Gilmour is still a link from Wigan's glory days. I remember a bit of fuss in the rugby league press in the mid 1990s, when Wigan announced that they had signed the 'best schoolboy in the country' who was a lad from Dewsbury (I think) Lee Gilmour. People were saying this was Wigan destroying the game, didn't they have enough junior clubs on their own doorstep, never mind going raiding the best prospects in Yorkshire, like they had done with Jason Robinson.

A few years later, there was another 'best schoolboy in the country' story. Leeds were trying to sign Iestyn Harris off Warrington, and Daryl Van de Velde wanted the 'best schoolboy in the country' who was a lad called Kevin Sinfield, thrown in as part of the deal. Gary Hetherington put his foot down and said no way under any circumstances let him leave. In the end a compromise was struck where Leeds offered a young Danny Sculthorpe who was on their books, to join Paul at Warrington, and a hefty transfer fee. Van de Velde moved quickly to use the transfer fee on signing the GB academy halfback Lee Briers from Saints.

At least a fair number of those guys won trophies with Bradford so the investment wasn't wasted.

Yep.

lee radford and a bit of a cheat but louis mc carthy scarsbrook was at the hull academy too
was briscoe not from fevs academy originally?

Not sure what you're point actually was. When was the last time a SL player was called up for an ANZAC Test? Think Tommy Leuluai went over a couple of years ago but that's about it IIRC

1. Briscoe
2. Goulding
3. Aspinwall
4. Brown
5. Hodgson
6. S. Tomkins
7. Long
8. Prescott
9. John Clarke
10. Hargreaves
11. J. Tomkins
12. Paul Johnson
13. O'Loughlin

14. McIllorum
15. Hansen
16. Gilmore
17. Bibey

I think briscoe played for Fev Lions rather than the academy team

1. BLAYMIRE
2. MORTON
3. ATKINS
4. MURPHY
5. GEORGE
6. SOUTHERNWOOD
7. BROUGH
8.MASON
9.WILDEY
10.WESTWOOD
11.FERGUSON
12.GOLDEN
13. ELLIS

14.BIBB
15.PITTS
16.
17.

Could be wrong but thought atkins was bradford and george huddersfield. Hasnt trout played first team?

and Bradford don't produce any players of note

Interesting to see a couple of Wiganers have Clarke as their hooker. Do you reckon Clarke was better than Mark Smith?

1. BLAYMIRE
2. MORTON
3. ATKINS
4. MURPHY
5. GEORGE
6. SOUTHERNWOOD
7. BROUGH
8.MASON
9. DAVEY
10. GRIFFIN
11.SNITCH
12. WESTWOOD
13. ELLIS

14.BIBB
15.PITTS
16. WILDEY
17.FERGUSON

We're struggling at stand off and in the threequarters but the pack is a match for anyone.

At Wigan, I'd say Smith was the better player.

Away from Wigan, Smith decided to play his career at at Widnes with the majority of it being in NL1 which was a bit of a waste IMO. Where as Jon Clarke has competed generally pretty well through his time in Super League.

What about a pack of

lynch
lunt
watts
elima
huby
westerman

Quote: pyeman "Could be wrong but thought atkins was bradford and george huddersfield. Hasnt trout played first team?'" news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 207342.stm signed from us for 2007. But got his first first-team appearance at Wakie

Quote: pyeman "Could be wrong but thought atkins was bradford and george huddersfield. Hasnt trout played first team?'" news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 207342.stm signed from us for 2007. But got his first first-team appearance at Wakie