I don’t have a problem with any gloating from Wigan fans on our low period up to 2009, and can’t argue with any criticism of our recent NRL recruitment. However, it’s a bit silly slating the academy which has actually produced a decent number of products for us since the TS era. Admittedly not in the numbers of Saints, Leeds or Wigan, but they were blessed with lots more local talent (remember RL clubs weren’t as abundant in our ‘split’ town) and they had seen more recent success which meant they were more popular clubs with better structures in place.
I think we can be pretty happy with how we’ve progressed since our resurrection as a big club. In the England squad at the end of last season we had four Warrington-born players, Not bad when you consider that 20 years ago we were almost relegated with crowds of 3000 seen as a normal thing.
As for Peet, that’s incredibly childish. He’s right about the strength of his academy, it’s just a shame his club keeps them out by signing so many players from external sources. Like any other RL club?