I never realised Watkins played for Latchford. Could somebody explain how our youth system managed to miss out on him? Once in a generation type player.

MONEY I presume, oh and Leeds were successful

How do you think us Salford fans feel?

Born in Salford, played for Folly Lane, signed for Salford Academy then shipped off to Leeds.

I'm sure we'll sign him when he's 34 and both his knees are gone.

he was only at albion about 12 months, on the way to leeds iirc

So we made an offer at least ?

Didn't he sign for Salford first, then Leeds after a trial with them? It was around 2007 he signed for Leeds, before then wasn't we back in the days when no one decent signed for Warrington because your academy only trained twice a week and Leeds/Saints/Wigan were all training more often?

Yeah signed for Salford, he played at Folly Lane in Swinton for a while.

He's from Gorton in Manchester.

Yes it was around 2007. The year we signed Adrian Morley

So we didn't make an offer then. What a miss.

For the latest Academy tour down under, our sole representative Morgan Smith, who we signed from Leeds Academy a couple of years ago was accompanied with 7 youngsters from Wigan. These "Wigan" lads came from Dalton ARLFC, Dalton In Furness, Cumbria; Blackbrook ARL St Helens; Oulton Raiders, Leeds; Stanley Rangers, Wakefield; Seaton Rangers, Workington; Folly Lane, Swinton.
Leeds and St Helens tend to fish in their own ponds.

I wonder how many of the youngsters on the tour Warrington considered, made offers to etc and how many turned down, if any, and if so, why? Perhaps we believe that we have a superior Academy roster than the Wigans, Saints, Leeds and co but my concern is that our recruitment policy seems to be less ambitious and thorough than our competition. Perhaps with more success we will be able to attract more local youngsters to first of all start playing the game and that other young players will want to sign for Warrington. Even though we have been saying that for years, I hope so because this must be the life blood of any team, supported by seasoned UK and a few overseas players.

I had hoped our scouting set up had a national outlook too, or at least could spot and recruit talent at Latchford.

I believe at the time Leeds offered him a better education opportunity. At that time we did not have the facility I believe now we have these thing in place.

Unfortunately he doesney need anymore learning.
We need a better carrot

A couple of years ago Warrington signed six players from Latchford, three of whom were England Academy internationals and two were Wales internationals. None are currently in the full time squad and two have already left.

To my knowledge during that time the only players to move into the first team squad have been signed from other Academies out of the area apart from Harvey Livett (from Rylands). Interestingly many of those players all share the same agent known professionally as 'show me the money uk'.

So either this is a failure of our development system, players locally are just not as good as those from elsewhere or maybe they should appoint said agent or even any agent. Take your pick at what you think is the answer.

That is also an interesting point about Wigan although ten of the players in the GF were actually Wigan born. Makes you wonder if they have changed their recruitment focus and why when it has been so successful.

PS Congratulations to Latchford on having two players now in the England senior squad. Community clubs should get some recompense when that happens.

Saints have just signed 10 young players from Halton Hornets, so I am reliably informed.