Wigan like to deride Wire's youth setup but you only need a small look in to the History books to understand why Wigan had the premier youth setup.

Wire were almost dead on their backside at Wilderspool is it any wonder we couldn't produce our own and even if we could they would go to a club who could pay more.

You'll see in the next 10 years Wire producing their own on a scale similar to or better than Wigan, these things don't just happen over night.

I wasnt 100% sure about that one because I know hes from wigan but there you go.

8-3.

Still not good enough

that might be right but Cas have done it with no money so...

Always did a sound job in the academy and could kick on to have a good career, but Wigan just have better coming through. Jack Hughes and Greg Burke stand out for me. Jack Hughes in particular.

Indeed a hell of alot of work has gone on in the last 5-6 years.

Peter Farrell searches all over the country for the best talent and the form of our U20s the last few seasons along with players in the England youth squads shows its working, the next step is for them to get to Super League level, so far O'Brien and Rhy Evans look like they can make it but time will tell I have high hopes for 4-5 in that U20s team.

For the pie wanting it to effect us in the future you might get a nice suprise.

The Wire academy set up has improved by 1000% over recent years. They beat Wigan twice last year, but then lost the ones that mattered (the playoff games v Saints and Wigan)

This year they are the only team to have beaten Wigan at U20 level, so a lot of work (and money ) have gone into their youth systems.

I just wish al the other clubs would pay as much attention to their academy systems as I'm sick of seeing forty and fifty point scores at those levels.

Indeed I had a fall out with some Wire fans on their board for "having a go at them" when Wire won by about 70 points in an academy game earlier in the season.

My point was that it did neither side any good, something I have said many times on here when Wigan have done it.

Its a good move for all SL clubs loaning out players to gain experience against decent opposition. The Academy set up does not give some players the right grounding in the game. Some of the early developers become lazy and complacent against U18 and U20 opposition. Maybe link ups with the NL should be encouraged by the RL all parties benefit

Something I've been banging on about for the past five years.

What is better to be classed as a "feeder team" have competitive entertaining RL to watch or keep getting the same old faces off the NL roundabout and hope that one day your club will get into SL?

Sorry, I misread it. I meant an Australian NRL team. Each year one (or more) of our top U18/U20 players should go over there on a one (or two) years scholarship.

Why would NRL clubs agree to that? What benefit do they get out of it when they're producing young players 5x as good as ours?

It would be for the long term benefit of the game as a whole, particularly at International level which should be the pinnacle of sport.

I was copying and pasting the numbers, knew i would screw it up somewhere 4.982421875:5