they are free too? thats good of them, the college league was running anyway, they hve been forced there as the RFL rejected their application (again), you also have to attend the college to play so its not really the same is it? Leigh didnt have an academy to show where the money was going.....how could they? so yeah it makes the RFL useless, you say teams are dependant on a few academies? They have no choice, Look at Leigh Miners this year....10 of their 13 are on pro teams book and not one at Leigh because they cannot, Wigan, Wire and Saints have benefitted from it.

If you got rejected from a job because you don’t evidence having the necessary skills and experience to do the job that makes the hiring company useless? The backwards logic here is staggering.

Yes, run a development academy, in conjunction with a college, evidence your commitment to development pathways and investment into youth, apply for an elite licence. Or throw your toys out the pram for not getting funding for something you weren’t doing anyway. How do you think the Newcastle Academy started?

so you have to attend Leigh college? Instead of going to Winstanley or St John Rigby....or even going for a trade, your analogy makes no sense, its like applying for a job?? How did Leigh not have the relevant requirements? They did eh...

The Saints academy is partnered with St Helen’s College. Yes, one of the requirements of an academy is to still provide training and skills opportunities outside of the sport. This extends well past the academy and into the first team too. Liam Farrell just graduated from UCLAN for example. Most juniors split their time between college (or apprenticeship) and the club, with the club providing additional support and pastoral care. If you only judge an academy on the success of those who go on to be successful in the sport, it’s not a very good barometer. Sadly a successful career in SL isn’t enough to support someone for their whole life, and continued education alongside the sport is absolutely necessary.

Leigh didn’t have the relevant qualifications by not having clear plans and structures for how they support all of their juniors into careers. Instead of strengthening these pastoral areas, they took the cut in funding and an excuse to not bother at all, which shows how invested they were in the success of it in the first place.

Why it’s such a surprise that some academies are better than others I don’t know.

If the lads are going for a trade they enrol at the college. Plenty of current SL players were developed through that system.

It was set up by the RFL to get late developers. All of the smaller clubs have issues recruiting if the bigger clubs come in for them. Clubs like Wakefield etc get the scraps but still run a very successful and highly regarded junior program, they also align with the local college to provide a pathway away from the traditional pathway.

It takes some effort and vision, looks like that is a bit too much for some clubs to comprehend or attempt.

By 'eck, Superbeetle, tha don't 'alf love threshin' straw mons!

Huddersfield have Cudjoe too, and they’re running with 3 senior centres this year, certainly think Wardles days are over at Huddersfield but I think it’s looking more likely he would go to Warrington over us. We have/had the cap space as we’d signed Cooper and it would have made more sense to swap with Bibby if he was going their next season. I don’t think Warrington having King and Matuatia makes Wardle a none starter for them, teams run with 3 senior centres and Matautia can cover full back and Wardle wing if needed and we know Warringtons accountant will find room under the cap.
Imo the best centre of them all is Leutele but it’s finding a quota spot, if French is to leave I think he would be a great use of his quota spot, the only worry is his age with him being 32 as we would be looking to replace in a couple of years and Wardle would hopefully lock a starting centre spot for years without taking a quota spot.

Wire have Connor Wrench as well, so I think they’d need to shift King to get Wardle personally but you never can tell with Wire.

I’d do them a favour and take Wrench if they need another off the books. Incredible that Powell isn’t playing the kid. He looks a superb player.

Quote ="Magic Superbeetle"The Saints academy is partnered with St Helen’s College. Yes, one of the requirements of an academy is to still provide training and skills opportunities outside of the sport. This extends well past the academy and into the first team too. Liam Farrell just graduated from UCLAN for example. Most juniors split their time between college (or apprenticeship) and the club, with the club providing additional support and pastoral care. If you only judge an academy on the success of those who go on to be successful in the sport, it’s not a very good barometer. Sadly a successful career in SL isn’t enough to support someone for their whole life, and continued education alongside the sport is absolutely necessary. Leigh didn’t have the relevant qualifications by not having clear plans and structures for how they support all of their juniors into careers. Instead of strengthening these pastoral areas, they took the cut in funding and an excuse to not bother at all, which shows how invested they were in the success of it in the first place. Why it’s such a surprise that some academies are better than others I don’t know.'" One of the reasons why Wigan run their own education academy? https://wiganwarriors.com/community-education/education. I think John Winder is the leader of that initiative.

