Chris Riley (England Knights 2012) ?

Josh Thelwis made the England squad in 2023 if that counts....?

I guess it depends where you think the issue is, for me it hasn't been about 'not giving them the opportunity' when a player has been good enough, he's been given that opportunity. We have underperformed for decades with our youth development, I think that issue is more related to Scouting / recruitment and development, rather than lack of opportunity. No point playing them if they aren't good enough can harm their development and could be dangerous for them.

I'm afraid reality is that there are always lots of promising youngsters who people bull up to be the next star. Wigan discard loads of youngsters and many are playing at various clubs. Perhaps the hyped up youngsters weren't world beaters to start with & we speccies are a bit gullible. When virtually all clubs fill their quota (of half their team) with foreign imports it tells you a lot.

Never give out any squad numbers again.
Hate the concept. Leave it to NFL.

I called it in 2022.
I said Dean is behind Hayes, because Dean was out on loan an Hayes wasn’t.
Hayes got his chance vs Salford away in the final game if the season.
I saw more raw intent in that one game from him, than I ever saw at any time from Dean.

Bloody hell RD I hope you haven’t hexed Hayes (ala D Patton).

Whisper it quietly, but even the mighty Wigan rugby sometimes overhype a youngster who doesn't end up cutting it.

Some lose focus, some stop growing, some get a bad injury, some just weren't all that to begin with. The trouble we will always have is that we don't have enough community clubs and schools rugby to develop this talent from an early age: until we match Wigan, Saints and Leeds I that regard we will always be having to sign up youth players from 'their' territory.

Anyway, I've seen this Bunty Afoa from NZ Warriors is up for grabs. He has a name that I can imagine being uttered venomously in the Lower Angel after a poor game, but is he worth a punt? 28 years old and 150 NRL games.

Interested to know which of their young players Wigan have overhyped.

According to the reliable Aaron Bower we're not in for him and it's between Saints and Castleford. Bizarre as he'd be a really good signing.

I'm worried that Burgess and Co think that we don't need another forward and we won't sign anyone else. We don't have a quota spot free for a start, do we?

We don`t have Quota space for another overseas player unless we release one of our current ones.

I'd happily release Musgrove for Afoa. I'd even bin Tai off - I want Lindop to start next year. He looks a superstar.

Couldn't agree more, I feel we are wasting our quota spots a little at the minute, Tai is steady and dependable, but is that adequate use of a quota spot? Maybe if Wrench hadn't done his knee again they would have backed King, Lindop, Wrench and Ratchford to be centres for next year. As it is they probably think Lindop is a year too young, Ratchford is a year too old and Wrench is a question mark due to injury.

Russell is a wait and see, but it seems a risk to me - I'm not sue he'll be first choice back row next year - again, is that good use of a quota spot?

Kind of hoping Abe will chuck us a bone and just say if we are actually in talks with anyone.

If we could replace Musgrove and sign a top back rower, we'll be in business next year.

Yeah i'd be very happy With Afoa, very happy indeed. But Yeah we don't have the room, Burgess won't offload his mate Musgrove so unless it's a new English prop that's wishful thinking.
I am curious who we might be looking at and in what position, for the spare money burning a hole in our pocket?

Spare money? we have just reported 1.7mill loss for this year? i would imagine we have seen the last of the big daft signings on mad money until at least the covid bailout has been paid back.

Depends how you define daft of course, Williams is probably the highest paid player in SL, and well deserved. We have spare cap space, whether the club decide to use it is obviously a different question.

Regardless of a £1.7m loss, such is the support of Moran & Middleton, I'd fully expect us to spend full cap, plus any dispensations, plus all marquee allowances next year and beyond - though the club and the sport as a whole needs to improve its finances of course.

im not sure Kai P-P has even played a game at Knights, and rumours are they are offering him about.

He played nearly every game last season for them! Although the fans aren't overly impressed with him. They're also giving smithies a hard time at canberra. Hope Nicholson knows what he's let himself in for. They obviously expect a LOT from English players going over there these days.

He was up their with their best players and is going to the open market out of choice as he’s expected to get an upgrade to around $750k a year on his next deal so is testing the market.

Love to see where Wigan overhyped him though, or any other player in their system for that matter.

Plenty of your mob were waxing lyrical about Kibula when he was thought to be on his way through ffs! Partington and Byrne were lauded over when they burst on the scene - both average at best.

Plenty of Wigan players (Saints too) get overhyped - albeit mainly by Sky. Robertson and Eckersley may well both end up being excellent players but Lindop and Taylor-Wray are getting half that hype which is good as they both look better atm.

I've said this before ,clubs need their best coaches involved at junior levels to spot & nurture young rugby talent & get them on the path to development to first team standard. In terms of homegrown talent, professionalism & the need to win trophies within a limited timeframe hampers youth development ,& that happens in all sports . All that is left then is to throw money at imports to buy success, hopefully.

Squad numbers are out. Tai gets the no 4 shirt. Also Hayes gets 7.

Full details of all our 1st Team Squad Numbers. https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2024/ ... confirmed/

Full details of all our 1st Team Squad Numbers. https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2024/ ... confirmed/

So you are saying fans and the media overhype players?

That’s not what was said, it was said Wigan overhype players.

Just wondered when Wigan overhyped players.