We have no structure in place to develop the youngsters coming through; if they are succeeding it is in spite of the set up at saints. Other clubs do invest in there youth by sending them out on dual registration or loan with other super league clubs from my recollection we have done this less than a handful of times in the past few years and our feeder club appears to be Swinton.
The kids have been used as cannon fodder to prop the team up whilst the money was spent on the new stadium with McManus putting the spin on it that he was investing in home grown players.
Time will tell how many mistakes have been made, the current one being Matty Smith who was released 2 years prior, whether or not you think he should be back at Saints is immaterial, the fact is that Saints have tried to get him back but he has decided to go to Wigan.
I often read the posts on here and wonder how many posts are made by the Saints spin doctors? The minute there are negative posts about the kids leaving, Mike Rush or McManus the spin begins.

Like the look of Walker a young reserve prop, million times better than the irish lad McCloskey who is Phil Adamson mark 2. Big slow & cumbersome. Percival looks a quality centre but physically a couple of years from playing at superleague level.

His brother might be worth a look, then...

I think that the expectations on players from expansion areas is too high. Players like Walker play in a big rugby league town and have had the benefit from years of youth coaching. McCloskey and Cross have been picked out of a village Rugby Union team from a non RL country. The fact they can keep up at all is an achievement. As a result of Saints picking up these boys Ireland get two real Irish players that they can play instead of Yorkshiremen with Irish grandparents. We should take their signing for what they are, Saints doing their bit for International Rugby League and the expansion of the sport.

I agree with you as well.

Some players will become superstars and some will just be cover and squad fodder before moving on. You don't know which players fit in which catagory, Ste Tyrer and James Roby are good examples. We have a number of good young play makers coming through, going back to players that did not make the cut previously has no merit.