Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 29, 2021 11:11 am  

nathan_rugby wrote:

Thornley played aged above as an amateur before Wigan picked him up.

I was more on about academy level, the players I mentioned literally strolled through games without really being challenged. This is where reserve grade rugby was sadly missed in recent years so that some of the bigger players could be tested physically at a higher level.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:05 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I was more on about academy level, the players I mentioned literally strolled through games without really being challenged. This is where reserve grade rugby was sadly missed in recent years so that some of the bigger players could be tested physically at a higher level.

I've always thought that a goal for the club should be to start running an "A team" in the championship.

A side that would allow guys like KPP and Kilner to train with internationals all week and then play alongside guys like Clubb and Clarke Vs men at the weekend. Outside of that if guys like Smith, Bullock, Partington, Byrne, Smithies etc get dropped then you challenge them to take on a leadership role when they play for the A team.

Make a few strategic signings for that level and play games at Robin Park for extra income to the club.

Unfortunately skewed in the club's favour, but who cares.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:18 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

I've always thought that a goal for the club should be to start running an "A team" in the championship.

A side that would allow guys like KPP and Kilner to train with internationals all week and then play alongside guys like Clubb and Clarke Vs men at the weekend. Outside of that if guys like Smith, Bullock, Partington, Byrne, Smithies etc get dropped then you challenge them to take on a leadership role when they play for the A team.

Make a few strategic signings for that level and play games at Robin Park for extra income to the club.

Unfortunately skewed in the club's favour, but who cares.

RFL funding for League 1 is widely expected to be pulled. I don't think it would therefore benefit the game to have one Championship spot taken up by a SL reserve team or we could end up really short on pro/semi pro clubs. Plus it's less money for the other Championship clubs if Wigan reserves come to town with 100 or so fans as opposed to another Championship club who might bring 1,000 or so.

What could work IMO is a hybrid league between the SL clubs who do want to run reserves and the better League 1 teams. Then the worse League 1 teams could just join the NCL. Some L1 teams wouldn't even be in the NCL Premier division anyway.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 29, 2021 6:25 pm  

Most SL clubs don't take 1000 away, I doubt many L1 clubs do!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 29, 2021 6:28 pm  

I think SL reserve sides playing in L1 would be a good idea but you would need to be strict around their squad so they couldn't include any ringers.

Not sure what would happen if we ended up getting promoted to SL.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Mar 29, 2021 6:35 pm  

Egg Chasing wrote:

Most SL clubs don't take 1000 away, I doubt many L1 clubs do!

L1 definitely not. I was thinking more if the reserves were in the Championship taking away a spot from Sheffield/Swinton/Oldham/Whitehaven. Agreed though I've probably overegged the away support, it would still be plenty more than our reserves would bring away though, which would often just be friends and family of the players.

I don't know what is public and what isn't but we're very likely in for a big split between Championship and League 1 if/when the L1 funding gets pulled. We can't have an SL reserve side taking away one of those precious Championship spots IMO. If League 1 survives in its current guise then I don't think there would be any harm having reserves in there as long as they couldn't be promoted. In fact the better L1 sides would probably be glad of the competition. There are regular hammerings at that level, many of them are just NCL quality teams who get part time pay right now, with that pay maybe disappearing or being reduced for some when the funding goes.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 30, 2021 8:44 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

Most SL clubs don't take 1000 away, I doubt many L1 clubs do!

I've thought for a long time, that when the SL clubs come into the challenge cup, if they get drawn against a non SL club it should (in most cases) automatically be at the home of the lower league club, let them have a bumper crowd and a payday .

Due to the level of repetition and boredom in SL you're bound to get more take up going to a new/different ground

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Mar 30, 2021 2:15 pm  

Fantastic Mr Catpiss wrote:

I've thought for a long time, that when the SL clubs come into the challenge cup, if they get drawn against a non SL club it should (in most cases) automatically be at the home of the lower league club, let them have a bumper crowd and a payday .

Due to the level of repetition and boredom in SL you're bound to get more take up going to a new/different ground

Be a good idea that actually

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Mar 31, 2021 11:18 am  

Yes it would. Makes sense all round.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Mar 31, 2021 11:21 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Good to see Herbie Farnworth have another top game yesterday. If he keeps developing as he is then England looks to have a top draw centre on their hands.

I've been watching him with interest too! Although I cordially dislike the Broncos!

But he's been very good in a poor side, hasn't he? Very impressive and one of their best on the paddock last week..