Harsh but ultimately fair assessment. Good luck to him at Leigh.

I can't remember the exact statistic (oh yes, more statistics ), I think its something like for every 10 players, only one will make it into the first team for SL clubs?

As I said, I'm not quite sure on the legitimacy of that statistic, but it goes to show, to make it at Wigan (and other SL clubs for that matter), you need to be an excellent prospect.

Best of luck to the lad.

Anyone know how Nicky Stanton is going on? Looked a promising player - useful goal kicker - but struggled to make it with Mark Calderwood, Liam Colbon, Pat Richards and then Cameron Phelps in the side.

I believe he had a bit of a fall out with Shaun Wane (not advisable) and finished up at Leigh. Didn't he get injured whilst playing for Leigh in one of their televised games?

My info - don't know how reliable it is - is that he was advised to leave Wigan by certain parties, as his talent wasn't being recognised.

I've heard almost nothing of him since.

Ah the old 'his parties advising him about is talent think it's far bigger than it actually is'?

It's difficult to quantify how much talent Stanton really has now - even those who've watched him in the last year or so, will only have seen him playing against non-SL opposition.

Given the massive change in the Wigan ethos of the last few months (I think it's clear to all that the days of youngsters not getting their chance, are over), I reckon he jumped ship early. If it's true that someone advised him to do that, he wants to give them a kick in the pants.

On the other hand, Wigan might just have released him because they didn't rate him - in which case, I suppose, we thus far must respect their decision.

I really hope we see an end to the 'johnny big time' syndrome that some of our young players over the past 10 years seem to have had. Didn't Kev Brown go through a bit of a spell where he thought he was 'the man' around town when he first broke onto the scene?

I think it's all about having the right senior players and coaching/support staff around at the club to try and keep kids as grounded as possible, something which Man United have been so successful at. There'll always be the odd exception however, just look at Bobby Goulding - came through at a time where we had a tremendous experienced first team, and it still all went to his head and he thought he was god's gift who should be guaranteed a spot in the first team.

Throughout my time working with the Juniors one criticism has always been leveled at the Wigan club for the way they are brought through and that was that they got it too easy, they got the best juniors in the system are hyped up and are given the best facilities, kit etc and treated too well, they lose the desire and the will to earn everything they get.

I hope and think the the new system will ensure that this is a thing of the past.

I see Eastmond has now resigned for Saints on a two year deal. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 32,00.html A two year deal is ok but if I were a Saints fan I'd have been hoping for a longer contract, such as the deal S Tomkins signed for us. I think this deal allows Kyle to increase his worth over the next few years and then really push for a big deal from either Rugby League or Union. It's good that he'll stay in league but I think we can all see what his management have planned.

I see Eastmond has now resigned for Saints on a two year deal. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 32,00.html A two year deal is ok but if I were a Saints fan I'd have been hoping for a longer contract, such as the deal S Tomkins signed for us. I think this deal allows Kyle to increase his worth over the next few years and then really push for a big deal from either Rugby League or Union. It's good that he'll stay in league but I think we can all see what his management have planned.

If the SKY quotes are right and he's signed up until the end of 2011 that's in effect a one year extension. He was already ooc 2010.
He'll no doubt be getting a fair size pay increase which is deserved but neither Saints nor he are committing themselves to a long term deal.
Why the uncertainty? Is it Saints who are unsure at what stage he'll be in two years or, where they will be then?

A 2 year deal is quite a worry from a Saints and English rugby league point of view. That contract screams to me he's thinking of a move somewhere down the line and has Martin Offiah's influence written all over it. He knows he won't make much money by letting his players sign up to long term deals with their original clubs.

This deal makes our 5 year deal we've got Sam Tomkins tied into look all the more impressive and is a huge weight off everybody's mind.

Well, Offiah's Twitter update ismartinoffiah