@sinbad believe it had something to do with Wigan seeing their backside that Widnes were intending to drag him off to Toulouse as an 18th man when the agreement was he'd play when fit and available..they didn't like it.. recalled him n sent him to barrow..where he played every game that he was available.. something like that ...
It means we don't have a way of keeping any good youth players from our area so, they sign for Warrington (and other teams) instead. Where after, we can then beg for them back for a short-term period to aid their development. At which point they become good so they go back to Warrington.
It's called being a non-entity organisation but it's the reality of where we're at.
If we had an academy where we could actually sign these boys, maybe we'd prosper from them financially as well as developing those who Warrington don't want in the same environment. But, we don't. Because we can't afford that.
Like everything in RL, it's part of the model that keeps the top at the top. The money doesn't trickle down to allow the non-elites to build.
Like everything in RL, it's part of the model that keeps the top at the top. The money doesn't trickle down to allow the non-elites to build.
Unfortunately, we do not have loads of money to get an academy of players. It is okay for Super league teams with a million pounds from TV money which we do not receive. It seems it is the reality and just use the DR in the forwards as Ratboy mentioned. This just keeps the players fresh and if can win games with the extra quality then fine for me. The game and IMG I feel will make clubs go bust, due to teams going for it then failing like Featherstone did. Unless we get more money from businesses, then we have to accept the reality of this IMG crap and our team.
On a practical level, makes sense to get good fringe SL players.
Maybe just me, but on a perhaps slightly irrational emotional level quite resent us being an outlet for Warrington, almost like we have given up a degree of self respect.
But hey, Oldham gave up being serious a long time ago so we don't matter.....
Looking At the Warrington squad , they have 10 props, so we shouldn’t have much trouble in getting one or two of them
@darth-vadar I’m not a fan of the DR system but we need to utilize every possibility to put the best team out on the field every game, I’m hoping for a grafting team next season then adding the quality of 1-2 forwards from a FT environment each week and I would like to see a season long loan of a quality youth 6/7 to push Gilmore & Lyons to perform, don’t get me wrong I’d love to see an established 6 from a super league club also but doubt we are making big enough offers
I have looked at Warrington squad and that Leon Hayes a halfback and supposed to be decent. With Williams, Drinkwater and even Sam Powell can play their. They have quite a few props and 2nd rowers so looks good for us. 👍
If we had an academy where we could actually sign these boys
even when we had a top level academy we still couldn’t sign them because if Warrington wigan or saints came sniffing they went there
our academy got mainly average Widnes lads or drop outs from those 3 aforementioned academies
We’re we DR with wigan the season before we were given a licence?
worked ok for us when we took Logan Tomkins Dom Crosby and Joe mellor for a run of games. but I can’t remember if that was loans or dual ref.
ainscough was a loan I think
Like everything in RL, it's part of the model that keeps the top at the top. The money doesn't trickle down to allow the non-elites to build.
What exactly are the likes of Widnes doing to deserve hand outs from the top though? Part-time club, renting a stadium, not producing its own players. Fine if Widnes were the only one, but there's 20+ clubs looking for handouts from an ever dwindling source of cash.
Ultimately the big clubs generate the revenue through the TV money to show the big Super League games.
Even if the TV money was exactly split between the 20 or whatever clubs who want it, Leeds, St Helens and Wigan would still be the biggest and most successful clubs.
If we had an academy where we could actually sign these boys
even when we had a top level academy we still couldn’t sign them because if Warrington wigan or saints came sniffing they went there
our academy got mainly average Widnes lads or drop outs from those 3 aforementioned academies
That's not necessarily true. And even if they were 'drop outs' there is still a decent percentage of players who came through the academy at Widnes and have played Super League.
Players are always going to look at St Helens and Wigan because they win things - just like local footballers will go for Liverpool over Everton.
It's a dark day for me.My late Dad and other passed away fans will be turning in their graves.A last shred of dignity surrendered.People getting excited because we might get a prop and a half back from Warrington for a few games.Embarrassing.
I agree we really do need an academy but we all assume we cannot afford the £100k it cost on 2019. But is that correct as at the recent members evening it was reported that a statement would be made about an academy in the next few weeks?
Has anyone any further information on this?
Have to say that I am far from impressed with the DR with dire, I don't like DR full stop to be honest, but the opinion seems to be that last time we went with them they wanted to dictate to us (surprise, surprise). I understand we can't carry a big enough squad to be able to avoid the need to bring in players on loan or DR, but when you get a player for a game or two it can be disruptive. Coleman benefitted from DR with Sts at Swinton, but the principle seems to me to be at odds with a lot of what he has said about his style and the way he wants to play, hard working players who play for each other, having a collective team not individuals, players who are proud to wear the jersey etc., will we see that from DR recruits?