Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:02 pm  

jonh wrote:

South Wales junior teams are some of the hardest and fearsome opponents you would ever wish to play against. A trip to South Wales was always an intimidating prospect when I played within a Union Clubs Academy. The talent down there is frightening and the mentality is very much suited to rugby league over union.

There will be some real gems bobbing about in South Wales and it is well worth widening the net to another real hotbed of rugby talent (regardless of the code).

I still think you will only attract second rate talent. Assuming our activities in South Wales match the Blues, Scarlets, etc in terms of talent acquisition do you seriously believe a welsh lad would choose to come up here, all things being equal? Even if one did slip through their net and rolled up at Wigan he would be targetted as soon as he showed an inkling of international class if not sooner. Sorry it's all doom & gloom but I see no other scenario. Our best hopes lie in us somehow being able to pay local kids enough to convince them to stay at home.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:13 pm  

nevo78 wrote:

Couldnt agree more.

It was the same for us , wales team always seem to be mentaly and physicaly tough encounters

Putting it simpler from my experience the Welsh are just mental full stop. Angry angry people on a rugby pitch

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:41 pm  

Wandering Warrior wrote:

Putting it simpler from my experience the Welsh are just mental full stop. Angry angry people on a rugby pitch

OI i am Welsh and tbh you know us so well.

Played union for 7 years and off field fairly quiet on it i usally went nuts.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:20 pm  

jinkin jimmy wrote:

I still think you will only attract second rate talent. Assuming our activities in South Wales match the Blues, Scarlets, etc in terms of talent acquisition do you seriously believe a welsh lad would choose to come up here, all things being equal? Even if one did slip through their net and rolled up at Wigan he would be targetted as soon as he showed an inkling of international class if not sooner. Sorry it's all doom & gloom but I see no other scenario. Our best hopes lie in us somehow being able to pay local kids enough to convince them to stay at home.

After just one Super League season in South Wales, Crusaders managed to produce 4 Super League standard players. Wigan is a far bigger club than Scarlets or Blues, domestic RU is nothing.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:57 pm  

headhunter wrote:

After just one Super League season in South Wales, Crusaders managed to produce 4 Super League standard players. Wigan is a far bigger club than Scarlets or Blues, domestic RU is nothing.

Correct on the domestic rubgy been nothing as most regional game in Wales are poorly attended considering most games against other Welsh sides are derbys. Most people have very little knowledge of the domestic game.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:26 pm  

tank123 wrote:

Most people have very little knowledge of the domestic game.

That's because it really is bad. Same with the domestic in England, RU is based entirely around the international game and thats the fundamental basis of its success.

Take myself for example, I have no interest, whatsoever in domestic RU, I can name the teams but with the exception of the England players, I could barely name 5 more.

However I watch every single England RU international, and I do enjoy it.

This is why developing RL international fixtures is huge, not just relying on Aus + NZ, but developing France, Scotland, Wales + Ireland. Home nations tournaments on a competitive international level is something we are sorely lacking.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:51 pm  

inside_man wrote:

However I watch every single England RU international, and I do enjoy it.

You enjoy watching England rugby union? Christ, you must have a semi just watching Wigan warm-up.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:00 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

You enjoy watching England rugby union? Christ, you must have a semi just watching Wigan warm-up.

Let's just say I have to stay seated.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:21 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

You enjoy watching England rugby union? Christ, you must have a semi just watching Wigan warm-up.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

That's going in my signature.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:44 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote: I've seen this posted elsewhere on the site, but it's still relevant to rumours and signings. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oc ... shaun-wane Looks like we could have some RU youngsters on the way. This is a very innovative outlook to recruitment that I don't think I've seen any other chairman propose. Sure teams have signed Union players before, but never really targetted any area such as South Wales and at that age group. I can see the logic behind it. Why just limit ourselves to Wigan or even Cumbria? Let's continue to widen the scope for talent. How successful it will be remains to be seen, but you must try. Although I see Leeds signing Jack Briscoe (I think that was his name) and Zak Hardaker last year, Hull FC signing Jamie Ellis, Warrington signing Chris Hill etc Wigan haven't really made any signings from the championship/poached players from rival academies. I'd like to see us scout Championship matches and look for the best young talent there who could possibly make it. I wouldn't be adverse to poaching players (like Tom Burgess for example - rumours of unrest at the Bulls) from other teams academies and bringing them over to Wigan. After all, just because we have the most successful academy side doesn't mean we're going to produce the best players. In fact results mean relatively little. It's how many players become first teamers and are of international standard.

LovesToSpooge wrote: I've seen this posted elsewhere on the site, but it's still relevant to rumours and signings. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oc ... shaun-wane Looks like we could have some RU youngsters on the way. This is a very innovative outlook to recruitment that I don't think I've seen any other chairman propose. Sure teams have signed Union players before, but never really targetted any area such as South Wales and at that age group. I can see the logic behind it. Why just limit ourselves to Wigan or even Cumbria? Let's continue to widen the scope for talent. How successful it will be remains to be seen, but you must try. Although I see Leeds signing Jack Briscoe (I think that was his name) and Zak Hardaker last year, Hull FC signing Jamie Ellis, Warrington signing Chris Hill etc Wigan haven't really made any signings from the championship/poached players from rival academies. I'd like to see us scout Championship matches and look for the best young talent there who could possibly make it. I wouldn't be adverse to poaching players (like Tom Burgess for example - rumours of unrest at the Bulls) from other teams academies and bringing them over to Wigan. After all, just because we have the most successful academy side doesn't mean we're going to produce the best players. In fact results mean relatively little. It's how many players become first teamers and are of international standard.