Quote ="Magic Superbeetle"The Saints academy is partnered with St Helen’s College. Yes, one of the requirements of an academy is to still provide training and skills opportunities outside of the sport. This extends well past the academy and into the first team too. Liam Farrell just graduated from UCLAN for example. Most juniors split their time between college (or apprenticeship) and the club, with the club providing additional support and pastoral care. If you only judge an academy on the success of those who go on to be successful in the sport, it’s not a very good barometer. Sadly a successful career in SL isn’t enough to support someone for their whole life, and continued education alongside the sport is absolutely necessary. Leigh didn’t have the relevant qualifications by not having clear plans and structures for how they support all of their juniors into careers. Instead of strengthening these pastoral areas, they took the cut in funding and an excuse to not bother at all, which shows how invested they were in the success of it in the first place. Why it’s such a surprise that some academies are better than others I don’t know.'" One of the reasons why Wigan run their own education academy? https://wiganwarriors.com/community-education/education. I think John Winder is the leader of that initiative.

I still think Wardle will end up at Wigan.

King will go to Giants, if the right deal can be struck. He’s on a massive deal at Wire and some financial compromise between the clubs and him would have to be reached in regards his wage. King is a Huddersfield lad and big Giants “fan”.

King , Bibby and Cudjo will be fighting it out for 2 centre spots.

King wanted to go to the Giants in this most recent deal, Wardle just wanted out so short term Wire was a good destination and a deal could be done.

Longer term, is beyond this season, I think a deal with Wigan has been done.

No inside info at all just a feeling and a few murmurs from different people.

Giants have signed naquama so chances are we keep Bibby. Wardle signs for wire with King still Yh ere and Wrench as back up

unless you are Wigan, when you run with 1 recognised centre who is injury prone



on a serious note though, this is one area that we need to be considering for next year. Halsall, either needs to be playing 1st team or if not considered good enough be moved on, but i think the general consensus is he should be playing at the minute. I dont watch academy, so have no idea if we have anyone else good enough coming through. We cant go into next season with only Thornley as a recognised centre (Zak wasnt imo either) as its proving again to be a problem area for us. We have rightly strengthened in the front row, but cant keep paying lip service to a specialist position like centre and need at least 2 recognised starting centres with Halsall as back up, if they dont think he is ready just yet for a first team shirt

Kevin Proctor been released for vaping at half time, let's get him signed up and release Isa

Proctor is a good player but probably haven't got a quota place or cap space with signing Cooper.

Jesus wept

Wardle scored two nice trys over the weekend fast to.

He’s looked absolute quality since his move to Wire. You can just tell he’s class in the way he moves. He’s an athlete but one that has natural rugby League skills. I really hope we’re a chance of getting him in. I think we’d be signing a centre who would potentially be our best in a good few years.

Also shot out of the line for KR's second try so will fit into our systems nicely!



In all seriousness i hope the rumours are correct and wardle is heading our way next season, there is alot to like about the lad.

Why is that then

Jacob Smillie scored a try in reserves over the weekend, Is he going to be our new flying Winger

Wonder how they'd have got on with Ged Byrne ... having a drag from the cig of some fan who leaned over the pitch-side wall at Central Park during a quick break in play.

Didn’t catch the full interview then but did French say he has been close to signing a new deal and then he’d have a big game? Is that basically saying he’s held off on his deal in the hope his form has caught the eye of NRL clubs? Fair play for his honesty I guess but still leaving us hanging and I guess a marquee (or close to it) wage still not nailed down for next year.

Yes thats what I read into it but doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know. If an NRL deal comes in he's not staying at Wigan - if that wasn't the case he wouldn't have held off for so long. I guess the only caveat to that would be if an NRL offer is hugely inferior from a financial standpoint.

But yes a little surprising how honest he was.