you should explain how it has ruined your spinner. that would help us in determining what is wrong.

lets look at it this way. choose from the scenario's below:

1. starter was spinning but prop was not -
a. when you tried to turn it over by hand, it was difficult - you probably flooded the cylinder. you need to remove the glow plug and let the fuel come out OR turn the plane so that the engine is on it's side with the muffler below the engine and rock the prop back and forth between the compression point. for beginners, removing the glow is good.
b. when you tried to turn it over by hand, it was easy to turn over - you might not be pressing hard enough. you can press a little harder. or as someone mentioned above, you can get the starter spinning first then jam it into the spinner but make sure that you jam it in square or else it'll wobble and can be dangerous.

2. prop was spinning but engine would not fire -
a. there is no fuel in the line leading up to the carb - since the trainer engine is mounted upright, you can easily choke the engine by putting your finger on the carb intake, push throttle full and turn the engine over a few times clockwise to draw the fuel to the carb before starting it with the starter. if no fuel is coming, your high speed needle may be closed. you need to open the needle two turns. also might want to check the plumbing to make sure your fuel lines are correct.
b. engine pops but then dies - high speed needle is too loo low or throttle is too low. start with high speed needle two turns out. give quarter throttle
c. engine keeps turning over but doesn't start - take out the glow plug and apply the glow starter, the glow plug should turn bright red. if it doens't turn red either the glow plug starter is out of batteries or the glow plug is broken. test a new glow plug in your hand with the glow starter first before installing it. if the new one glows bright red, then replace it. if it doens't then recharge the glow starter.
d. engine turns over but gets progressively slower - batteries might need to be recharged

by the way, how do you start the other glow planes? if you know how to start by chicken stick (i wouldn't use a metal rod) then you should be able to start the trainer in the same way. the only reason i like to use starters is because it's hard to prime an engine if it's fully cowled, which all but one of my planes are. but if you can prime it, hand starting shoudn't be hard.

also, i fly the wattage corsair a few times and really find it fun... got good times (5-7 minute) times flying from a 11.1V 3S1P 1100mah lipo and a 20AMP esc. i know you hate that plane... but just those simple mods and i'm flying pretty happy with it.