As over half of last year's U20s team are out on loan or played in the 1st team this week, surely they've been replaced by the U18s, who will in turn have been replaced by the U16s

....what, 20yrs of age or over now maybe?

So its an assumption rather than fact- a large number of Quins under 18's were well below the age threshhold including the number 1 who is an England rep.

At least ten of the Wigan team that played in the U20 game at Orrell on Saturday still qualify at U18 level. The majority of the U18s team that played at Aldershot are only 16.

I would say we have not had anything top notch emerge since 2006-2008 when the likes of Louie, Clubby, Mike Worrincy and Will Sharp emerged.

The best of the more recent crop are probably Lamont Bryan and Ben Bolger.

I am not sure whether the likes of Jamie O'Callaghan will make it despite a good number of run outs and at 23 Big Dave Williams has been a slow burner and the likes of Luke May never seem to be selected. However they have been better than the younger Northern imports who have signed on a permanent basis. Without exception they have nearly all returned to Bradford or the obscurity of the lower leagues having made ten or less appearances.

It is most likely to be in 2012 when the younger players emerge. The most promising players are likely to be those who have gained England representative honours for their age group. We have the two England schoolboys half backs in Stand Off Dan Sarginson and Scrum Half Mikey Bishay plus a fair collection of other positions where it is hard to develop youth e.g. Max Edwards the Hooker and a couple of tremendous Props such as Omari Caro.

It is many years since Saints and Leeds produced a large number of younger players who became an automatic first choice. Probably the best recent production line has been at Wigan. A quick look shows 10 non-English players with a jumper numbered between 1 and 17 - these are all none-English: (1) Phelps, (2) Roberts, (4) Carmont, (5) Richards, (7) Leuluai, (9) Riddell, (11) Hansen, (15) McIlorum (16) Bailey, (17) Paleaasina and (21) O'Carroll. However outside that the rest of the squad are Wigan born or Wigan trained or both. The Tomkins brothers are first class as are Mossop, Goulding and Ainscough and the two Irish front rowers have emerged and they may swap nationality if required by England.

For Quins to be successful we will need to be able to develop our own players with a number on their back between 18 and 30 to a standard where they are playable. Otherwise we will always be a team that goes well for the very short windows of opportunity when we have the luxury of 17 of our best 20 players available. This is very rare and 4-5 injuries is common these days and must be expected.

I think we will be able to contest for a place just outside the top 6, or 6 at best in a couple of years

Caro is actually a winger

has anyone told Btian Mac?

Aren't the 3 in red local trained?

Hansen, McIlorum and O'Carroll have all been at Wigan since they were teenagers. Hansen and O'Carroll since they were 14 and McIlorum since he was 16.

Hansen was from Folly Lane (Swinton), O'Carroll from Waterhead (Oldham) and McIlorum from Queens (Leeds)

All have represented England at academy level.

I dont think the date has passed yet that allows under 16s to turn out for the under 18s Academy. Think it used to be May 1st but not sure if that has changed.