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I would agree re Colbon not grasping his opportunities Geoff although at 24 I would not class him as a youngster. The worst aspect of Colbon has been that neither Stanton nor Ainscough were given any opportunities due to him playing on the wing and then Mossop was held back by his presence as a reserve second rower. Many of these appearances came after it was made public Colbon will be released.

Crazeee

Dean Bell put together a great youth set up at Leeds, many of them are playing in their first team now, brought up together, gelled as a team together, Leeds now play as a team wanting to play for each other, with many home grown players.
Wigan drafted Dean Bell in from Leeds to build a similar set up here, In my opinion he did just that and when that great match against St Helens when all the youngsters played and won, we thought "What a future, and a few stress free years watching them entertain us", what went wrong?
The youngsters were not signed up the following season, players like Vialicki were taken on board for mega bucks.
Most of the youngsters playing in that team are now in the Great Britain fringe squad, playing for other Super League clubs.
Dean Bell left, what is the point of building a decent youth set up?
Hopefully the young 'uns will stay with the new heirachy and want to play here, but, with the team not being able to string together two decent performances together all season, the coach has to take the blame for not putting moves into players heads, and, not experimenting enough with youth.
I am a proud Wiganer, I pay my money to be entertained, I was promised at the beginning of this season things would improve, someone told lies, we have gone backwards, next seasons ticket is up for debate, I am jealous of the top two in the league and it is hurting.

mickh wrote:Dean Bell put together a great youth set up at Leeds, many of them are playing in their first team now, brought up together, gelled as a team together, Leeds now play as a team wanting to play for each other, with many home grown players.
Wigan drafted Dean Bell in from Leeds to build a similar set up here, In my opinion he did just that and when that great match against St Helens when all the youngsters played and won, we thought "What a future, and a few stress free years watching them entertain us", what went wrong?
The youngsters were not signed up the following season, players like Vialicki were taken on board for mega bucks.
Most of the youngsters playing in that team are now in the Great Britain fringe squad, playing for other Super League clubs.
Dean Bell left, what is the point of building a decent youth set up?
Hopefully the young 'uns will stay with the new heirachy and want to play here, but, with the team not being able to string together two decent performances together all season, the coach has to take the blame for not putting moves into players heads, and, not experimenting enough with youth.
I am a proud Wiganer, I pay my money to be entertained, I was promised at the beginning of this season things would improve, someone told lies, we have gone backwards, next seasons ticket is up for debate, I am jealous of the top two in the league and it is hurting.

Wow!! What a bloody good post!

The reason Dean Bell left was BRIAN NOBLE

Some good youngsters may well leave at the end of this season

cpwigan wrote:The reason Dean Bell left was BRIAN NOBLE

Some good youngsters may well leave at the end of this season

And come back to haunt us in two or three years. As per the recent Huddersfield shaming!

Your rumour may well be correct. Some of the contracts being offered are ridiculously low too. Young lads want to play for their home town but if they cannot see opportunities they are not going to hang around being paid buttons.

cpwigan wrote:Your rumour may well be correct. Some of the contracts being offered are ridiculously low too. Young lads want to play for their home town but if they cannot see opportunities they are not going to hang around being paid buttons.

And Wigan cannot become another "Auction House" for as yet unproven players.

butt monkey wrote:

cpwigan wrote:Your rumour may well be correct. Some of the contracts being offered are ridiculously low too. Young lads want to play for their home town but if they cannot see opportunities they are not going to hang around being paid buttons.

And Wigan cannot become another "Auction House" for as yet unproven players.

But it will. . .

cherry.pie wrote:

cpwigan wrote:Your rumour may well be correct. Some of the contracts being offered are ridiculously low too. Young lads want to play for their home town but if they cannot see opportunities they are not going to hang around being paid buttons.

Well this player is apparently being paid something like £160 per week. Now I know nothing about wages because I'm a lazy student who doesn't work, but that doesn't sound like a fair amount of money for what some of these lads are doing. Not sure what it's like at other clubs, that figure just seemed quite low to me.

Liam Colbon was on a £7000 contract (£135 a week) whilst he was studying at college. Not sure if it was to do with grants/Wigan paying tuitions fees or any other reason. This may be a similar situation. :doz: