Fans clearly excited by signing of new union convert.
Fans clearly excited by signing of new union convert.
Wire have seven players in the England development squad, only one less than Leeds, Saints or Wigan.
https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2019/02/...ormance-squad/
Unfortunately for him he had a horrible first 20 minutes against Australia a couple of years ago and didn’t get another chance after that. Owen Farrell then got the 12 shirt and obviously Manu Tuilagi has it at the minute.
Every signing has a risk, perhaps he’s a bigger risk than most in the circumstances but I think he’s got some attributes that are transferable. I suppose the rest depends on how hard he’s willing to work.
Steve Prescott MBE (1973-2013)
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Possible, but given the predilection of the poster (which L.S.F. is criticising) for having a one eyed view of the sport and name calling a certain team in a derogatory fashion on other sites then visiting said team's site to pass comments I think it's probably that poster who is being rather childish.
Good for the game for me. But a very interesting thread about lack of homegrown players at wire.
Learned comment from The Don
Interesting article from Sky re Burrell and the Salary Cap.
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-leag...ves-salary-cap
It’s a bit of a gamble, but doesn’t take up any cap space for his first year.
To be fair, he must want to try his hand at the game, considering the difference between RL wage caps and RU Wage Caps - even at his age he could get a place in a RU team and earn much more than he will get at Warrington - no matter what the dispensation around the value showing on the SC says
Development is difficult to measure
Wigan like Man U in the 90s always sign the best young talent available at 14, it's of no surprise that they then turn a large amount of professional players into the sport
Is it fair to say these clubs are better at developing p,ayers when they sign the best players in the first place?
Ben is from Golborne, he was at Wigan until he was 16 and Wire offered him the best terms so he went there. But he's a Wigan lad through and through really, and although did the last couple of years of academy at Wire, I'd argue he's really Wigan. Bet they're gutted they didn't splash out that bit extra to keep him. Who is to say had he been elsewhere, he may not have suffered the same injuries etc, it's all down to luck really. He's a very genuine lad and a very good player.
I can’t understand people saying that it’s good for rugby league.? How, exactly? Wire are getting a player that’s coming to the end of his union career, would probably have found it difficult to get another decent contract in union, whilst accepted, he played a few games for England RU, hasn’t exactly set the union world alight. Has only played just over 200 games in a 13 year union career, averaging around 16 games a year in a profession where the clubs play an average of 30 to 35 games a season and unlike league have an 8 man subs bench (all of which can be used), so either he gets injured a lot (not a good sign when trying to make the step up to the physicality of League) or he’s been deemed not good enough (and if so, why is he classed a good signing for Wire?). I think that Wire have used this more for publicity than anything else, as over the last 20 years, for every decent convert from union to league, there are 20 from league to union, which in itself paints a pretty vivid picture. It would be akin to a union side making a big song and dance because they’ve signed someone like Jarrod Sammutt.
Fair enough, saints have signed some great young players, as have others, they do work very hard to get the best in though
I think my point was more around the fact that the better players you sign at 14 the more likely you are to create top rugby players, so it's not always a direct measure of your system or coaching
If you considered how much improvement in the players it would be more accurate, an average player becoming very good for example, or a rough diamond being polished etc.