But, truth be known, he's not far wrong with the article, is he?

If we'd lost that many first choice players, we'd be up a well known creek, paddle-less, without a doubt

A few years ago, we had a big crop of "kids" coming through and making waves, most of whom are still playing in SL somewhere as first choice team players. Sam T is 20 now, which I don't think is young for a pro rugby league player these days, and has certianly earned a right through the reserves to at least a place on the bench. Give the guy a try - what have we got to lose after the last performance? May give everyone else a shake, too if they know their "Untouchable" status, isn't

Hes just trying to get publicity for the blogsite

Its a poorly writen piece to be fair, from someone who clearly could not be bothered to do there research fully or is deliberatly only telling half a story, but on the plus side it does raise a point that young players are not being given a go, and do not look likely to.

Regardless of the Tomkins debate there have been times under Nobles coaching a young player could have come in and been given exposure to SL and the coach has resisted shuffling his team to accomodate a more experienced player out of position.

I think it is good to rely on experience but it has to be mixed with youthfull enthusiasm and at the moment its a mix we do not have correct.

Look at this bit For examplemuch more exciting must it be for a Saints fan to look forward to watching the development of these young players, whereas across at the JJB Stadium they can only wonder about the years of neglect of the development of local talent that has forced the current coach Brian Noble to build a team around the likes of Phil Bailey, Mark Riddell, Tim Smith and Cameron Phelps.
'"

It is a very one-sided article. However it's based on the undeniable fact that last week 9 of our 13 were overseas players so it's difficult to argue that our hot-bed of local talent is coming through to the first team.

I don't know if it makes it better or worse, that we obviously do have talent available, just choose not to use it. There's a host of talent out in SL already in their teens, yet we have players older than that, deciding not to utilise them.

Next year MUST see an end to this culture given the players we have coming off contract, assuming there form and development continues 2010 has to see the likes of Tomkins, Aisncough,Mossop, Pryce and Goulding at the very least being first team members replacing the likes of Smith, Bailey, Phelps and Mathers.

It is frustrating that year on year we have to look to the following season to sort out all the issues with the club and year on year we never do.

isn't he just paraphrasing about 10 threads from here ?

its all well and good having great academy and reserve teams, but whats the point when those players hardly get a look in due to the clubs dependancy on past it / mediocre imports?

as you said, you fail to utilise your youth programme and in honesty, its to the clubs detriment.

Exactly and there's not many who deny that, but the article suggests that we do not produce local talent when we clearly do.

Correct. That being said, that article from Wilson, is utter biased nonsense.

which is something we all seem to agree should not be happening

The Wigan Warriors RLFC current model could be applied to the entire Super League with regards the problems at International rugby league for GB/England.

Across the league the talent pool of resources is growing but even with no relegation, and the supposed reduction in the quota, clubs fought tooth and nail to find a loop hole so they could boost there ranks with overseas players short term.

As a club and an international sport this is the reason we are getting the much deserved stick.

2008 grand final

Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Graham, Cunningham, Hargreaves, Gilmour, Wilkin, Flannery.

5 Home grown
3 Wigan
1 hullkr
1 barrow
1 Bradford
4 Overseas

3 players where from saints own academy system in last years grand final and two of them (cunningham, wellens) had been there for years

GB or not if a club is playing players not from their own academy system there is no difference, that article is about using academy players no bristish/overseas

I think this article is fair enough tbh. That performance last week was utter, utter garbage. Wakefield were outstanding, full credit to them.

It's not xenophobia, but the amount of Aussie, NZ and Pacific Island players we have is a joke for the development of UK rugby league. There are so many ex-Wigan British players out there in the league doing a good job, why aren't they still with us? I know this is a well-worn argument and the salary cap is a big reason, but Phelps vs Kev Brown - who would you rather have?

It's early days for the other new recruits so I won't get stuck into them, but if England are to be successful there needs to be a bigger pool of qualified players in Super League. 6 out of 7 backs were non-British last week and the 1 Brit who did play is bloody awful!