Quote: 100% Warrior "The thing that’s getting me at the minute is how we continually bang on about our “world class” youth production line, but yet name a truly world class player it’s produced recently?
I look at Saints with envy to be totally honest. The likes of Makinson, Richardson, Percival, Grace and Thompson all brought through their ranks and looking for all money like some of them may well become world class.
Meanwhile we’ve brought through Burgess, Gildart, Williams, Powell, Davies, Sutton and Marshall who, don’t get me wrong on their day are good but they’re nowhere near the standard of Saints’ academy graduates IMHO.
Apols for going OT slightly and regarding the OP I’m a suckler for big aggressive take no sh*t forwards but I completely agree that the modern prop has to be more than a bully boy. A hybrid would be nice but they’re few and far between these days.'"
Hold on a second. Makinson is a good player but he wasn't as good as Burgess when he was in form, hence why Budgie was generally favoured for the England side. We produced Manfredi who was the best English winger until getting cruelly injured. And Davies isn't far behind Makinson even though he's only been professional for a couple of years. Grace is no better than Marshall - flashy, exciting, occasionally a bit of a liability. Davies is definitely better than Grace.
Richardson is having a cracking breakthrough year but he looks no better than Williams did at the same age. His progression in the next few years will be telling.
Percival is a cracking talent, best young English centre but the second best is probably Gildart and there's not a huge difference between them when they're both on form. Gildart is playing better now his future has been sorted.
And I'd say Thompson isn't massively better than Sutton but simply plays in a side that uses their props a lot more effectively. Sutton seems to have a little bit more about him in terms of handling ability (although I haven't seen as much of Thompson so could be wrong).
I really can't understand the negativity you have towards our academy products given the ones you mention either aren't better or are only slightly better.