: Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:14 pm  

Warrington bring through juniors just like Saints and Leeds, and Saints and Leeds import overseas players just like us. There are always players coming through our academy getting their chance in the first team, just like Saints and Leeds sign their fair share of overseas players, or players from other clubs.

The difference is the quality of players: Saints and Leeds bring through juniors like Graham, Roby and Smith; we bring through Pickersgill, Riley and Cooper. Saints and Leeds import Lyon, Gidley, Webb; we import Sullivan, King and Monaghan. I'm not saying all those players listed for us are bad just that they aren't in the calibre of the Saints and Leeds ones.

Now we have John Bastian heading up our junior recruitment and Tony Smith heading up our senior recruitment it puts us on the level that Saints and Leeds are.

Some people say if you have a philosophy of using your own players that will be more successful than importing from outside but that only works if the players you have in your junior ranks are top quality. We could put together an entirely Warrington Academy produced team of players who have gone onto play in Super League: Alstead; Riley, Maden, Sibbit, Penny; Hulse, Durbin; Wood, Gleeson, Pickersgill; Harrison, Mitchell; Highton. That would have more home grown players than Saints or Leeds but it wouldn't finish ahead of them.

The most consistent team in the NRL over the past 3-4 years has been Melbourne who have been in 3 consecutive Grand Finals, they don't have any home grown juniors in their team. Their team is entirely signed from either other NRL clubs or lower competitions like the Queensland Cup or the NZ provincial league. Compare that to Parramatta who produce more juniors than anybody else, but have nowhere near the success.

: Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:16 pm  

it's all about striking the balance,teams that win anything in rugby league have good imports,experienced players and promising youngsters.we have had them all but unfortunately not at the same time.
people who say that we shouldn't sign aussies want their heads feeling because i know that i have been priviliged to see the likes of boyd,langer and johns wear the primrose and blue,yes ,we have had some duff buys from australia but on the whole imports bring a bit of excitement and talent which all adds to the mix.

: Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:52 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

The most consistent team in the NRL over the past 3-4 years has been Melbourne who have been in 3 consecutive Grand Finals, they don't have any home grown juniors in their team. Their team is entirely signed from either other NRL clubs or lower competitions like the Queensland Cup or the NZ provincial league. Compare that to Parramatta who produce more juniors than anybody else, but have nowhere near the success.

I'm pretty certain that the likes of Inglis, Chambers and Folau as recent examples are all products of Melbourne junior section. The fact that Melbourne "juniors" play in the Queensland Cup doesn't alter the fact they are playing for a Melbourne feeder club.

: Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:59 pm  

Paul Youane wrote:

I'm pretty certain that the likes of Inglis, Chambers and Folau as recent examples are all products of Melbourne junior section. The fact that Melbourne "juniors" play in the Queensland Cup doesn't alter the fact they are playing for a Melbourne feeder club.

Exactly, none of them are actually from Victoria but they have still come through the Melbourne junior system.