I think will see both integrating into the first team squad this year. Both showed glimpses, particularly Wheeler that they will be future first team regulars. I think it's a big year for Wellens and the Centre spot is still open for Wheeler IMO, despite Sia's arrival.

for me ade gardner is the one who should be looking out for his place, his form has been consistently poor over the last 2 years and seems to have lost his pace, is this down to alack of confidence? maybe it is time to give wheeler or armstrong a chance on the wing?

Long is hardly likely to say "I expect Saints to blast the opposition away in their 1st game" is he?

I think your right to be optimistic for the furture with the great kids your bringing through, the only negative is that Leeds brought Sinfield in in 2000, Burrow and Diskin in 2001 and it still took until 2004 to win a trophy. Rome wasn't built in a day and i think it may take a little time to blood your kids but you are on the right track. Lets hope other clubs follow these examples and come 2013 we might not have to be second best, lets hope for the best super league so far, good luck

Um, yes and no.

Sinfield actually made his debut for leeds in 97. The rest of leeds core youngters weren't regulars until 03, when they nearly won the CC and a season later they were champions.

Saints will know pretty quick if their youngsters have what it takes to win trophies.

I know already, I've been telling them for 3 years.

Sinfield signed for Leeds in 97 debut late 1999
Burrow and Diskin made their debuts in super league in 2001, my point was that even though we had great academy players it takes time to build a great team adn yes we were close in 2003 i remember the heartbreak

I'm sure the Saints fans will remember only too well the Wigan youngsters of 2003 / 2004 and how they were tipped to be the next big things.

It doesn't always work out, and I have a feeling that it won't at Saints either. Wigan didn't have the old heads to look after them, do Saints?

yes cunningham wellens gidley pryce and fozzard to name a few

To be fair thats what i thought.

Saints have lost some experience over the past 2 years but there are still guys around like the ones you mention there aswell as players like Graham and Wilkin to lead the way. We didn't really have that and thats why our youngsters ending up struggling so badly.

I'm looking forward to watching how the likes of Wheeler and Lomax come on this season.

One minute your slagging us off as a team of pensioners, and now your questioning wether we have the old heads in the team to look after the youngsters? Make your mind up.

Like the posters above say, there are still plenty of experienced players in the squad to help the younger players on. I just wonder wether some of them are good enough, the likes of Ashurst and Dixon just looked solid last year, nothing more. We should get a better idea this year though, it is important that the young players do turn out good enough, because we seem very reluctant to sign players.

at some point i would give lomax a go at fullback and maybe push wellens into the centres

Wigan's problem was that they were not willing to wait for players to develop and have paid the price, it is about building a team and that takes time, I also believe that you have to lose in order to learn which is what has happened at Leeds. I hope Saints develop their youth and build for the future as i do all super league clubs so that we can have a well built national side.

i.e Briscoe, Hodgson, Robinson, Wild, Hargreaves to name but a few?

I didn't explain myself very well did I? I wasn't just looking at this coming season.

What I was alluding to was that in 2003 / 2004 Wigan brought through a crop of youngsters that many people thought would take them to the next level.

Thy had won the Challenge Cup in 2002, reached the Grand Final in 2003, and in 2004 the Challenge Cup final and also got to the final eliminator play off. So you would think with that young talent there would be a reasonable chance that they would push on.

However, about the same time Wigan lost a lot of experienced players and leaders in Farrell, Lam, O'Connor, Craig Smith and Mick Cassidy etc. Some of the young players started to struggle.

At the end of this year Saints will lose Cunningham, Gidley maybe Fozzard and some are already calling for Wellens to be replaced.

There is a distinct similarity the Wigan scenario I talked about above. Who in that 24 to 27 year old bracket of Saints current players stands out as a "leader"? I don't see one, maybe Wilkin but he had a poor season in 2009.

As for Mr Messey comment about Briscoe, Hodgson, Robinson, Wild, Hargreaves to name but a few?

IMO Briscoe apart none of those players would get into the current Wigan team