I think the point is he only plays em when forced through injuries and not on merit. If Phelps and Richards were not injured v cas do you think ainscough would have got a chance?

You are stretching reality. Mossop and Tuson? 1 game when injuries gave him no choice. Joel Tomkins brought through by Millward. Only given a chance by Noble when he had no choice. O'Carrol and Prescott deemed not good enough by Noble who tried everything to sign a prop. goulding brough through by Millward, dropped umpteen times by Noble. Sam Tomkins and Shaun Ainscough only selected when Noble had little choice.

Probably not, but that is the situation we found ourselves in. Ainscough has got his chance and he's been great so far. He cannot be left out for the match Vs Bradford.

I think Noble is giving the young lads a chance he just doesnt want to have to rely on them weekly and put that pressure on them of having to maintain a level of performance. I think this is were we went wrong with Kev Brown, following the examples of Roby, Graham, Clough and Eastmond at Saints with Tomkins, Mossop, McIlloram and maybe Goulding might be put back down a step and introduce them slowly easing them into regular first team spots.

Kevin Brown is a successful first grade player with Huddersfield. James Roby, James Graham and Clough are weekly selections for St Helens, selected younger than when Noble gives a oung player the odd game. Eastmond has to displace Long. Wigan look a far better team for having young players in the first team.

What cack. Noble clearly does give young players a chance.

J Tomkins
Goulding
Prescott
S Tomkins
Ainscough
O Carroll

Which is practically half a team. This plus a mixture of imports and regular first team regulars (Hock, Lockers etc) is a level balance.

Come on Nobby haters let it drop.

McGuire returned, who at the time was far inferior to Pryce, as both results and performance proved beyond any doubt whatsoever. McGuire also did not gel with Sean Long, whereas Pryce had a world class combination going with Long.

So, yes, my argument is very convincing.

I don't hate Noble. I think he's great motivationally, but rubbish tactically.

In any case, when the above players came through, what alternative did we have?

J Tomkins - Picked because O'Loughlin was injured last year.
Goulding - Bit of an iffy one - was already gettin first team games when nobby was here
Prescott - He's 23!!
S Tomkins - Picked because Micky Mac was banned
Ainscough - Picked because Phelps is injured and Mathers was banned, lets face it if mathers only got one match ban we wouldnt have seen ainscough yet.
O'Carroll - Ill give you that one O'Carroll has come on leaps and bounds since nobby came.

Joel Tomkins brought through by Millward. Only given a chance by Noble when he had no choice.

O'Carrol and Prescott deemed not good enough by Noble who tried everything to sign a prop.

Goulding brought through by Millward, dropped umpteen times by Noble.

Sam Tomkins and Shaun Ainscough only selected when Noble had little choice.

J Tomkins, S Tomkins and Ainscough only got a chance due to there being no other options.

Goulding is being given a chance and fair play, sadly he does not seem to be taking it, but i would put him in the bracket with Prescott as already being given a chance prior to the arrival of Noble, which i think O'Carroll was also.

Very few lads have been given a chance by Noble, and when they have been it has been when his hand has been forced, which if you are a top team performing well is often the way, but if you are a team performing as poorly as we have for the last 2 years is a different matter.

on that point, i've been meaning to scan in an article from RL world rag from last year where they did a bit piece on noble, along with a small section on the bit highlighted "i'm a big believer of giving youth a chance"

Thought it might make interesting reading for you kids.