Add to that list hanson, ocarroll, prescott, briscoe, wild, hodgeson (at a push) gilmore (came through the 21's) i could probably go on but i cant remember anymore sorry.

You can keep long though as i think it was over a decade ago since he was at wigan but if not we will have him in too

We signed him from Halifax.

So Harrison Hansen is classed as a Wigan local?

how many caps has Briscoe got?

Hanson is one of the overseas contingent at Wigan.

O'Carroll and Prescott playing for Ireland is a bit tenuos - but I guess in terms of this thread, you are correct.

Wild is the only one of those who is "top level" international quality.

as he isnt eligble for England - no.

He is. He's already played from England academy.

hanson is from salford and has been at wigan for years, but you are correct he is not eligable for england so i think we should be allowed to have half a point for him, and you can have half a point for graham

All im saying is i think its a bit rich that fans of other clubs to slate wigan for not producing juniors, when 90% of teams have had at least one player from wigan in their side over the last few years.

If every other team produced half as many as wigan have in the last decade we would not be in the international crisis we are. Who was the last good player produced by warrington, or Cas or Huddersfield? All of those towns are rugby only towns!

Yes i am also aware we are very poor at the moment in terms of keeping kids but that is something all wigan fans want improving just one man seems not to be in favor so we are at the moment screwed!

To be fair to Cas, they have 2 players in Westerman and Shenton who any club should be envious of.

He was Wigan at a younger age than Graham was at Saints.

Your right they are very good!

Still two in how many years is poor!

oops, double post.

One minute your saying Graham shouldn't count because he was born about 12 miles from the ground, and the next your saying Hansen should count even though he was born in New Zealand.

No I'm saying that if Graham counts then so does Hansen as he was at Wigan at a younger age than Graham was at Saints.


We either count both or neither.

its all about players who could represent great britain, never mind which part of GREAT BRITAIN they come from.

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

5 Home grown
3 Wigan
1 Bradford
4 Overseas

Wigan and bradford only porvided one less player than saints did..

A concious decision based on mounting losses and huge debts to directors. If the board weren't fed up pumping money in we'd never see half the kids Saints are touting now.

You have been around here long enough to know my views on overseas players in general and how many there are at Wigan in particular.

I have to say though the article is typical newsprint when it says:

"How much 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.

He hasn't been forced into it at all. [iIt's his choice.[/i

It also conveniently ignores that last season J Tomkins came of age for example and the presence of any other Wigan produced player in the current side. Likewise it ignores the fact that it is unlikely all the younger players at Saints will make the grade.

We all know the frustration of seeing Noble leave young players out and many of us believe J Tomkins came through despite Noble not because of him but I think it's clear enough where the problem lies and it is not as you or the article suggest in the production line of talent. It is IMO the coach where the problem lies.

Dave

Gardner is not home frown for Saints either. He was signed from Barrow wasn't he?

Dave

Also wasn't Wilkin signed from Hull KR?

I dont know the answer to this, so just throwing it out there, but of the Wigan team that won the WCC against Brisbane in 1994(?), what was the ratio of local players, British brought in and overseas brought in?

OK its getts better - saints 2008 grand final 13

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

3 Home grown
3 Wigan
1 Bradford
1 Hullkr
1 Barrow
4 Overseas

I think if you look at most clubs in the past they haven't done enough to train and keep young players, but what is important now is that a lot of clubs are making an effort to change that which has to be the best for the game on all levels in the long run.

That is because they know that a good load of youth players coming through gets you an extra franchise point, so the system is starting to work, although still not so keen on the points and stuff, I think more needs to be take into consideration. But it is an easy point bringing young fellas through really isnt it.

Embarassing article that for Wigan - despite any queries regarding the statistics.

When the structures are in place at Academy level (and earlier) then yes it probably is, but first they need to get the structures in place to do bring the players through and to identify the players with potential.