Shouldn't we give things a bit of time too. There was an article today in League Express about how the number of youngsters coming through has increased over recent years with Saints, Leeds and Hull being given lots of credit.

More to the point, Saints leading the way (according to the RFL) in terms of locally grown product and as you suggest, very much up at the top end so far as young players go.

I think what will be interesting is how the youngsters who leave saints get on. Jonkers and Stankewich got finished off pretty quick by injury, but the likes of steve hall and tony stewart failed to carve out much of a SL career.



Matty Smith bucked the trend and looks like he'll be around for a few years. I wonder how Chris Dean will go at Wakey? Its pretty likely that we wont hold on to all three of Dixon, Ashurst and McGennis.



Players like this, realesed by the bigger clubs after being surplus to requirements are the ones who'll benift most from the tightening quota. It will give me more than a little pride to see Saints acadamy products running round for other SL teams.

I disagree with that I would say all three are bankers for the next 7/8 years. Dixons defence is a concern and Maggenis' knee giving out again are the only things that can stop that.

Thats a huge call, we dont know what backrowers might come along in that time.

I've never had doubts over Dixon myself. Think he's done very well this season. His official stats are 18 missed tackles out of the 242 made. Personally, I'd give him another season or 2 at the top level before judging. Little things like that could easily be improved with more game time.

I too think Andy Dixon could make a big impact next year. I think sometimes we forget that hes only made his debut relatively recently and will be all the better for his experiences this season. For me, out of the three, he could have the brightest future.

I'm not talking interms of talent, I'm talking about mananging your squad and salary cap when the 3 of them want improved contracts in 1 or 2 years time. Flannery may leave and clough may go to the front row, but I'd hope soliola will still be around and who knows what stars may become available?

Ageed, he's a looker too.

He's got very good feet for a foward, which may start to show more as he gains confidence and weight going forward.

Is dean definately coming to us ( wakey ). A few of you have mentioned him leaving and joining us jusr wondered if its true, cheers

We really need to get Gareth Frodsham dual registered like Emmit was last year. He went down very well at Leigh and it helped him kick on.

Don't know. Saints haven't said anything. But they are picky about which leavers they mention in dispatches. The website has referred to Cunningham, Gidley and Maurie leaving but not to Hargreaves or Emmitt, who are also leaving. It's probably more likely that you'll hear from the Wakey end of things if he has moved over to the dark side of the Pennines.

I think dixon is a great player. I started a thread mid-season asking why he was not playing more. All three players are too good to let go regardless of squad management. If that means Clough moving into the front row and Flannery leaving that is just what will have to happen. If you look at locally trained players they tend to demand much less money than other players. I am sure that the three lads will never ask for silly money.

yep, it could be the making of him that

To be honest playing 6/7 games on the run without getting injured would be a start. We do need to use the duel register system better next year. Frodsham could still have a good future at the club but you feel he has to break into the team soon for that to happen.

We've got 5 good front row options including clough. Emmitt only really came back from Leigh because Fozzard was fizzling out. Gaz could go and have a reet crack at Leigh for perhaps the whole season and then come back in 2011 for when many people predict Graham will be leaving.

If he is as good as he's been hyped to be, then a run in the championship would be great for him. If he's going to make it at a top superleague club, he should be one of the best props in the championship by 20, so it'll give him an opportunity to prove himself

The only reason a lot gets made of the likes of us and Saints releasing younger players is because we release more due to us having more complete the scholorship scheme as such and making it to the fringes of the first team.



As regards to the players we have let go, a few years back I would have said Shaun Briscoe but I think with Sam/Mossy/Richards who can play FB were pretty safe there.



For the likes of Robinson, Briscoe, Wild, Aspinwall who we have let go, we have the likes of Sam, Joel, Lockers, Faz, Goudling and so on who are still playing first team for Wigan from the academy - same for Saints with the likes of Eastmond, Foster, Wellens, Roby etc.