When did you start watching rugby league? This is a genuine question, did you actually watch the game at that time and are making your judgement based on your own knowledge or are you relying on received wisdom?
I don't seek to argue that because someone watched a sport for longer than someone else their judgement is sounder. My point is that if you lived through a period then a first hand experience is possibly more sound than a second hand one.
I don't see how you can suggest Wigans' success was based on home grown talent.
Players like;
Brian Case, Ian Potter, Joe Lydon, Ellery Hanley, Jason Robinson, Inga, Botica, Bell, Offiah I could go on and on. Yes I know some of these players hailed from Wigan but they were brought on by other teams.
As for the point of mortgaging your future, that was the reason Central Park (my favourite RL ground) was sold.
So if we can have an informed discussion about Wigans' proud heritage I will be happy to do so. Just as long as you don't seek to interpret the word "heritage" as solely relating to trophies won.

I'm not suggesting that Wigan's success was based solely on homegrown players I'm just saying I don't buy into the nonsense that Wigan simply cherry picked the players who they wanted I will admit we snapped up a few players like Offiah for a huge fee at the time however what I am saying is the team that won all them countless trophies a large proportion were Wigan homegrown players or players we had signed from an early age and developed through our academy. It wasn't just a case of "we'll sign him , him and him".

The introduction and move to summer rugby in 1996 we became emerged in financial difficulty. We had built up debts of £3 million and the clubs board members decided the answer to the financial problems was to sell Central Park. Which proved the right decision. Our debts weren't solely made up from buying success - poor management from the board was the reason for this.

Its probably a fair whack though - he's the worlds best centre - and came to the highest bidder.

Shame he's not shown it yet this season...

The World's best centre has spent this evening in Tony Clubb's back pocket

Tony Clubb made Matt King look scared of getting hit all evening.

Plus he made a few foraging runs, leaving the Test centre in his wake.

A decent youngster from Kent makes an Australian international look very, very average.

very nice to see that the majority of the squad are british players too.

Definately not a top centre as is being claimed from certain people. For his size he looks incredibly weak, particularly in defence.

physically weak or technically in defence?

He is a big lad and so he could be coached to use that size better.

He flew out the line and dominated Matt King, on other days he may have missed him and been caught out, not today.

He is raw. Some people see him moving into the second-row at some stage of his career. At this moment he is a hard-working youngster who has potential, a good solid centre or winger.

Sorry I wasn't following the thread properly The Quins lad did very well, I was talking about Matt King, who is both physically weak and technically in defence.

Clubb, Mbu, Worrincy... all grafters punching above their weight because of the amazing work ethic and team spirit at Quins (Joe wasn't even rated at Donny FFS...). Goes to show the value of local pride... and there's more coming through after 7 or 8 years hard development work (following 2 wasted decades of short term fixes). The future's bright in London, bring it on!!

It's funny because my dad ( who doesent watch much rugby league these days) pointed out King the other week on a Sky game and described him as a bloody big lad who runs like a big girl!

He walked in tonight just as King was being flung into touch.

He needs to improve Asap because even thou a great player for Melbourne. He is playing absolute sh*t!!! for Warrington.