All 3 of these sides have plenty of young players in their first team squads and need to be supplemented by experienced players from overseas
( Some who were also under contract too) in order to make them competitive or even successful at present

IMO the most interesting thing is which of these clubs can produce the largest number of the best junior talent in the country and who will also be good enough make it into the first team at these clubs that will ultimately decide who will be most successful over the next decade


How confident are you with your current crop of young players at Wigan Rogues ?
Who should we look out for ?


I am very confident that the Rhinos currently have the most talented pool of home grown players within the club which will ultimately be the nucleus of our starting squad for the next decade or so

I'm not sure about Saints and Wigan but I think we have filled our overseas quota pretty much every season, even during the golden generation. Some have come in mid season such as Lauititi, but it is usually full. I don't think that it is a reflection on our youth development.

I would say from the ones you may not have seen Matty Nicholson, Alex Sutton and Brad O'Neill.
At the younger end, Logan Astley, Zach Eckersley, Harvie Hill, Junior Nsemba and Toby Brannan.

In truth it's so hard to judge because of the pandemic over the last two years as I've only seen the odd games live and had to watch on Wigan tv or highlights from other clubs sites.

Matty Nicholson is a very good player, him and pierce paul could be an excellent 2nd row pair in a couple of year

In the last game of the academy season Nicholson played at #13 and was m.o.m. by some distance. He appears to also have developed his ball handling skills, something I hadn't noticed before. I assume he must have been working with Sean O'loughlin on that facet of his game.

We're actually well positioned for young back row forwards coming through if you add in the likes of Shorrocks, Smithies, Pierce-Paul and McDonnell but you never know how that next step will go and it will be almost impossible in reality to keep them all.

Yes Smithies is very good but a bit too grubby sometimes. I like Pierce-Paul, he looks a real prospect.

I'm hoping our Sam Walters will kick on next year, physically he could make himself unplayable, we just need to see that development and mentality shine through.

Think he had a rough year for personal reasons in 2021, let's hope he can get a really good pre-season behind him and push on now. Gannon has barged him this season.

My only worry about Sam Walters is if he can be mean enough, single minded enough, tough enough, to fullfil his physical potential.

I think Gannon is deservedly well in front of Walters now. Hope he can kick on next season.

Hopefully playing every week next season in the reserves Walters will kick on and fulfill his huge potential.

Will dual reg be back next year? That would suit Walters better than reserve grade.

He had issues during pre season last year but slipped backwards. Physicality is slways going to be Sam's issue. Hes got the talent but has to start showing it.