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

This boils down to a simple question. Would you rather have Wardle or Halsall?

Though I’m disappointed to loose Halsall there’s no contest. I’d rather of kept him and sent him on a season loan somewhere he’d get regular game time but if the swap was integral to getting Wardle then it’s a no brainer.

Halsall isn’t a Wigan lad and as has been said on this thread he and his family are big Saints fans. I’m not sure how much bearing King had on this at all, this is a swap for Wardle who to me looks a much better prospect than Halsall. Also a lot of the players you have listed we have wanted to keep but they have decided to leave, not a lot we could do other than spending more than we what we believe they are worth.

Define 'bite us'. What I mean is they could be at least solid first team players.

Ben Currie and Ollie Russell spring to mind and did Matty Lees have a spell in the academy?

You watch the reserves and academy, tell me McDonnell, Nicolson, Halsall and Bibby are not 4 stand out players at that level.

I'd rather have Wardle and Halsall rather than King on a 1 year loan deal.

I don’t agree but even if I did that’s on on the table.

Hudds wanted Halsall as part of the Wardle deal.

Halsall is the latest player the Facebook fans adore (Escare, Hankinson, Hamlin)

Matt Peet obviously didn’t fancy him after watching him closely for 3 years in the 1st team.

I’m a little concerned with the so many of the young players going (Nicholson was the biggest blow) but a lot of the time and I we focus too much on the long term.

It’s just not the case now a young player comes through and they play for you for the next 10 years. If they are very good the NRL will come knocking, also other SL clubs will be sniffing around whenever contracts are up for renewal.

With French and Field signed up this is our trophy winning window so having a 23 year old international centre is better than waiting for a 19 year old to develop.

All about balance.