Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Thu Oct 31, 2024 2:06 pm  

Wires71 wrote:

We have a long established track record of the following sequence with young players.

1. Promising youth player. Lots of hyperbole and exaggerated claims. 1st team contract.
2. Debut
3. Loan
4. Lots of argument about why they are not getting selected.
4. Another loan, maybe a few more games.
5. Exit to lower league.

As a teaser name the players in the last 25 years who have followed this sequence.

1. Promising youth player. 1st team contract.
2. Debut
3. Wins starting jersey / 1st pick.
4. International representation.

I can think of Phibin, Mike Cooper, Currie doesn't count as he wasn't home grown. Which others?

We have focused in the past on signing established players at the expense of developing our own players which was folly in a game that has a Salary Cap.

Some signings could be be classed in the vanity category but that was the prerogative of the guy who owned the club and we clearly missed having a Director of Rugby on our Board until Chambers was appointed.

Currie played for our Academy so I don`t understand why he doesn`t count in your post as a Wire developed player, as does Toby King who you haven`t included.

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:43 pm  

Rhys Evans?

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:15 pm  

Captain Hook wrote:

Rhys Evans?

Yes 3 games for Wales.

[Wanderer]

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:36 pm  

Chris Riley (England Knights 2012) ?

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Thu Oct 31, 2024 5:22 pm  

Josh Thelwis made the England squad in 2023 if that counts....?

I guess it depends where you think the issue is, for me it hasn't been about 'not giving them the opportunity' when a player has been good enough, he's been given that opportunity. We have underperformed for decades with our youth development, I think that issue is more related to Scouting / recruitment and development, rather than lack of opportunity. No point playing them if they aren't good enough can harm their development and could be dangerous for them.

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Thu Oct 31, 2024 5:58 pm  

I'm afraid reality is that there are always lots of promising youngsters who people bull up to be the next star. Wigan discard loads of youngsters and many are playing at various clubs. Perhaps the hyped up youngsters weren't world beaters to start with & we speccies are a bit gullible. When virtually all clubs fill their quota (of half their team) with foreign imports it tells you a lot.

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Thu Oct 31, 2024 10:09 pm  

Smiffy27 wrote:

I am looking forward positively to a bit of healthy competition and the realisation that players get injured & need to rest. What is not to like ... we fans do seem to fret a bit & want positions clear cut. The only thing that I would not wish to do, prior to the season, is give out half back squad numbers.
I am of the view that Leyland may have the stronger kicking game.

Never give out any squad numbers again.
Hate the concept. Leave it to NFL.

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Thu Oct 31, 2024 10:18 pm  

Wires71 wrote:

Mmm, under the current regime, only 1 year ago, we let Riley Dean go. He got 10 games in 4 years. I don't think he got much of a chance.

I called it in 2022.
I said Dean is behind Hayes, because Dean was out on loan an Hayes wasn’t.
Hayes got his chance vs Salford away in the final game if the season.
I saw more raw intent in that one game from him, than I ever saw at any time from Dean.

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Fri Nov 01, 2024 4:45 am  

rubber duckie wrote:

I called it in 2022.
I said Dean is behind Hayes, because Dean was out on loan an Hayes wasn’t.
Hayes got his chance vs Salford away in the final game if the season.
I saw more raw intent in that one game from him, than I ever saw at any time from Dean.

Bloody hell RD I hope you haven’t hexed Hayes (ala D Patton).

Re: Recruitment, rumours and links : Fri Nov 01, 2024 7:18 am  

Whisper it quietly, but even the mighty Wigan rugby sometimes overhype a youngster who doesn't end up cutting it.

Some lose focus, some stop growing, some get a bad injury, some just weren't all that to begin with. The trouble we will always have is that we don't have enough community clubs and schools rugby to develop this talent from an early age: until we match Wigan, Saints and Leeds I that regard we will always be having to sign up youth players from 'their' territory.

Anyway, I've seen this Bunty Afoa from NZ Warriors is up for grabs. He has a name that I can imagine being uttered venomously in the Lower Angel after a poor game, but is he worth a punt? 28 years old and 150 NRL games.