traitors, bet half of them will be calling themselves halifax fans tomorrow!

My concern is that these young players have all been told how they will make it and will have had a bit of a false promise of super league riches. But when some (most) haven’t made it by the time they reach 20/21 they then get disillusioned and we lose them from the game. Lets face it players develop differently especially in physique and strength and some won’t hit their peak until well into their 20’s. Instead, a progression through lower leagues playing a higher standard of rugby than academy or reserves could be a better development for some of these guys. It seems that the attitude of the big SL clubs is to sign all the best juniors and if just 1 in 10 make it, they’re happy and who cares about the rest!!

Would they?

Well you would hope so but can't promise anything. The young kids all want to play SL so if they can do it at their home town club then so much the better. Hopefully the likes of Ellis and Hill at Leigh and Shad going to SL after starting in the Champs will help a few of them come to us in the first place.

Shad is Australian ! No offence meant to anyone here, but that is all part of the problem I.M.O. If clubs and the governing bodies didn't bend the rules to suit themselves and allow greed to interfere, the domestic & international game would be far healthier. AND we'd be watching far more home grown talent blossom at all levels, starting with coaching and working it's way down through the playing staff.

Just for the record, I reckon Halifax/Calderdale isn't much different from many other heartland club missing out on local lads. Think of any club outside SL and look around the playing rosters and you'll see Leigh lads playing at other clubs, Fev lads, Cumbrian lads etc etc.

good luck to the lads i hope they do well and grab this opertunity with both hands and do the town proud. Just like luke robinson and scott grix just to name a few...