Good discussion so far. There are lots of issues.
My observations are based on experience a while back so be out of date (I hope they are) but are that:-

Warrington sign players based very strongly on physique and fitness. If you are not going to be 6'3" and 15 stone they are not interested. Kyle Eastmond and Joe Mellor are two players who could have been at the club. Often they seem to sign players who are early maturers and have peaked already. Players are signed for achievement not potential. (Sam Tomkins at 15 had two Warrington based players ahead of him at county level but was still growing up - and maybe one day will )

They don't build enough skills. Lots of weights. Lots of fitness. (Easy to coach) But no large scale skills development. Targets are set for fitness, body fat, weights lifted, miles run but not for skills

Academy games are seen as about winning rather than a chance to build your game and your skills. Players look no different at 18 than at 15 - same flaws, same qualities - maybe this flows through to first team too. I think players learn to hide weaknesses rather than correct them

Players are signed who (generally) want to play rugby - they then get to play no games for a year or two are excluded from playing amateur rugby or even 5 a side with their mates. If you have hopes of playing rugby and don't play, you fall out of love with the game. Most who don't get a contract at the end of their academy time never play rugby again. Most are not Warrington supporters now

The club behave as if they own the players. Social life scrutinised, Club activities take priority. You must train every week and extras are encouraged. And for £60 a week. With a 10% chance of success. Work a day a week at Tesco or an evening in a bar and the lifestyle is better.

Players from outside the area get better deals to attract them to Warrington. They are not necessarily better players but Warrington assume that locals will be loyal.

If/once you get to first team, no one pushes your development - you are there to do a job and you do it and you stay - you don't and you are out. Academy coaches have done their job and first team coaches have a product to fill a gap. There is little support for getting the player to a higher level.

Just a thought or two.....

M

This is what I meant at the start by mediocrity. Warrington produce players from the Academy that play first team for a while then get moved on and for us this is evidence of the Academy's success.

Look at Wigan, Leeds and Saints academy - these clubs produce players who are internationals, have successful NRL careers, or are able to play central roles in Grand Final winning teams.

No it's me that needs to apologise. I thought you were using that list as some type of 'evidence' that our academy is fit for purpose in producing quality SL players. But I see now you mean players that will end up in the championship or no longer playing.

Two ex Wire academy players on show tonight. Ryan Shaw and Kruise Leeming. Both look quite promising.

never realised leeming was ex wire

Kruise? Loving Kruise?
I bet the vicar was made up, baptising him.
Was Chardonnay-Boo being done at the same time?