Quote: Bullseye "It's all very well having an outstanding academy but that produces players at the age of 19 but many aren't ready for the first team at that age. There is no compulsory reserve grade to act as a stepping stone for late developers. Instead players are farmed out to championship or lower level SL clubs where they may not get the same level of coaching and development - players get disillusioned and are lost to the game. I wonder how many Jamie Peacocks have been lost in this way?
Still it saves a few quid so that's alright then.'"
True that, especially with forwards, that they are probably in the 21-23 year old bracket until they are a fully man mature so to speak. I think backs can adapt pretty quickly but a mans body takes a while to develop to the stage where it's ready to be ran at by 17 stone seasoned pro's. That's just nature even if there is a player with potential a club won't risk over doing it by blooding them too early so that means that a club has to literally hang on to a player through the schools, academy, under 20' (or whatever it is now) reserves (or whatever it is now) first team until they are ready for about 15 years. It's a long time to wait so the financial aspect yes you are right in a way but unfortunately as you say it's easier if say (i am a Wigan fan) we let a player go to Batley knowing full well that if he performs he won't refuse a return. We need to look at Australian training methods a lot closer for me. Their wingers are built like props and are ready to go at 17. Players like David Klemmer have been looked after and readied for action and he is now a seasoned SOO prop and he is 22!!!! but he is just one of many.