: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:05 pm  

RB wrote:

Starting 13 from Friday

Saints - 27
Wigan - 25

Not that much difference.

But in a first choice 17 Armstrong would be nowhere near a first 17 place.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:08 pm  

Saints had 5 overseas signings on display on Friday, Wigan had 9.

Saints recruitment from the UK includes Long, Gardner and Wilkin from lower divisions and Hargreaves and Gilmour who were apparently surplus to requirements at their previous clubs.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:13 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

But in a first choice 17 Armstrong would be nowhere near a first 17 place.

And would 20 year old Goulding be in our first choice 17 if 25 year old Mathers was not suspended?

And last week 29 year old Coley was the squad ahead of 20 year old McIlorum.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:13 pm  

THELAST3YARDS wrote:

Saints had 5 overseas signings on display on Friday, Wigan had 9.

Saints recruitment from the UK includes Long, Gardner and Wilkin from lower divisions and Hargreaves and Gilmour who were apparently surplus to requirements at their previous clubs.

How many from your own academy?

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:14 pm  

DaveO wrote:

If there are going to be dispensations on the salary cap for any players shouldn't it be for those who have come through a sides own junior ranks?

Dave

Yeah, thats a good idea to encourage teams to bring their own lads through and not have to use the exuse of not having room under the cap. Half of what the homegrown players earn counts on the cap.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:15 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

How many from your own academy?

6 I believe, Wigan had 7 I think!

How would you rate the relative quality of those who played from the youth set ups?

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:19 pm  

I am a big advocate of scouting in Union for talent but i think you are living in cloud cockoo land if you think we can realistically target the top international players.

In my opoinion very few international players are suited to our code anyway, i think a much more feasable group to aim at are players in the lower leagues whose style may not suit Union which is holding them back. Being a good Union player does not mean you will be a good league player and vise sersa, it is about which code suits you the best, i think there are many players capable of being good SL players in the First Division of Union, who cannot make to top flight Union as they are not suited to the game but skill, size and mentality wise are suited to League, this is one reason i was hoping to see Jones at the club in some capacity as he will have the eye to pick up on these players, have the contacts and will lift the ignorance that exists in some League peoples minds.

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:34 pm  

THELAST3YARDS wrote:

6 I believe, Wigan had 7 I think!

How would you rate the relative quality of those who played from the youth set ups?

From Wigan on Friday.

Goulding
O'Carroll
Hock
O'Loghlin
McIlorum
Hansen
Tomkins

Saints
Wellens
Armstrong
Cunningham
Roby
Graham
Clough

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:36 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

From Wigan on Friday.

Goulding
O'Carroll
Hock
O'Loghlin
McIlorum
Hansen
Tomkins

Saints
Wellens
Armstrong
Cunningham
Roby
Graham
Clough

.....and the relative quality question?

: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:37 pm  

Noble only wants the finished product - he doesn't want to develop young talent - he never did at Bradford - I would be amazed if he is still in charge by Easter.

The club will be investing hundreds of thousands on youth development for Noble to bring in the likes of Smith, Riddell, Bailey and Phelps - who are no better than the likes of Goulding, McIlorum and Tomkins who will not see the first team unless the Aussies get some serious injuries