Quote: Mark_P1973 "There was a post recently on either facebook or twitter from one of the guys who does a podcast i think Wigan was 2nd only to the NRL for the production line of players, based on where that player made their original academy debut (i think it was from). that includes players still within the club and other SL teams, so we had Faz for example as an academy product The challenge for Wigan is how do we retain the best of the production line, alongside smart recruitment of both UK and NRL trained players. At this moment in time it feels like that balance is about right as we are in a period where we are winning trophies, albeit we have lost a couple of promising 2nd rowers to Leeds and Wire, and then Smithies and KPP to the NRL last year.'" https://x.com/TheWiganWay/status/1777084118985039954

Quote: Mark_P1973 "There was a post recently on either facebook or twitter from one of the guys who does a podcast i think Wigan was 2nd only to the NRL for the production line of players, based on where that player made their original academy debut (i think it was from). that includes players still within the club and other SL teams, so we had Faz for example as an academy product The challenge for Wigan is how do we retain the best of the production line, alongside smart recruitment of both UK and NRL trained players. At this moment in time it feels like that balance is about right as we are in a period where we are winning trophies, albeit we have lost a couple of promising 2nd rowers to Leeds and Wire, and then Smithies and KPP to the NRL last year.'" https://x.com/TheWiganWay/status/1777084118985039954

Love that post! What a shame that the Broncos couldn't hang on to some of their products. Fertile ground for the fame if given the opportunity.

but what does London having a team in SL bring to the game - seemingly quite a few players who are spread across SL. I personally would love to see them stay up in SL and build from there, but i also know there's a lot of fans that dont see the point in a London based club. We've had 3 very good London lads over recent years with Clubb, Sarginson and KPP.

100%, just the potential recruitment in that city is huge, I know its not just a numbers game but the NRL has the pick of the best athletes from Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra.

Did we lose McDonnell or did we let him go because he was deemed surplus to requirements at the time?

Wigan made him an offer, he chose Leeds.

Genuine question, would Matty Nicholson be in Wigan’s 1st 13 if everyone was fit? I ask because my understanding was he left you because he thought his 1 st team chances were better with us (Wire), he certainly seems to be developing into the player you thought he would.
With regard to Max Wood, he was released by you and picked up after training with us, presumably Burgess saw something in him and he definitely hasn’t disgraced himself when he has played 1st team. What was the thinking in letting him go? Have you got a lot of highly rated young props coming through (if so can you name them please…Signed S Burgess)

My understanding was it was around the time we had faz, Isa for the second row spot plus Nsemba coming through. We then had Bateman at 13 and other young lads coming through, he mustn’t of seen a way in at the time. I think Nicholson was definitely in the plans to take over as Peet in that video seems a bit peed off with him going. I do think however Walter and Nsemba are both good prospects and certainly Walters is better than Nicholson. Max wood going to be honest hadn’t heard of him before the left but from what I’ve seen does look decent. Props think there are few good lads coming through the ranks but I do think Warrington need to start backing there own a bit more

he probably wouldnt be a 1st team starter at the minute as Matty Peet likes Farrell and Isa, and Nsemba is just getting more game time now due to Isa injury

when he left i know the club were disappointed but equally you cant knock a lad if he thinks he's good enough (and i think Wire were offering more than Wigan). At the time he was quite a bit down the pecking order Farrell, Isa, Smithies, KPP, Bateman. We've since lost 3 of those players to the NRL and 2 are probably going to retire this season and next season. His chance would have come throughout this season, but he would have had to be patient and on a lesser salary

I posted recently on a thread on the wire board (think it was about Lucas Green), that unfortunately we cant keep them all happy and both Wire and Leeds have benefitted from 2 young 2nd row forwards who would have made 1st team, but wanted regular 1st team game time now. its disappointing but equally you cant knock the lads if they can get 1st team / better money as its a short career

It's a tough one and no one other than the coaching staff could say with any real authority. My own take on him is that he's good but not special whereas both Nsemba and Walters have it in them to be special. They are a level above in terms of potential.

at the time he left he was behind established internationals in Faz and Bateman and future internationals in KPP and Smithies who are both ripping it up in the NRL now so it's understandable that he chose to leave when he did. It doesn't seem to have worked out too badly for him so he probably made the right decision.

I rate Nicholson extremely highly. He'd be a regular starter here now IMO and we may not have signed Walters had he stayed. He hasn't got the natural size of Nsemba and Walters but he's big enough and has a great engine. He's the sort of lad who would go great alongside a Walters or Nsemba and bring a nice balance. He could've replaced Smithies as well, so I do think he's been a loss to the club but we've done unbelievably well to get ourselves in the position we have at the same time as losing him, Smithies and KPP. It shows just how good the production line is at the club that we can not only support our own club but prop up others as well and still keep on competing at the top end.

In terms of Max Wood, he was just behind too many players by the looks of things. I'm glad he's got sorted out at Wire and looks to be doing well.

I think that Nicky’s summary hits the nail on the head. Just a couple of things I would add, I believe Nicholson will play for England and secondly Warrington will have to pay him big money if they wish to retain him. When he moved to Wire, Wigan could not compete with the salary he was offered. His agent is an astute guy.

I think this is where we differ. Whilst I'm not saying that he won't play for England, I very much doubt he'll be an England regular. That's no slight on his ability as the same could be said for Faz. I just think there's too much ahead of him and, again in a similar way to how Faz has found it hard to cement a place at international level, I feel Nicholson will face similar difficulties. There's already Bateman, Bachelor, Knowles, Radley, Smithies, KPP among others ahead of him and I don't think it will be long before the likes of Walters and Nsemba join them. With the limited number of international games I think it's a big ask to push himself ahead of so many.

As always with these things, it's just an opinion of course.

First time this season watching a Huddersfield game last night, and Rushton was very impressive. Nicholson has always been good and pretty steady when I've seen him but Rushton looks a real prospect.

In response to the OP, I’ve long thought the Academy system as a whole is broken. However, in a “don’t hate the player, hate the game” style, I think it is a systemic issue. The red flashing light is that the language around this is always about “clamping down” (or similar) on the clubs that produce few players - that eagerness to reach for the stick feels like a tacit admission that the carrot is pretty tiny for most clubs.

As unproductive as it has been in modern times, most Hull KR fans love our academy and continue to pin a lot of hope on it. So, I am speaking very much as a minority of one in wishing the club had seen the initial loss of our academy licence a few years ago as a chance to do something radically different… even allowing for the loss of funding.