Re: New Signing: Gabriel Hamlin (Official) : Wed Oct 11, 2017 1:33 pm  

moto748 wrote:

I think it's fair to say, though, that the opponents Hamlin was playing against are of a higher standard than those Wells and Field have been facing in England.

And a higher age group.

[DaveO]

Re: New Signing: Gabriel Hamlin (Official) : Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:38 pm  

In his speech at the end of season dinner IL told us all we have the best academy set up of the lot in any sport. So what do we do? Go and sign a 20 year old who hasn't played any first grade footy when what we need is experience and size in the front row.

I don't care how good he looks in videos against other academy opponents even if they are supposedly of a higher standard (those mentioning that are clutching at straws IMO....) he is going to take up salary cap money that needs to be spent elsewhere. There is no more guarantee he is going to make it than any other academy player. If he comes over here and at 20 walks into the first team ahead of our own academy products what does that say about the best academy in any sport? I would have thought by now the penny would have dropped that the players we bring in should complement those we produce by bringing experience, not replace them and also need their hands holding.

Re: New Signing: Gabriel Hamlin (Official) : Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:42 pm  

DaveO.
How much academy rugby do you actually watch?

[DaveO]

Re: New Signing: Gabriel Hamlin (Official) : Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:54 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

DaveO.
How much academy rugby do you actually watch?

I watch the stuff they put on Wigan TV though what how much academy RL I watch has got to do with the points I made I have no idea, though I have a feeling you are about to enlighten me

Re: New Signing: Gabriel Hamlin (Official) : Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:14 pm  

Why people get so upset over a roll of the dice signing like this is beyond me. He's a kid who'll be coming over on a low salary, desperate to make a name for himself. We have very little to lose on it whichever way it all pans out.

To sign anyone else the club need to lose people from the wage bill. I'm guessing that's what they're trying to do. If and when they do that and we then go out and sign young project replacements, I may have a grumble but as things stand all this signing can do is add some depth.

Here's hoping Maguire opened our eyes to a young kid desperate for a chance at Souths with a contract coming to an end, who he knows is a top prospect.

Re: New Signing: Gabriel Hamlin (Official) : Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:16 pm  

DaveO wrote:

I watch the stuff they put on Wigan TV though what how much academy RL I watch has got to do with the points I made I have no idea, though I have a feeling you are about to enlighten me

So from your knowledge which of the academy players at present in his position at Wigan do YOU think would be kept out by Hamlin?
I'll help you.
Those positions are covered by Joe Shorrocks (year 1) Sammy Kibula, Caine Barnes and Ollie Partington (year2) so Hamlin is two or three years further down the track.
Those players won't be ready next year, Jack Wells will.

The academy cannot produce five or six players every year for the first team, it's never happened anywhere.

I don't know how good Hamlin is, but to have a go at Wigans academy because a player MAY get in ahead of him is stupidity beyond belief.

Is it a chance worth taking, time will tell.

[DaveO]

Re: New Signing: Gabriel Hamlin (Official) : Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:41 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

So from your knowledge which of the academy players at present in his position at Wigan do YOU think would be kept out by Hamlin?
I'll help you.
Those positions are covered by Joe Shorrocks (year 1) Sammy Kibula, Caine Barnes and Ollie Partington (year2) so Hamlin is two or three years further down the track.
Those players won't be ready next year, Jack Wells will.

The academy cannot produce five or six players every year for the first team, it's never happened anywhere.

I don't know how good Hamlin is, but to have a go at Wigans academy because a player MAY get in ahead of him is stupidity beyond belief.

Is it a chance worth taking, time will tell.

How on earth are you saying I am having a go at Wigan's academy? All I mean is if he walks into the side in front of home grown talent then it makes a bit of a mockery of us claiming to have sports best academy. To answer your question the player most likely to kept out is Sammy Kibula IMO but thanks for making my point for me when you said our academy cannot produce five or six players for the first team every year (though I have no idea who suggested they should produce that many, do you?).

I know it can't produce five or six players. I often quote John Monie's view myself which is you are lucky if you get three out of your academy first team making the grade as justification for signing players from outside the club but not academy players from outside the club, experienced players. And this is the point. Hamlin is an academy player. He is not an established player. He's never played 1st grade and all you know of him is a few clips off You-tube. He is no more or less likely to make it than Kibula or any of the others. He doesn't address any of the issues the team faces. When it is accepted that you get few academy players making the grade it makes no sense to me for the club to go and sign another academy player from outside the club in my opinion.

Re: New Signing: Gabriel Hamlin (Official) : Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:51 pm  

Sensing a game of gobshite tennis is about to start ...

(no offence)

Re: New Signing: Gabriel Hamlin (Official) : Wed Oct 11, 2017 5:13 pm  

We have the best academy except when it comes down to developing props.

Why do we think we can turn this guy into a quality player but we couldn’t with Bretherton?

Re: New Signing: Gabriel Hamlin (Official) : Wed Oct 11, 2017 5:14 pm  

Our academy can just about hold their own against league one mid table teams. When compared to the Skolars at the start of the season we look good ball in hand but suffered badly for size. This lad is playing at a higher level than that. He probably is not going to impede the likes of Kibula who will need another five years to reach his peak, and will need some time out on loan to toughen up. Young Shorrocks (not the brother of the other one) Partington, Barnes and a couple of others have talent but are nowhere near ready yet. I would imagine that this lad is probably closest to Wells in terms of development and should be ready for consideration.