100% correct. Worth listening to what former Wire coach Tony Barrow has to say about King on the latest 'What Bevan' Podcast.

ironically, i think there were more ex wire players in SL than wigan last year from those 2 team sheets. 6 to 5.

From memory I think Wigan had George Williams, Joe Burgess and maybe Ryan Sutton who were in their final year of the 19s but had broken into the 1st team already by then.

very probably, i know powell hampshire and williams came through at roughly the same time, you had the issue of trying to fit them all in at half.

tbh it was more an observation (amongst us) that we dont produce anyone from our academy, and yet, as i say, there are several from one team alone, and a about 2 or 3 more that were championship based last year as well.

That was the best academy team (U20's at the time) that we have ever produced. We won the league winning 20 games from 24, losing to Wigan and beating them once. We should have won the championship but as usual, Wigan grit and determination won out on the day watched by a crowd of 1500 at the HJ. Some of the notable names that played; Toby King and brother George, Jack Johnson, Sam Wilde, Phibs of course, Dec Patton, Harvey Livett, Mike Nicholas's son Morgan and Louis Jouffret.

As somebody pointed out, Philbin had played 3 games in the first team that year (plus two for Swinton) and he was a handful. During the year he was 3rd top try scorer with 18 behind Jack Johnson. (wing) 22 and Toby King (24) whom I remember TS saying was "too good to be playing in the U20's".

We could do with a few more academy years like 2014.

It was a great contest all year. Wigan lost 4 out of their 1st 5 games before absolutely battering St Helens then barely lost another game all season. Warringtons side were great to watch and any game involving any of those three and you could add Leeds and Cas at that time and they were great contests generally.

Toby King looked a level above as you say and also a lot of promise elsewhere in the side.

We've had a lack of props for some while, so why move one of our best three to second row. Butler and Mulhern have question marks against them until they've worn the shirt, meaning we don't know for sure that the prop problem has definitely been resolved.

Fair point but what if both Mulhern and Butler do well we will have 3 props on the bench and no cover for back row.

In that case, JP to second row is an option, along with King or Robson.

I think for the first time in several years we have a squad that looks balanced. We don't really know where Mamo fits in, but he can cover a few spots and we will almost certainly have injuries to contend with. Latu and Akauola are still knocking around and that will need to be resolved at some point, probably after we see what Butler and Mulhern can do. Similarly we have the Ratchford / Ashton dilemma, but since we don't know if Widdop is staying / remaining we will have to wait. Finally we have several youngsters that we know will come in and do a decent job, with the others moved out on year long loans. I am more than comfortable with all that, as I say it feels balanced and I suspect the squad (with the exceptions above) will also feel happy because they know their playing positions, where they are ranked, what they have to do to make the 1st 17 and the probability of getting game time.

I wish I could share your confidence W/O.
Individually we have some great players and it's up to the coach to get them fitting together, but I don't see SP being able to do that (but I have been wrong more than once before!).

IMO Widdop may struggle to settle back in after all the alleged comings and going with his family and moves to the NRL - and how that's judged by his team mates is unclear.
I'm not sure if SP knows how to fit in Widdop/Austin/Ratch and Ashton (if all fit).
2nd row is an issue of sorts. I like Currie and Hughes but not sure how much x factor they give us.
3 proven props - can't see Sita and Latu getting a look in - and 2 new boys plus Doro. If the new boys cut the mustard I'll be happy. Let's see.

All in all I hope I'm wrong.

(Still dying to see GI in p&b though- sheer class).

Joe Philbin does not look like a modern day second row to me. Prop or LF but SR is a bit too wide out. Modern day second rows play more like centres.

My concern for the season is just how good Wigan will be. Superb recruitment of late.
I would love to be proved wrong.

Big chunk of money wasted on Burgess though.

Playing devil’s advocate here as I see him purely as a prop but what if utilised in the the role that BMM was meant to play?