what score did it end up, and before you say i should be there just got back from london.







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In under 20s we were mullered by the Pies.

Quite a few of wigan's players who are out on loan played for their under 20's tonight. Wigan wouldn't let them play for their loan clubs so that they would not be cuptied. Veivers, Marsh and co. played tonight.

As you have pointed out previously, the U20s and 18s are a joke, beating Salford and Leeds by big scores does little to enhance the development of either team.



In Oz there is the Queensland Cup competition, which is far and away more competative and prepares players for the senior grade in a more demanding environment.



Until the RL stop allowing Clubs like Wigan and Saints to loan players out, the situation will not be resolved, what incentive is there to clubs to develope their own talent when they can sign fringe players from other clubs, (I think I read that Wigan have 6/7 players on loan), yes, it does help the individuals to become better players in a more challenging environment by going on loan, but that is just bypassing the real problem which is a very uncompetative and lopsided U20 and 18s system.

I've just seen the teams

Only two of the loaned players, Vievers and Marsh played. Ten of that Wigan team still qualify at U18 level.





That's why I was surprised at the scores, and similarly with the U18's of whom the majority were first year 16 year olds.

You still had Karl Pryce, who was bigger, stronger and older than any of the Saints players

You are allowed three overage players.

I didn't go as I was at Sheffield.



Was Pryce the difference between the two sides?

He scored the try that changed the game

Did Pryce have a good game?

It's about time wigan went with youth, the have been many good young players who wigan got shut to bring in overseas players.



So at last maybe wigan are doing it the correct way!

We've always given enough youngsters their chance but after 2004 and 2005 we started to lose a lot of our good experienced players and didn't replace them well enough. And as you said a couple have been awful overseas players. Another thing that didn't help was that the crop of youngsters who came through in 2003 that are now at the likes of Huddersfield, all played and came through under Mike Greg and they seemed to lose their hunger after that and the sad loss to Mike. Now the current crop that we are seeing now have all played under Shaun Wayne and even though Maguire is the new coach, having Wayne there is a vital part of the coaching staff as the players will want to play for him. We're finally starting to get the balance right which is what we haven't done over recent years.

IMO bringing in good youth players will massive for clubs in super league and is the way clubs have to go, however teams have to be very lucky to get a good batch of young lads to come thru at once.