Quote: Bill_Barlow "Rubbish, every academy player needs guidance and protection during their time from academy to first team. Too many players at Wigan got threw in at the deep end and now we are following the way Saints brought these 2 through. When i say protected i dont mean they had people making tackles for them or holding their hands i mean in the way the players are prepared and advised. All comes under the coaching. Protection from overuse, theyre bodies are still developing and are going against big hard experienced men, ie given games and taken out to stop fatigue becoming a problem in their muscles and causing injury. Too many players by the time they are 30 are burnt out not in their peak, look at what happened to Rads, Sculthorpe, Faz just to name a few.'"
Do you think Rads or Faz were burned out? Both enjoyed testimonials. Maybe the Australians have it right as they always seem to and RL is a young mans sport which should be played much beyond the age of 30. IIRC Sculthorpe, Faz and Rads suffered injuries rather than burn out.
Nobody protected Shaun Edwards. If you are saying young players at Wigan are inadequately prepared as regards coaching compared to those at St Helens or Leeds then I would agree with you. That is the view of Mick Hogan too. Hogan hs been here what months, Noble years and one sees it, the other just made excuses.
The notion you can time when players begin their first team career is a fallacy. Most get their opportunities through necessity rather than anybody's choice.
