shame about the Titanic

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Would have been 25 but he passed the ball once he got over the whitewash so his team mate could score his first try of the season and not have to do a forefit. That shows that he is a team player and has the awareness of what is going on around him. A cracking prospect and a big well done should go to the coaching teams at Fev Rovers and Fev Lions for getting him to where he is now.

How exactly do these dual registrations work? Can Leeds recall at any time, or will Zak be at Fev all next year? I think, given the minor rebuild required at Leeds, which will be much more major in the coming years, it may be worth blooding him now at SL. Lets have some faith in the youth that is at the club as we did with 'the golden generation'.

I don't think he's on a dual contract - I believe that he's signed for Leeds and is being loaned back to Fev for next season.

Hmmmm, so it'd be a simple recall from loan if we required his services then?

Yeah just like we did with BJB when we had our unrelenting injury crisis last season...I guess it just won't happen even though 'we could if we needed to'

From what I've seen of the lad he does seem a class act and I would like to see him given the nod at SL level. But I'm not the guy who picks the team and have no credentials to be that guy, so I'll be quiet and see what happens. Just think we could be in a prime position for next year to give some lads a good run and see if we can bridge the gap that is on the horizon(or already here depending who you listen to) with some of the names 'getting on a bit'.

With the signing of Hardaker, we could have a full British set of backs of good quality in a couple of years, with BJB, Hardaker, Smith, Watkins and Hall.

All young, all British, all good players...

It really does look like, with a bit of luck, we are in a good position for the future. We need to ensure they all develop in the right way

Particularily when you add in the likes of Ward, Ambler, Hood and Clarkson in the forwards.

We are shaping up nicely from a "young British player" perspective, and need to make sure that any incoming players from either other British clubs or NRL are of the right quality to complement these players.

augers well for the future - so do we think we've got a transitional phase coming up, or are the youth good enough now?

I'd give them a crack. Exposure at that level can only build them as players, which will bode well for success in future. I think we have a decent blend of experience around the club that can bring these players on. I look forward to the boxing day game this year, just to see who bluey gives a run to

I think if we can have fit squad this year we can rotate players like Bjb and Ambler and ease Watkins back into SL.
With the likes of Watkins and Bjb returning i think it make ssense for Hardaker to stay at Fev unless of couyrse we end up with an injury crisis.
Overall i think we do have a transitional phase coming up but i don't think it'll be as big as some would think i'e we still have Senior ,Buderus and Webb etc to ease the youngsters in rather than 5/6 going at once and leaving us inthe brown and smelly.

I could never wait for christmas presents either, so no wonder I'm trying to rush them all into first team.

Zak can't be recalled next season. Given the limited games he has played in the first team it won't do him any harm to get another 20+ first team appearences for us and there is a gap between the championship and SL so there's no point in rushing him into the team.