A letter in League Express from a Saints fan : Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:43 pm  

Read this and was baffled.

"I think Louise Barrow (Mailbag May 31st) has missed the point about homegrown talent. Obviously all clubs have the same salary cap limit, but Wigan have been able to set a recent world record for buying a player (Fielden). Last year they also spent a huge amount paying Warrington to entice Gleeson to the club. This isn't a criticism, good luck to them, but it is a financial luxery other clubs don't have.

A look at the teams last weekend showed 9 of the starting 13 for Saints were academy graduates. Only 3 from Wigan's starting 13 were home grown. Saints could realistically field this side of entirely home grown talent - Wellens, Foster, Wheeler, Dean, Lomax, Moore, Eastmond, Graham, Cunningham, Emmitt, Clough, Dixon and Roby whilst Wigan could field this side of entirely imported talent - Phelps, Roberts, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards, Leuluai, Deacon, Fielden, Riddell, Palea'aesina, Coley, Bailey and Pryce - Ok Karl Pryce isn't a loose forward, but the teams show exactly which club promotes home grown players and which club buys in players.

Paradoxially, since the salary cap was introduced partly to encourage developing home grown talent - Saints have won 16 trophies and Wigan only 2.

I could list a very talented side of Wigan home grown talent - Briscoe, Colbon, Melling, Wild, Aspinwall, Brown, Robinson etc but they all play for other clubs. Last season had just 3 home grown players in the first 13 (Hock, O'Loughlin and Tomkins), even Saints (Long, Gilmour and Hargreaves) had 3 home grown Wigan players in the 13.

Nick Mullin, Lancaster




I'll have a pint of whatever he's been drinking.

Re: A letter in League Express from a Saints fan : Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:45 pm  

I read that on monday myself had to read it a few times to make sure it wasnt some joke

I'll have a pint of whatever he's been drinking.

make that two pints, please!

Re: A letter in League Express from a Saints fan : Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:48 pm  

I think either this letter was wrote whilst drunk after the 75-0 event and lost in the post or Nick Mullins is living under a giant rock supping de-icer all day.

Re: A letter in League Express from a Saints fan : Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:49 pm  

I'd make a point to point on the errors there in that but I really can't be bothered. I will say that he isn't the only Saints fan I've heard trot that tale out and while it was pretty accurate regarding the bad old Lindsay/Whelan days, this new regime has turned things around

Re: A letter in League Express from a Saints fan : Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:55 pm  

The scary thing is, he's actually serious.

Re: A letter in League Express from a Saints fan : Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:57 pm  

Jeff the God of Biscuits wrote:

The scary thing is, he's actually serious.

I'll tell you what's even more scary: League Express actually decided to print it

Re: A letter in League Express from a Saints fan : Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:58 pm  

He names an entirely academy produced team for Saints that would get beat by St Pats

Every village has one eh?

Re: A letter in League Express from a Saints fan : Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:59 pm  

dirtbag83 wrote:

I'll tell you what's even more scary: League Express actually decided to print it

I'm hoping they did so for comedy value.

Re: A letter in League Express from a Saints fan : Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:03 pm  

Jeff the God of Biscuits wrote:

I'm hoping they did so for comedy value.

TBH I think it was a plant, to entice some Wigan fans to write in for a bit of banter.

Wait till next weeks, I bet there will be one or two sent in to reply to it.

[Wigan6/Leeds1 Andy]

Re: A letter in League Express from a Saints fan : Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:08 pm  

I do wonder sometimes if Martin Sadler has to sit at home on his own on a Saturday night making these up to get a reaction and some letters from real people.