but wasn't prepared to get rid of a few players in order to make space on the cap, as we have done a few times before with ML. From what I can gather Lenegan wanted Sam Tomkins to be given his chance straight from the off.

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:28 pm  

jinkin jimmy wrote:

Tell that to Eddie Hemmings. He seems to think the game is awash with your youngsters when, in reality, you have produced KFC 15yrs ago, Wello 10 yrs and Roby and Jamrag 3 yrs ago. Definitely not quantity. No-one is arguing about their quality.

The point I'm trying to make is with Tomkins and Ainscough we have two lads with real potential star quality. First time in many a year. Probably since Jason Robinson.
They have put a bit of passion back into the team which has been missing for many years.

And KFC, Wello, Etc are not my youngsters, see sig at the bottom.

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:35 pm  

Pugsley Snr wrote:

The point I'm trying to make is with Tomkins and Ainscough we have two lads with real potential star quality. First time in many a year. Probably since Jason Robinson.
They have put a bit of passion back into the team which has been missing for many years.

And KFC, Wello, Etc are not my youngsters, see sig at the bottom.

Please accept my most humble apology!

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:04 pm  

Its interesting that he has been made captain.

Ive not seen Bird play for a number of years and putting is off-field issues aside, he seems to be regarded as a quality player both over here and in the NRL.

Im also led to believe that he is very tough and no pushover on the field.

He seems to have some qualities that the current Wigan side lacks.

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:05 pm  

jinkin jimmy wrote:

Please accept my most humble apology!

Accepted

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:43 pm  

Not necessarily the young players we've let go, but management and development.

Would have liked

Briscoe to stay, Newton, Ashton.

Often younger players haven't had contracts improved, instead the money has gone to overseas older players.

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:21 pm  

Good player but you have got to ask yourself if he is the kind of player you want. He is over in Europe because nobody in Aus will touch him till he is cleared (or not). If he is cleared then he will only be a short term fix as as soon as he can he'll be back over in Aus. Talented player though he is I wouldnt have wanted Saints to bother with him and I think Wigan are definatly better off sticking to the young lads coming through.

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:23 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Not necessarily the young players we've let go, but management and development.

Would have liked

Briscoe to stay, Newton, Ashton.

Often younger players haven't had contracts improved, instead the money has gone to overseas older players.

Agreed. Lets hope things are changing with a new owner and backroom staff, although it's still early days yet.