They have plans for every position in the academy and we've seen this over the years. But as we all know the step up from academy to first team is steep and not many make it. This is why we need a quality reserves competition that all clubs should be part of.
St Helens Rugby League Football Club
We have run on two wingers for a couple of seasons that too few for me.
I get you can't have three or more top salaried wingers in the squad.
I think wing as a position needs to be looked at in the reserves/academy as nobody seems to come through in that position.
In fact none of Spedding, Costello, Bailey were/are wingers. That's the point.
There doesn't seem to be a position that's valued and is usually filled with bits and pieces players just filling in.
Very different from other positions that consistently deliver first team ready and first team quality players.
Fair point and you're probably correct, there doesn't seem to be that many alternatives available for 2023.
I'm not sure about stats but I would think Grace would be near the top for scoring long range tries over the last few years (I think he scored 2 in one game against Leeds during lockdown).
I like a genuinely fast player, it adds a different dynamic and ensures opposing teams can't have a broken kick chase or a broken line because of the threat. I want us to be able to score from anywhere on the field.
I would quite like another winger who can come in and do some work when need be to speed things up. Wish him good luck, but Grace probably doesn’t need a shower some matches.
What I find odd is that the BBC article says that French RU clubs have no salary cap. How does that work when they’re playing in competitions with clubs that do?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/62049019
I hope Grace wants to go out with a bang, starting with Wigan.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
Just been reading the BBC sport article on Grace going over to Union. I get the impression the Welsh Coach May have influenced Grace’s decision by bending the rules a bit so that he can qualify as a Welsh international without the residency rule.
Wonder if that was the carrot needed for Grace to change codes.
I don’t see Grace having the physicality to cope with Union. Expect him to come back after the World Cup year. He won’t be a huge miss IMO, good player with moments of brilliance but definitely replaceable if we get the recruitment right.
He hasn't bent the rules, it's always been the case that if the player is uncapped and his "first" contract is abroad, he stills qualifies, but only whilst that initial contract is in place. Once Regan either renews his contract with Racing or moves to a different club, he has to move to Wales to continue his international career
He may have influenced the decision but no rules have been bent. As an uncapped player, during Grace’s first contract in union he is eligible for Wales selection whether he plays in Wales, France, Japan or anywhere. If he is then capped he would need to sign for a Welsh club for his next contract to continue to be eligible.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
Or stay on the same terms with the club he's at. Apparantly one loophole of the rule is that if you remain on the same contract you are still eligible. So if Regan extends his current Racing contract on the same pay and same length (1 year with an option for a second) he would remain eligible.