Quote: Dita's Slot Meter "How many of our underused academy players have been released by the club and gone onto being what you would class as good SL players, Lefty?... I don't see any instances where we have released any and had any regrets from what they then achieved after leaving?
I think it's more to do with us not signing the quality youngsters, rather than them not getting a chance?'"
Where they move to is one point and a very valid one at that, but it's not the only factor. If you've got lads who have been together for 10-15 years, there's a culture and a pride there to wear the shirt. There's countless Wigan players who have left that system after winning silverware and go on to do nothing. Case in point, Partington, him and smithies were 18 I think and bullied our pack a few years ago, he's now off to Salford.
Yes they have to be at a level, but the psychology of playing with your "brothers" is different to that if playing with some 31 year old kiwi.