Watkins is exeptional.

I remember seeing him play for the academy for the first time and realising that this lad is a one off.

Dont worry, Phelpsy will smash him

But can't you see my point.

Leeds will be applauded by Eddie, Stevo, Paul Wilson and the rest for bringing in another youngster. (Watkins)

However the truth is they PAID him more than his local club could. It doesn't affect the salary cap so what the hell.

Eastmond at Saints, O'Carroll at Wigan etc.


What should happen?

Wigan should have control over St. Pats, St Judes, Rose Bridge etc and provide funding for those clubs. They then should have first pick of ANY players from those clubs.

Similarly Saints should have control over Pilks, Thatto Heath, Blackbrook etc.

Totally agree Rogues

A lot worse than they are now.

Fantastic post Brian. I totally agree regarding the club partnering up with the Juniors. Wigan should be putting any spare cash into the local amateur teams, Judes, Pats, Cuthberts, Shevington etc. If we cant spend the money on the salary cap then we should be preparing for 5, 10 and 15 years into the future. Get the current players down there coaching sides. Employ ex wigan players to coach them. Either way, give them some help. There is probably a team of wigan lads floating around superleague that would beat wigan which shouldnt happen

Which could happen with the names mentioned in the article at Saints. That is point I was making.

Dave

And do you know why the likes Leeds wouldn't agree.

They don't want to invest in the junior game. All these great Leeds academy players. Where do they come from.


Well the majority don't come from Leeds.

Fordy,
Don't get me started.
I'm almost in full flow.

What about sides outside areas that have such a lot of established amateur clubs?

What about players say in the Oldham or Rochdale areas? Who would they come under? Would they be denied the chance to play for Wigan or Saints because Rochdale had first pick or just because they were not from one of Wigan's amateur teams? Same applies to lads from Cumbria.

I am not sure it would work in Yorkshire either were some top clubs are very close together there would be a bun fight as to who go t certain amateur clubs.

Dave

all that would do is deny players from outside areas with a super league club the chance to ever progress their career.

what would Greg McNally do, stay at Whitehaven forever, and have no chance of hitting the big time? What benefit would there be in Eastmond staying in Oldham (for him and the game of RL as a whole)?

Of course they would have a chance of hitting the big time, if they show that they are good enough.

Didn't Tommy Martyn and Chris Joynt play for Oldham, Sonny Nickle for Hunslet, Neil Cowie and Martin Hall for Rochdale.

Last year Saints sent Dean and Smith to Widnes, Wigan sent Flanagan to Halifax, is that the end of their careers?

All I'm saying is that professional clubs should be made to invest in their own amateur clubs, and then should have first pick of the players coming through those amateur clubs.

That's a very laudable suggestion and I'm all for closer links with the local amateur clubs. In practice, though, first pick means nothing if a kid is offered more money to go elsewhere.