I can see what you are trying to say, but I don't think Hickey is a good example. The club couldn't have easily picked up a better British player, for less, than what we thought/hoped we were getting. That the state he showed up in was both less and also considerably more than we expected is a related, yet different matter.

Good British players are at a premium, particularly those without criminal records or other reputational problems. Weaning ourself off journeymen, second-chancers, those with eating disorders, unknown Samoans, criminals and a whole range of other 'project players' will take a little time, particularly when are still a club for whom for every up-and-comer who does take the chance with us, there is a richer/bigger club waiting to poach.

Leeds and Warrington prove a point with a lower number of "overseas" players.
Strangely enough, our crowds were up last year watching a mediocre side which still included 10 imports.
I think our crowds would be as high with 2/3 marquee players only. Quality counts.
For some reason, an Australian in the NSW cup seems to be able to command a bigger salary and expenses than a UK player, as does a coach.
The expensive salaries will only force the salary cap higher in the end and lack of space in the squad will send the youth to kick and clap.

In an ideal world we'd be running out every week with a teamful of quality homegrown players. Sadly it isn't an ideal world. Its ok using Leeds and Warrington as examples but you are not exactly comparing like for like. Those two clubs are two of the wealthiest and most successful clubs in the division with thriving, well financed, academy structures, whilst ours has been under funded for years. Players actively want to go play for them and the get financially well rewarded for doing so. We are a club that avoided the wooden spoon by the skin of our teeth after very nearly ceasing to exist 7 or 8 months earlier because of financial problems. Hence we are still not exactly a drawcard for potential recruits. And to quote australians can claim bigger salaries than english players is simply not true. Quality english players are at such a premium that they are more often than not the highest earners in their teams. Sadly there just isn't enough quality english players to go around and so teams with limited resources like ourselves have to look at a pool of talent where better standard players don't cost the earth. Sadly that is the austrailian market. Its a phalacy to think that every overseas player that comes over here is well paid. The average SL salary is 60-70K by all accounts, many come over for much less than that yet we are paying a player like Kevin Penny close to that amount.

Don't think for a minute that just because we have a 3 year license we are out of the woods, even if Newmarket goes through. Playing a team of english kids that gets us a couple of wooden spoons in this period will put us under severe threat whether we have a shiny new home or not. We need an instant on-field improvement if we are to build our business so that in time we can compete with other clubs for good english players and just as importantly, hold on to our own club developed ones. But until that time comes we have to get the best value for money as we can. And i'm afraid that means more overseas players than we might like. But its a means to an end. Fans don't want to watch a beaten side every week like last year, if the same happened again then irreparable damage could be done. If you asked around the terraces most fans couldn't really care less where the players come from, they want results. If our young players are good enough then they'll get a game. If not then they have to strive to be so and continue to learn there trade from players who at this time are ahead of them. But in the short term there is going to have be a little patience regarding recruitment and development and then hopefully in 3 or 4 years time we will get where we want to be.

Well said Boyem.
Agree 100%

Yes think some people on here need a reality check. If anyone thought that we were going to put 13 english players and a few oversees players are seriously mistaken. We are in a massive transitional period at moment due to circumstances that we all know about. As mentioned even with 3 year superleague license we are probably still going to be known as a vunerable team until we make some good progress over the next 2 years both on and off the field. Even though putting as many english based players would suit some loyal fans it could prove to be a far greater risk than bringing in some experienced players who may help us reach greater things. There are a quite a few fans who are expecting good things from us and would probably be out the door if the going got tough. RUGBY LEAGUE FANS ARE THE MOST FICKLE FANS IN THE WORLD!!!

I would expect the club could lose Tony, one of Collis or Mellars plus Southern and not be too adversely affected. That would still leave two overseas spots available for the rumoured John and Smith signing's. Not such a problem after all.

Hopefully over the course of the next few years, we will see quality coming out of the academy because that's the only way we'll have a decent side with mostly British players in. There's no quick fix from the position we were in but this 1873 money should push things in the right direction as far as bringing young players through our own system. If in a few years time we are still in the same position then it's the time to start asking questions.
For the upcoming year or two it's about being competitive each game and playing some attractive rugby that will get some bums on seats. Hopefully as each season goes by if everything goes to plan we can become less reliant on foreign players and more on Wakey trained ones.

We'll still start with more homegrown players than the national team.

I also agree with Boyem, most people won't care how many home grown players there are in the team on a weekend but we know from past experience you will always be given a chance at our club so I'm pretty sure all our promising youngsters will get game time it'll just be a question of how much. It was interesting to see our crowds pretty healthy last season despite our struggles on the pitch, with a much better squad able to compete again, I'm sure they'll get even healthier. My dad who lives in Crewe is on about starting up again, he's seen all our glory days of the past so if he's wanting to make an effort from Cheshire and he can't even drive then things really must be getting encouraging.

It's pretty easy to focus on the imports, but in reality Wakefield have probably more home grown talent IN THE LEAGUE than just about any other team, the reality is that decent English players are at such a premium and we lack the funding to keep our best players.

Currently playing we would have a 1-17 that either started at trinity or were given a second chance by the club, I am sure I don't really need to list them ..
Brough, Moore, Atkins, westwood, murphy, Pitts, griffin, Ellis, ferguson, Hudson, fox, not to mention the current squad players and all the ones that are playing in the lower leagues that nearly made it

Those so called second rate Aussies have actually kept our club in sl

Mason, Snitch, Griffin, Griffin, Wildie, Davey, Morton, Walshaw, Wood

Yes they have but the idea now is that clubs shouldn't need to rely on quick fix, short term, second rate overseas players. Hopefully the security of 3 years, the introduction of the 1873 lottery and the stability of the new owner will see us moving away from the need to keep using these players.

Tongia, Winterstein & Leano all come over mid season in the last 2 years- how much do you recon that cost us? Flying half way round the world and relocating costs a fair few quid.

Maybe if we hadn't wasted Christ knows how many thousands of pounds on dross such as Lionel harbin, Alfie Songaro, Albert Talipue, Clinton O'Brian, Dallas Hood, Julian O'Neil, Frank Watene and many many more back in the day then we could have afforded to maybe keep the likes of Mason, Jackson, Hudson Westwood and then we wouldn't need to be drafting in the likes of Tim Smith, Vince Mellors, Sam obst (?) and other 2nd rate imports and journeymen.

Maybe with the money we are paying Mellars and Collis we could have had more of a chance of keeping Murphy.

The club and the coaching staff are fully aware of this need and we will hopefully see progress in this area over the coming years. The current junior players have a challenge to rise to the level required - physically and mentally - for SL - it's theirs if they want it!