Saints Scholarship > Acadamy

[The Meister]

It was interesting to see the recent group of star graduates from Saints Scholarship being promoted into the Academy - well done lads!

Apart from Thomas Humphrys from Newton Storm, the rest of these players came from RL Service Areas outside the St Helens borough.

I’m not criticising our youth recruitment policies in any way - but does this mean we may be missing out on local St Helens born & bred talented youth who are being recruited by other club scholarships or academies? It’s just strange to not see a player coming through from one of the big local amateur clubs like Blackbrook or Thatto Heath.

[Saddened!]

It was interesting to see the recent group of star graduates from Saints Scholarship being promoted into the Academy - well done lads!

Apart from Thomas Humphrys from Newton Storm, the rest of these players came from RL Service Areas outside the St Helens borough.

I’m not criticising our youth recruitment policies in any way - but does this mean we may be missing out on local St Helens born & bred talented youth who are being recruited by other club scholarships or academies? It’s just strange to not see a player coming through from one of the big local amateur clubs like Blackbrook or Thatto Heath.

It just depends what's happening with the teams in that age group. You can get age groups where all the St Helens sides are in the Premier Division and have outstanding teams. You can also have years where they are mostly in the lower divisions and the better players have moved to Prem teams in Wigan or Warrington. Before scholarship age a lot get twitchy and move to what they perceive is the best team. There is usually one or two mega teams by scholarship age that vacuum up all the best talent in that age group. You also get clubs getting a link into a certain junior setup and suddenly all their players will sign for one team, like we did with Rylands a few years ago.

[Reacher]

It was interesting to see the recent group of star graduates from Saints Scholarship being promoted into the Academy - well done lads!

Apart from Thomas Humphrys from Newton Storm, the rest of these players came from RL Service Areas outside the St Helens borough.

I’m not criticising our youth recruitment policies in any way - but does this mean we may be missing out on local St Helens born & bred talented youth who are being recruited by other club scholarships or academies? It’s just strange to not see a player coming through from one of the big local amateur clubs like Blackbrook or Thatto Heath.

I said the same on the official Facebook page. Wigan have signed about 8 from Thatto Heath. I know a couple of years ago we signed about 13 from Rylands but I couldn’t believe there was no one from Blackbrook or another St Helens based club.


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[STIDDY]

Matthew Evans looks like George Delaney and Oliver Stankevitch looks a big unit already.

[Saddened!]

I said the same on the official Facebook page. Wigan have signed about 8 from Thatto Heath. I know a couple of years ago we signed about 13 from Rylands but I couldn’t believe there was no one from Blackbrook or another St Helens based club.


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Makes you wonder what's gone on at Thatto. It shows the importance of getting in quickly to each age group and establishing a relationship. It can often be a coach is a mate of someone at a certain club and that kind of thing, but not good if we were interested in those 8.

[Euroboy]

It was interesting to see the recent group of star graduates from Saints Scholarship being promoted into the Academy - well done lads!

Apart from Thomas Humphrys from Newton Storm, the rest of these players came from RL Service Areas outside the St Helens borough.

I’m not criticising our youth recruitment policies in any way - but does this mean we may be missing out on local St Helens born & bred talented youth who are being recruited by other club scholarships or academies? It’s just strange to not see a player coming through from one of the big local amateur clubs like Blackbrook or Thatto Heath.

Wigan and Warrington signed all the best players from that age group. A lot which were from the St Helens area. We were left with the rest.

[Brian Nazareth]

Wigan and Warrington signed all the best players from that age group. A lot which were from the St Helens area. We were left with the rest.

Was that when Warrington decided to throw money at kids? No doubt when the tactic doesn't reap instant rewards, they'll change tack onto another gimmick.

[Saddened!]

Wigan and Warrington signed all the best players from that age group. A lot which were from the St Helens area. We were left with the rest.

Why is that? Lack of effort? Or are Wigan and Warrington offering them something we're not currently? We used to do well because we trained more often than the other scholarship programs and had the Australia tour setup. I notice Warrington have copied that blueprint for this year with their academy.

[cheify]

Our academy is top of the league with several outstanding prospects

[Reacher]

Our academy is top of the league with several outstanding prospects

Yes this team is but this team is the scholarship team from two years ago.

It’s looking likely that this current crop won’t be anywhere near as good as Wigan and Warrington now seem to be getting first dibs.

I’m hoping that we haven’t taken our eye off the ball in this area as it was something that we (along with Wigan) were one of the best clubs around at recruiting top talent.


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[wilfio]

I've been lucky to be involved with this group and yes Wigan have signed 8, 7 from Thatto first team and 1 from the second team. Saints have signed 4 including the whole front row and a centre/fullback with a further signing for Bradford. There are also about another 10 from both Thatto teams not signed yet playing in the 'prospects' teams at Saints, Wigan and Warrington.

Thatto have the best coaches in the league imho and whilst other teams have been trying to be the best at 11/12/13 Thatto have played the long game and developed the players and not chased results, culminating in winning the BARLA national cup a few months ago against Shevington, the other dominant team at this age group, both face each other again in the Lancashire Cup final on the 24th at Clock Face 3PM, well worth a watch if you get chance.

Thatto beat local rivals Blackbrook away 0-54 last night in an absolutely dominant performance, whilst Thatto second team have worked up from division 5 to division 2 probably ending up in 4th and just missing promotion which is an outstanding achievement in itself.

