Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:56 am  

NSW wrote:

Wonder which academy players will join the first team squad next year ?

Junior and Hill will replace Cooper and Isa but who will replace them?

Kian McDermott, Lukas Mason and Taylor Kerr all seem to England academy regulars. A proper, a backrower and a loose forward.

Wonder if they are seen as big prospects?

I remember Nathan Lowe a winger/centre joined the first team in preseaon whilst Marshall was away.

Not seen much of McDermott but in the bits I've seen of the other two, I've always been hugely impressed with Kerr. He looks a real talent, with good hands and will be a good size once he fills out. I've never seen much in Mason to think he'll go on and become a top player but he might've just had quiet games in the ones I've seen. The other who always impressed me is Tom Ratchford, a young hooker. He will have a lot of players to get past at Wigan in the next few years mind.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Jul 08, 2024 4:41 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Not seen much of McDermott but in the bits I've seen of the other two, I've always been hugely impressed with Kerr. He looks a real talent, with good hands and will be a good size once he fills out. I've never seen much in Mason to think he'll go on and become a top player but he might've just had quiet games in the ones I've seen. The other who always impressed me is Tom Ratchford, a young hooker. He will have a lot of players to get past at Wigan in the next few years mind.

Ratchford was the best Wigan player by far in the Academy play off semi last season and always impresses me, what’s his contract situation at the club?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Jul 08, 2024 9:12 pm  

Ratchford is likely to play on Friday.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jul 09, 2024 12:11 am  

Zig wrote:

Ratchford is likely to play on Friday.

Rightfully so as well. This is why we have reserve/junior sides. We need a hooker so play 1

Shifting players and playing a non hooker there would weaken us much more IMO

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jul 09, 2024 12:16 am  

Zig wrote:

Ratchford is likely to play on Friday.

Rightfully so as well. This is why we have reserve/junior sides. We need a hooker so play 1

Shifting players and playing a non hooker there would weaken us much more IMO

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jul 09, 2024 7:45 am  

bazdev wrote:

Rightfully so as well. This is why we have reserve/junior sides. We need a hooker so play 1

Shifting players and playing a non hooker there would weaken us much more IMO

My worry was how ready he would be for the step up, especially stepping up into a game like a derby game vs. Saints in front for a 20k+ crowd.

But if Peet believes that he is ready then i trust his judgement 100%, i think he has probably earned that

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jul 09, 2024 8:30 am  

He's been hugely impressive whenever I've watched him Ratchford. I'd probably just hold him back slightly and use him from the bench, with maybe Faz going in at 9 for the early part of the game but I've no doubt Ratchford can make an impact when he comes on. I just hope he backs himself and plays his natural game because if he can get out of dummy half and take the line on, he'll cause them plenty of problems.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jul 10, 2024 2:11 pm  

Ratchford not in the squad which is a blow for him personally, also seen a rumour Forber is signing for Salford from next season.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jul 10, 2024 2:53 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

Ratchford not in the squad which is a blow for him personally, also seen a rumour Forber is signing for Salford from next season.

Saw that with Forber. It's a shame to lose him but it's obviously been coming and I think Salford get a potentially good superleague player there. I think it's time Wigan starting asking them for something towards the running costs of our academy.

As for Ratchford, if he's available, I guess they think he's not quite ready physically. He's certainly not the biggest. I'm not sure if he's still eligible for the academy games but I did notice he wasn't involved in our game at the weekend, so maybe he's injured (if it's not just a case of being too old).

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jul 10, 2024 6:00 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

Ratchford not in the squad which is a blow for him personally, also seen a rumour Forber is signing for Salford from next season.

Not a reliable source the lad of twitter.

It would make sense though