Re: The man most likely to ..... : Tue Jan 17, 2017 4:13 pm  

ninearches wrote:

I think the town could do with another Walter Norris, But even in his day many of our Wire players were brought in from other clubs.

If ever anyone deserved an honour it was Walter Knocker Norris. Besides being a good teacher and a great bloke he worked tirelessly for schoolboy rugby league for his school Beamont, the town and Lancashire.

Re: The man most likely to ..... : Tue Jan 17, 2017 4:22 pm  

There'll never be another like Knocker.

Re: The man most likely to ..... : Wed Jan 25, 2017 6:31 pm  

Barbed Wire wrote:

I don't subscribe to the theory that bought in players are treated better than local players. I do believe that there are a number of factors why some fall by the wayside, and they are not all directly to do with how skilful a player is or may well become.

Players are products, they are an investment. And if they are going to produce a return for that investment, they will be signed. If there are factors that may harm that investment, then they shouldn't have the risk taken on them because they are local. The "better the devil you know" mentality is gone, we're in a position to compete for the best, so I think we should.

Junior agegroups go close to predicting who will be in the frame for pro-contracts, but a lot can change between them. Injuries, growth patterns, behavioural patterns, dietary patterns and sometimes players may just become complacent. It's just not an accurate scale to go against, otherwise Pickersgill, Durbin and Bracek would be retiring legends now.

The one thing I can say is that the players they are signing from other clubs are definitely getting paid more. And they have agents (or in most cases the same agent).

And the players I mentioned earlier have actually quit the club not been released.

If anyone local is thinking of signing for the club don't fall for the 'do it for local pride' line, get yourself an agent. Or sign for another club then come back to Warrington and you might find you are then valued more as a commodity. Harsh reality for what is a tough and short career.

PS I am aware that of late Wigan have been signing a fair few players from outside Wigan. Sort of unheard of historically and not sure why.

Re: The man most likely to ..... : Thu Jan 26, 2017 9:57 pm  

mark_m wrote:

But again, why? I showed an article which had six local players from a dominant local amateur side with five international standard players from two years ago. None of which have been offered full time terms whilst players have been brought in from other clubs above them and typically on far better terms.

I can guarantee that some of them should have progressed as the ability was/is there.

The whole idea of working in the community is to provide a pathway for local players.

Have any of these six players been snapped up by any other clubs, in particular, the five international standard players?

Re: The man most likely to ..... : Fri Jan 27, 2017 11:52 am  

TrevorGrice wrote:

mark_m wrote:

But again, why? I showed an article which had six local players from a dominant local amateur side with five international standard players from two years ago. None of which have been offered full time terms whilst players have been brought in from other clubs above them and typically on far better terms.

I can guarantee that some of them should have progressed as the ability was/is there.

The whole idea of working in the community is to provide a pathway for local players.

Have any of these six players been snapped up by any other clubs, in particular, the five international standard players?

It is three and to my knowledge they have quit the game completely and not even bothered looking elsewhere.

It has nothing to do with their ability whatsoever.

The point I am making is about the engagement and valuing of local players against players being bought in. It is apparent not just in the local players but throughout all squads and over a long period. We still retain that small club mentality when it comes to recruitment (look at the contractual fiasco and money spent on Sandow who royally mugged the club all whilst on a £265k salary).

Re: The man most likely to ..... : Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:02 pm  

Dec Patton has he improved? Quite a few have left since this thread was started.

Re: The man most likely to ..... : Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:51 pm  

Builth Wells Wire wrote:

Dec Patton has he improved? Quite a few have left since this thread was started.

Not for me.