He may be an exception. However, I'm not sure he was at a similar stage in his career. Hadn't Ashton only had one and a bit seasons in Wigan's first team? Smith has been around a while now, has scored in and won 2 GFs, picked up a Harry Sunderland trophy and is a full international.

I would think the time in the lower league was certainly a bonus for Ashton. Gave him time to learn in a less pressurised environment.

Actually, Noble brought Withers to Wigan (which was surely instrumental in Ashton's decision to go).

It was when Withers finally gave in to being a crock that they signed Mathers.

That was more to do with Noble predilection for veteran players than promising juniors than Uncle Mo.

So, you're saying Uncle Mo likes promising youngsters?

i'm sure the massive pay rise northampton gave him didn't do any harm either

I uinderstood that Ashton wanted an increased contract, hence Wigan showing him the door. Bit like us & Calderwood I guess.
However, my general premise still stands i.e. that for a long time under Lindsay Wigan have preferred to try to buy instant success by bringing in expensive overseas or second-rate journeymen imports at the expense of encouraging their own academy products. The names are too many to mention.
cf Robinson and Brown with Burrow and McGuire. Who knows how the former pair could have developed given time & I'm not saying that those 2 are as good as Burrow & McGuire but I'm sure you get my drift.
Look at the success of us & the Saints both of whom have a policy of developing and managing the introduction of their younger players.
Wigan's academey squad has been generally strong throughout the Superleague era but they haven't made it to the 1st team squad and stayed there.
I hope they do for the sake of the competition and for British RL because the Wigan area is still a hotbed of Rugby league.

The salary cap in RU might be a lot higher than RL, but squad sizes are also bigger - usually in excess of 40.

The top paid player in English rugby is thought to be Carl Hayman the All Black prop at Newcastle at £350k per year. Hardly average Premiership wages. Young internationals like Cipriani and Haskell are currently on £70k but are looking to double that in new contracts.

Of course pay in France, where there is no salary cap is a lot higher, hence Dan Carter could have earnt £650k for seven months if he hadn't got injured.

Isn't it an interesting comment on the English RU game that a piano shifter gets paid more than any piano player. & they wonder why the game's played the way it is.
Who would you rather watch a lumbering prop or a back like Cipriani. For all his faults I know who I'd prefer.

I am not privy to any of that but all I know was Ashton was the incumbent full back and a promising young player. Noble brought Withers across and he took Ashton's place. Ashton headed for the door.

I know nothing of the £'s and pence but you'd be hard pressed to convince me Noble taking Withers to Wigan wasn't a factor in Ashton saying stuff it.

im just curious what people would think of Cipriani as a league player. Of all the Union players people like Simpson-Daniel and Cipriani would be best suited i think. What are peoples thoughts on that? How would Cipriani do as a SO in League?

Ironically Cipriani might be better suited to RL than RU. I'd like to see Andy Powell or Shane Williams from Wales in RL, but finances are likely to make that unlikely to say the least.

I think there are relatively few players who are suited to both codes though.

I don't watch a load of union, but from what I've seen Williams is a classic winger. He almost plays it like league, runs on the ark, powerful with enough pace, always looking to run with the ball and is a supreme finisher. He'd excel in either code.