When we nearly won in '93/94 we had JD

Disagree. They won becuase they were the best team on the day and had one of the strongest teams in the comp that year. Every squad in SL has a decent group of academy players. Thewlis, Wrench, King (next year), Philbin, Currie. I'd say that's a pretty healthy core to be honest. Our fantastic 2012 team had 9 academy players and we still couldn't win the GF.

Aaron Lindop is class and a centre, so perhaps he'll fix both of those problems. Your academy is so much better now than it has been, even in recent years. A lot less arrogance about it after the last round of changes too. It's then the first team that needs to help the academy. Warrington have been producing good enough talents for 10 years at least, but to make it in Super League most need a stable first team environment with good mentality and that has been missing. Those that still make it despite not having those things are usually truly exceptional players. In fairness to Powell it's very hard to successfully bring players through in a team in crisis, so that might explain his perceived reluctance to play the academy players. Had you maintained your early season form, I think we'd be seeing more academy players being dripped in here and there.

I agree. It had very little to do with McDermott and down to them having top players, many of whom were academy players, who had the ability to produce on the day.

If anything, McDermott held that side back as they finished a distant 5th in the league and many of their fans wanted the coach out.

Our 2012 GF line up had 4 academy players, who were Riley, Harrison, Wood and Cooper.

Leeds's had more and included Ryan Hall, Sinfield, Burrow and McGuire - I think the difference is apparent, hey?...

Maybe people aren't really bothered right now about signings as bringing in a new face merely masks the systemic failure to improve what is already there

Many expect academy players to be ready for Super League from day one. That's obviously crazy. The game lacks a real pathway for youngster and decisions have to be made too soon on their futures. Reserve team rugby (even 21s ) is a must but sadly miles away. I recall going to A team games which were competitive and gave lads a chance to impress. and play regularly. Players can improve once they are 18 but most are lost to the game from all clubs. As always money is the issue but unless something is sorted things won't improve. IMG's proposals may make sense but do not solve this problem. For me the ability to run an 18+ team is vital. Forget loans etc.

A couple of my opinions. Not that they’re worth much, but,

Our academy is way behind Saints and Wigan.
Warrington has one of the youngest demographics in Britain and should be churning young players out.
But Warrington is a football town and has hundreds of youngsters in premier league football academy’s.

I would honestly pay the best coach a marquee player wage, such is the importance of a coach to a team.
Pay Trent Robinson or Gower £500k a year and it will give more bang for your buck than paying a 32 year old Aussie.

Exceptional centres are a must for any ambitious teams.

Wigan have just signed Walters and Chan, possibly the 2 best young emerging forwards in the game. Why have we left next years recruitment so late when Top teams have done their deals?

Do we need to be signing other clubs young forwards? They have potential but are far from the finished article (especially Walters). I’d rather give those opportunities to Lucas Green, surely we should be giving him the game time over bringing someone else in?

I’d say it’s more important to get the right people in than get someone signed up early - it’s clear the club have been active looking for players for 2024 - and could have already agreed terms, just not yet announced.

IMO this is the biggest single deficit in our game ,there is too much of a gap physically between a reserve team & academy level. In the good old days there was probably more stability throughout squads because you could play bulked up old timers & a.n.others side by side in the A team. There was more seamless integration into first team rugby for reserves when called on to turn out for the first team & quality wasn't affected as we seem to see now. Oh yes, & effort was always part of the match day experience.