Just on the scouting side and in all credit to Wigan they have scouts everywhere, even watching the lower league games, and have been watching Thatto since U11, Saints less so with Warrington not seeming to venture out of Warrington.

[Mr.Yat]

I've been lucky to be involved with this group and yes Wigan have signed 8, 7 from Thatto first team and 1 from the second team. Saints have signed 4 including the whole front row and a centre/fullback with a further signing for Bradford. There are also about another 10 from both Thatto teams not signed yet playing in the 'prospects' teams at Saints, Wigan and Warrington.

Thatto have the best coaches in the league imho and whilst other teams have been trying to be the best at 11/12/13 Thatto have played the long game and developed the players and not chased results, culminating in winning the BARLA national cup a few months ago against Shevington, the other dominant team at this age group, both face each other again in the Lancashire Cup final on the 24th at Clock Face 3PM, well worth a watch if you get chance.

Thatto beat local rivals Blackbrook away 0-54 last night in an absolutely dominant performance, whilst Thatto second team have worked up from division 5 to division 2 probably ending up in 4th and just missing promotion which is an outstanding achievement in itself.

Just on the scouting side and in all credit to Wigan they have scouts everywhere, even watching the lower league games, and have been watching Thatto since U11, Saints less so with Warrington not seeming to venture out of Warrington.

I'm also involved at Thatto Club and I support your comments with regards the Coaches at both Swords and Shields..... very talented and experienced coaches, which is were any success starts

[Voll au Vent]

On the scouting front, I know of an ex-Thatto player who was, and may still be, a Wigan scout. He was definitely scouting for Wigan in 2020.

[Rogues Gallery]

On the scouting front, I know of an ex-Thatto player who was, and may still be, a Wigan scout. He was definitely scouting for Wigan in 2020.

One of Wigans scouts is Johnny Jackson whose grandson plays for Thatto, also Ste Dudley whose daughter is Jack Welsbys girlfriend.

[Reacher]

One of Wigans scouts is Johnny Jackson whose grandson plays for Thatto, also Ste Dudley whose daughter is Jack Welsbys girlfriend.

Was introduced to Ste Dudley at the Wigan v Saints U16s game at St Judes last year. I couldn’t understand why a Wigan scout was talking about Welsby so much and loved him. Then I was told about his daughter


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[Noel Cleal]

I think you have to sign the best players available. If the next big star is further afield then you have to get them.

I know you can't write of young talent too early but form and ability now is all the club can really go on.

You have to say the club seem to keep on getting better and better at finding the best young players. Our academy seems to go from strength to strength.

[philthompson]

Saints play Wigan academy grand final next weekend at home

[STIDDY]

Saints play Wigan academy grand final next weekend at home

Tough game for us, last time out we struggled with the wigoon lads in the second half, their scrum half difference between the 2 teams.

[Beaming]

Tough game for us, last time out we struggled with the wigoon lads in the second half, their scrum half difference between the 2 teams.

We lost key players halfway through the match, some of the lads had never lost before and and weren't ready for a dog fight. I'm sure Derek Traynor will have them ready. Some outstanding potential first teamers there today.

https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2023/09/1...y-grand-final/

[Reacher]

Tough game for us, last time out we struggled with the wigoon lads in the second half, their scrum half difference between the 2 teams.

We also beat them well at Robin Park when they couldn’t handle Noah Stephens.


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[Beaming]

We also beat them well at Robin Park when they couldn’t handle Noah Stephens.


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Both Stephens and Sinclair were dominant today, both running hard and controlling the ruck. Roberts looked assured at full back, and Dagnall looked much better on the left edge scoring one and setting up another. Vaughan had an outstanding game scoring three and setting up one (plus two more that were wrongfully disallowed). They definitely missed Will Roberts and George Whitby in the halves and that will be tough for the final against Jack Faramond. However as far as utilising players from St Helens, I'm sure both Stephens and Vaughan will both feature for the first team soon, with Dagnall and Whitby still having a year left at academy level. if I'm not mistaken all came from St Helens teams.

[Reacher]

Both Stephens and Sinclair were dominant today, both running hard and controlling the ruck. Roberts looked assured at full back, and Dagnall looked much better on the left edge scoring one and setting up another. Vaughan had an outstanding game scoring three and setting up one (plus two more that were wrongfully disallowed). They definitely missed Will Roberts and George Whitby in the halves and that will be tough for the final against Jack Faramond. However as far as utilising players from St Helens, I'm sure both Stephens and Vaughan will both feature for the first team soon, with Dagnall and Whitby still having a year left at academy level. if I'm not mistaken all came from St Helens teams.

I’ve heard some amazing reports about Vaughan, that he is going to be an exceptional player


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[Rommel]

The final is on Sunday at 2pm.

Question: If your a season ticket holder do you just turn up and you scan in as normal? Or do you need a ticket?

[STIDDY]

The final is on Sunday at 2pm.

Question: If your a season ticket holder do you just turn up and you scan in as normal? Or do you need a ticket?

No you don’t need to scan or get a ticket, there will be someone on the gate you just show them your season ticket.

[Rommel]

No you don’t need to scan or get a ticket, there will be someone on the gate you just show them your season ticket.

Thanks Stiddy