This blog took Wigan to task preseason for their treatment of fullback, Chris Ashton … well it looks like the chickens are home to roost on that one now.
The Warriors are whining now that Ashton – rightly miffed at being displaced by Michael Withers – has taken his services to Northampton Saints.
Before the Warriors leap on their soap box over the 20/25 rule they ought to ponder how they could have better spent the money paid to Withers and one or two other off-season imports.
This club seriously just does not get it. For years it has consistently produced 1st grade quality players through its Academy. For years it has used them early and then frittered them away. Preferring to squander salary-cap cash on the allure of tanned-Aussies rather than on backing their youngsters to develop to Super League class.
Chris Melling, David Hodgson, Kevin Brown, Luke Robinson, Wayne Godwin are amongst a plethora of quality players shipped-out. Ashton joins the list now, who will be next?
Look across the East Lancs Road guys. When Sculthorpe and Long and Cunningham bow out, Roby and Graham and Moore and Tyrer and Bannister and a string of other are on-stream to take-over their places.
Will there be a dip for a while, sure, but those guys have already shown they can rise to the challenge. You’ve just got to back ‘em to do it and give them the right framework to transition to Super League level.
Investing in that may not be as glitzy as snaffling Trent Barrett or sniffing round Lote Tuqiri … but look at the rewards longer term.
ibridge
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