Are we? Other than Eastmond I can't think of a single youngster who we've let go that I wish we'd have kept, and that was beyond our control.

Well this is a good way to take the sheen off reaching the grandfinal.

Nothing but rumour to my knowledge...

Didn't McManus mention who was coming in and who was going out in the match programme because nothing was said about Swift. Just get the feeling Brown has a few favourites in the team, all Swift can do is keep performing making it more difficult to be dropped, if the player goes into a sulk he will grow out of it.
Also with the potential team for next season can't see any player wanting to leave.

Swift's got his flaws and is in his first full season. Not making the starting 13 every week shouldn't get his titty lip out.
Brown's stuck him back in for a playoff game without hesitation. He also shipped out Gardner on loan.
Even if he preferred dawson at this point, you still need back up - its not like Swift will be a big earner, so why would a youngster with plenty of talent be told to find a new club!?

First I'ev heard about this and I normally get wind of most things.

It's certainly not what we want banded about the internet for trolls to pick up on in the build up to a Grand Final.

Are we expected to believe that he was told to leave last night? Either before the biggest game of his career, or after he has scored a world-class try helping his team to the Grand Final?

Exactly.

Me thinks Rommel must be sat next to Saddened in the crowd.

Just the usual rumour mill that generated Jammer to Warrington, Roby to Warrington, Makinson to Wigan, Burns not to Saints, etc etc etc.

Lets not forget other rumours where the club had to step in and threaten prosecution to certain individuals.

Why would Brown pick swift this week if he was not in his plans.

He definately needs to work on his defence through the pre-season. Ace going forward, but he was a total liability whenever Catalans attacked down that side last night. Will need to be a lot better next weekend on the bigger pitch.

Matty Smith is another. Gaskell wasn't a bad player. Ellis didn't have a bad season with Cas. There are much better examples I'm sure but I'm rushing as I'm late for physio.

We already covered Eastmond, and he was the reason we let Smith go. We also (now) have a guy who's a better 7 than Smith.
Ellis and Gaskell are not exactly the quality of players that win trophies and both were rumoured to have off field issues.

Wigan release plenty of good players, because they're not quite up to the quality they want. You can't just keep them all, you need to strive for the best squad you can achieve.

There's no point keeping a good player whose keeping a potentially great player out.

Swift really needs to work on his defence, superstar going forward but very shaky otherwise.

I worry about him lining up against Monaghan/Charnley.

I'm led to believe there were compelling reasons for Ellis being released. Smith is a player that would be handy to have around now, but at the time he left we had Eastmond in his position, who was a far superior prospect. Gaskell looked to have a bit of potential, but next year he'll be playing his rugby in the Championship, which should tell you what you need to know about whether that was the right decision or not. A successful academy will always have to let decent young players move on. On the whole I think the club has done an excellent job of deciding which ones to keep and which to let go.

There were people up in arms when we let Jamie Foster go. His shirt is now being filled by Swift, who is far superior.

I think this is . Brown did right to leave him out, Dawson's pretty able and Swift has improvements to work on. It'll be good for the kid to know he's still got to work on improving. You can't not drop him incase he throws he's toys out the pram.