Noble has been at Wigan 3 years and youth development has gone backwards. Joel Tomkins was repesenting and starring for England in 2004. He was outstanding in a troubled Wigan era under Millward. He was then given no opportunities until Noble had no choice.

People do have the right to thier opinion, correct but to start a thread over just the littlest thing to have a pop at Noble is IMO very very sad. Some people are obsessed with criticising Noble and I get the feeling that even IF we won something this year, they would still turn round and say "Yeah we won it but we played poorly and didn't deserve it."

Noble will never win with some people.

Deacon, Leon Pryce and Langley debuted under Elliott as did Fielden, Peacock and Parker.

Some people have already re-rationalised his bringing through of certain youth players by saying that he only did it because first-teamers were injured. My response to that would be that most youngsters who break through only really get the chance when injuries open gaps for them.

That said, I do feel that Noble has been slow to promote youth while he's been at Wigan. The real test for him now will be to keep faith with the likes of Ainscough and Sam. If those two disappear again as soon as the likes of Mathers and Phelps are back in contention, then everything the anti-Noble lobby says will be one stepper closer to being proved.

Burrow played about 17 games before he was 20, McGuire about 12. In winning teams.
Sam Tomkins (hopefully) will get to 4 before he's 20. And I'll not say owt about a winning team in our case.

As someone has already said, you can't compare Mcguire and Burrow's development to S.Tomkins. ST developmental needs maybe different to what McGuire/Burrow's where.

Even when ST has played first team, something which fans have been crying out for, BN gets criticised for it. He can't win with some Wigan fans!