Brutal Stuff in The Guardian : Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:37 am  

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 ... per-league Has Noble done something to his missus?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 ... per-league Has Noble done something to his missus?

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:34 am  

Does Andy Wilson know who won the reserves championship and who were runners up in the academy Grand Final last year?

We have probably the best local talent in the country, we just fail to utilise it.

However, this article has cleary been written to s**t stir opposed to give correct and accurate facts.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:41 am  

But, truth be known, he's not far wrong with the article, is he?

If we'd lost that many first choice players, we'd be up a well known creek, paddle-less, without a doubt

A few years ago, we had a big crop of "kids" coming through and making waves, most of whom are still playing in SL somewhere as first choice team players. Sam T is 20 now, which I don't think is young for a pro rugby league player these days, and has certianly earned a right through the reserves to at least a place on the bench. Give the guy a try - what have we got to lose after the last performance? May give everyone else a shake, too if they know their "Untouchable" status, isn't

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:49 am  

Hes just trying to get publicity for the blogsite

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:54 am  

Its a poorly writen piece to be fair, from someone who clearly could not be bothered to do there research fully or is deliberatly only telling half a story, but on the plus side it does raise a point that young players are not being given a go, and do not look likely to.

Regardless of the Tomkins debate there have been times under Nobles coaching a young player could have come in and been given exposure to SL and the coach has resisted shuffling his team to accomodate a more experienced player out of position.

I think it is good to rely on experience but it has to be mixed with youthfull enthusiasm and at the moment its a mix we do not have correct.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:03 am  

Look at this bit For example:

much more exciting must it be for a Saints fan to look forward to watching the development of these young players, whereas across at the JJB Stadium they can only wonder about the years of neglect of the development of local talent that has forced the current coach Brian Noble to build a team around the likes of Phil Bailey, Mark Riddell, Tim Smith and Cameron Phelps.

If we had 'neglected the development of local talent' then we wouldn't have had an academy that reached the Grand Final and a reserve side that WON the Grand Final.

We DO have the talent, the above is evidence...We just choose not to use it at present.

It's a poor and inaccurate article by this Andy Wilson fella. Had his topic been in regards to Wigan's refusal to use the local talent that we CLEARLY have then it might have actually been worth taking note of.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:06 am  

It is a very one-sided article. However it's based on the undeniable fact that last week 9 of our 13 were overseas players so it's difficult to argue that our hot-bed of local talent is coming through to the first team.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:14 am  

I don't know if it makes it better or worse, that we obviously do have talent available, just choose not to use it. There's a host of talent out in SL already in their teens, yet we have players older than that, deciding not to utilise them.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:22 am  

Jaybee wrote:

I don't know if it makes it better or worse, that we obviously do have talent available, just choose not to use it. There's a host of talent out in SL already in their teens, yet we have players older than that, deciding not to utilise them.

Next year MUST see an end to this culture given the players we have coming off contract, assuming there form and development continues 2010 has to see the likes of Tomkins, Aisncough,Mossop, Pryce and Goulding at the very least being first team members replacing the likes of Smith, Bailey, Phelps and Mathers.

It is frustrating that year on year we have to look to the following season to sort out all the issues with the club and year on year we never do.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:58 am  

whereas across at the JJB Stadium they can only wonder about the years of neglect of the development of local talent that has forced the current coach Brian Noble to build a team around the likes of Phil Bailey, Mark Riddell, Tim Smith and Cameron Phelps.

isn't he just paraphrasing about 10 threads from here ?