Although he's been part of the deal to get Wardle, I think the general feeling is on recent form King hasn't been great so maybe Halsall would have been a better option, and on far less money.

I've been told by 2 people, oen close to Wigan and one very close to Warrington that King was on £150k/£180k and Warrington are paying £30k of that (Whichever of the 150/180 he's on). That's a considerable amount more than what Halsall would have been on.

Obviously the staff see Halsall every day and they obviously didn't fancy him. The writing is on the wall when Isa, Farrell, Bateman, KPP are all being picked at centre ahead of you. When he has played he's not been spectacular and he's also not let anyone down. At 21 years old I would hope he'd have started to nail down that spot though. I do remember the uproar of Hankinson not being played and eventually leaving the club. People were saying then that it's a disgrace and it would come back to haunt us. He's in the Championship with Toulouse.

What's Morgan Escare up to these days?

I think the key issue here is wardle. He clearly wasn’t happy at missing out on the CC and felt he should have played (I don’t agree - he lost the shirt and the player he lost it to did nothing wrong to relinquish it- that to me is how it should be) wardle was given the chance to play on the wing, that would have given him the opportunity to play himself back into the side but he didn’t want to take it and wanted to play at centre. Wardle has a poor injury record, he missed two years of academy rugby as a result of serious knee problems, which caused knock on issues elsewhere and these seem to be a weak spot and he regularly seems to have had shorter lay offs since and that’s why he’s lost his place. It must be terribly frustrating for him as he is an excellent player when he stays fit, but he just couldn’t manage to cement that place. All he needs is an injury free season which seems to have alluded him.
Watson is quite clear to the players he signs what is expected of them in the regard of places and playing for them, and keeping them. Sam will know where he stands and must have accepted that.

That's the crux of the argument and i think it's a solid enough point to be making. It isn't about Wardle, it's about King. We've moved for King, even tho Hudds wanted him and moved on a prospect to Hudds too. Seems a little bizarre.

For me, the backline next year is fairly experienced and we could have either carried Halsall somewhat (something that happens with most young players), or phased him in over the season instead of Thornley. Next year you flip that and Thornley is in his last year and turns into the cover option.

I liked Halsall, but I'd definitely take Wardle/King over him.

Same with Shaun Ainscough. Hell ... same with Mark Cannon. Anyone remember him? We replaced him with Brett Kenny, and quite unbelievably, some people complained about that.

To be fair to Hankinson he’s done well at Tolouse and apparently being looked at by other Superleague clubs. I’d say his stock his higher now than it’s ever been.

If Halsall goes on to ‘make it’ I guarantee he will end up signing for Saints. Better for him to go there from giants than us. His family are huge saints fans. I always felt either way we would have never got the best of him.

One of the most perplexing things about Lam's time at Wigan was his use, or should I say non-use, of Hankinson. At times we had both Isa and Faz at centre and flogged kids half to death in what was already a weak pack. All the while Hankinson was out on loan.

Baffling to say the least.

You are trying to compare apples with oranges and tailoring an example to suit your arguement and the example has no relevance.

The only players I can compare is a ready made Toby King, to an up and coming Sam Halsall.

Halsall on less money, Wigan lad, can be spelled with Thornley, killed it in the reserves this season.

Nothing against King, but losing Sam Halsall in order to get a player on loan for a year does not make sense.

It has been mentioned about not keeping every prospect, we have to let some go. Well we have lost some future first team players in Nicolson, McDonnell, Halsall and Bibby. Add to that Harry Rushton.

I just hope we keep hold of Nsemba and Forber otherwise we may aswell scrap the academy.

Did the loan deal allow us to recall him?

Did we have the cap space?

His family support St Helens so Wigan will never get the best out of him?

Stop talking nonsense.

Didn't stop Sean Long and Gary Connolly and they played for both clubs.

Tommy Makinson played his whole youth in Hindley and supports Wigan...

Are you not doing the same by mentioning King?

Halsall has left as part of the Wardle deal.

You literally cannot keep them all and bring them all through at the same time. How on earth do you propose fitting in McDonnell?

So in your opinion (over the last ten to twenty years) how many players have we lost from the academy and have played only a handful of 1st team games who have come back to bite us.

There's loads. There was thingy who signed for wotsit and then there was yon Mon and what do you call it that went to thingamajig.

Loads