Recently, I watched England colleges v Scotland at Spotland, Rochdale. There were scouts from several clubs in attendance that i know, or recognised but not our Mr Robinson. Brian Noble was one of the match commentators as it went out live on premier sports channel, that guy doesn't walk around with his eyes & ears closed.....
After the match I went straight over to watch our U20's final match of the season at the Shay, missed the first 20 mins or so & I sat with one of our board of directors who had watched the game on tv. He mentioned one player in particular who'd stood out on the tv game earlier that evening so i told him the lad in question had been released the day before from a pay as you play contract with Wigan. Not exactly my job to go telling club officials such detail ( especially as he plays a similar position to my own son, who at the time was on the books at Halifax ) but i trust the info i passed on will have reached the correct people ie: scout & coach.
In the warm up game for the students, they played a regional squad coached by Steve Crookes former Hull & Hull KR at Cas panthers ground. A certain John Bastian approached myself & Brendan Hill & asked how our sons are doing & which clubs they're now playing at, I first met Mr Bastian while he was head of youth development at Warrington. He recognised me that day at Cas panthers & did the necessary networking that makes him such a reputable figure in that field. Leeds, Bradford & Huddersfield scouts along with Lee Crooks whoever he was working for at that point were also in attendance that afternoon, not Halifax.
Not good enough in my opinion.

I sometimes wonder if it's worth the effort for Championship clubs? If we did harvest someone like Zak Hardaker how long do you think he'd be at the club for? All that effort and rearing just for Leeds Rhinos to slap a fat contract down.

My thoughts as well, it quite simply isnt worth the time, effort and money

A realistic turnover of SL players per year is around 10% , thats around 35 in total, knock of the overseas part of that and its nearer 25

The SL clubs alone will have over 200 ( and these will be the cream of the crop ) in their senior - junior squads, and then another 200 in the junior-junior squad, not even looking at the scholarships

So a turnover of around 150 per year at least, so even from their point of view it is expensive, Championship clubs, having to work with what is left will have a very small % success rate, all to catch the occaisional late developer or one that slipped through the net

A better system would be partnerships with local amatuers

Frustrating though it is on the other hand though Rich at least Rovers got some return on their investment with a fair bit of cash for him.

You will never stop the bigger clubs picking off better players from clubs below them or the players in question wanting to try their hand at the highlest level.

We have done it plenty of times at Fax.

InZaks case he has improved massively so good on him and others that get the chance.

Don't forget the players as well as the clubs are putting in just as much effort and deserve the chance.

The same amount of effort would have been put in anyway and it would be even more of a waste if the player or players didn't make the grade so it's just part of the game, just make sure that the better young players have a decent contract so you will get something if they move on.

Seems like we (York City Knights) have signed Iain Morrison only
a few months after he packed in with you lot due to injury, no more
info yet, but any thoughts on Iain??

Devastating when he's fit but he has a history of injuries. The guy knows no fear and would run at a brick wall. Unfortunately his body carries the cumulative effects of that philosophy. I'm amazed he has decided to give it another go.

Put Morro on the pitch and he's like a bull in a china shop.......... Can cause devastation and chaos.



Unfortunately, he's also like the china in the china shop, and ends up shattered and in a thousand pieces because of it.



Great bloke though and very popular with supporters, just don't see him on the pitch enough.

I echo the sentiments of the others regarding Morro, He is a great bloke, gives his all for his team and is strong and powerful, unfortunatly he is made from chocolate and eventually even all the horses and all the kings men, couldn't put Morro together again.

I wish him the best of Luck next year with York

You're mixing your nursery rhymes. What will he be next year, Humpty Dumpty or the Grand Old Duke of York?

agree, he gives the team great go forward and tackle til he drops, but injured plenty.

He was reported to have signed at Oxford not long after leaving us. Not sure if he ever played a game for them though.

Lives in Hull so, not much travelling for training.
Successful personal training business in Hull, makes more sense than Oxford.
Wish him well, but remember Fev warned us before we signed him and we went ahead.

Thanks for all the replies, he was down here Monday night at the players get together,
assume he will be on pay as you play, but told he looked in very good nick by one of
our coaching lads

As the others have said a top bloke and a top player, hope he goes well for you guys and steers clear of the treatment room.

Sheffield backline, Featherstone halfbacks, Specialist hooker if we had the money