I’m at the academy game today at a beautiful looking HQ in the sun. Really looking forward to seeing the lads play today, I’ll give you some thoughts after - couple of potential future first graders on show hopefully.

Poor result against a team made up of players left over after we've signed the ones we want

Again, young team,11 first years, but would expect better.

Fair play to the Cas coach, he's clearly doing a great job and getting the best out of his players

Accepting that Leeds looked too young and struggled with Cas’s physicality, I’m still not seeing much in this crop to get excited about to be honest.

Cassell will probably make first grade SL. McCormack has talent but needs size. Diskin impressed me; he’s much more physical than he was. Can put a shot on like his Dad too. Not sure what his best position is..

Webster was alright again but I’m not sure if he’s going to stand out. Qareqare needs to get his head in better places in D and might be too small. Stead went well. Oladipupo is a big unit for his age. Nobody else did much for me today unfortunately.

Matts is it the age group under this one you’re more keen on?

No Jim, its this age group, but they're all in the first year at Academy level, 11 played today, which is a lot this early into their Academy careers. The second years are a poor group, so not much support other than McCormack and Corbett

The first years are the best players in the country in that age group, or they were when signed to Scholarship, and still were throughout scholarship until joining the Academy, lets see how they develop now they're in the Academy!!

I trust John Bastion when he says we they are an outstanding group, i dont trust our Academy to develop them

But as i said in an earlier post, next season, when this group are all second years, will be a true indicator, if they arnt a dominant side then, somthings gone seriously wrong.

The year below are not as deeply talented across the group, but they have 2 or 3 brilliant prospects

Thanks Matt.

Nicely, I hope you’re wrong about the coaching but I didn’t see much cohesion or shape again today. Skill level wasn’t great although you can see Cassell has good hands.

If Oladipupo is a first year he’s a bit of a beast.

Yeah Oladipupo is a first year Jim

I hope im wrong aswel, if there is even a wrong or right, its just my opinion really, but its a long standing opinion based on progression of players that far too often get overtook and left behind by their peers once they reach Academy level.

It’s hard to look at sides like Cas outperforming us at this level when we pretty much have pick of the crop regionally and have dedicated coaches and S&C for the juniors with all our facilities.

Then again one year development at 16-18 makes a huge difference. We struggled physically against Cas, who had a couple of lads close to open age size.

First time I’ve seen a few of those boys live. Considering most aren’t going to be near first team for another 2-3 years there is some potential there. Liked Cassell - he does have a bit of everything doesn’t he? Also he has a bit of aggression which all the top forwards have.

Whats the answer then matt? i see it like you i try and go watch the scholarship and academy as much as possible,night and day when it comes to how both sides play and how players develop, saw ur earlier post about wanting butteril to coach the academy and im of that ilk too ,it's no fluke that the bloke gets the best out the kids in the scholarship and he was chevs assistant when they won the academy grand final a few years back,do we know if he wants to do it? im guessing not as its as clear as to everyone who watches the games within our lower levels that he's the bloke to lead this talented group moving forward unless he doesnt want to do it? players and parents speak highly of him on the hill at stanningley so somethings going on? its baffled me for years this subject and we have talked about it for years now.the lad cannot want it simple as that.

How much of this is coaching, and how much of losing games like these is down to them picking a young side so that they’re challenged more?

100% both jim but last year the group didn't even make the playoffs and i'm fully aware of the argument it's not about placings etc but a club the size of leeds with the talent it recruits should be successful at all levels and making playoffs as a minimum, 5 sides were better than our academy last year?where were older eligible players yesterday? not playing because they haven't been developed and the club must see the younger kids as being better? i agree with matt this is the most talented group the club has had for years,if they are not showing signs at end of the year and early next it's clearly the coaching and those in charge of the development at those levels, hide behind age all we want we should not be outplayed by castleford at home at that level?

Out played at home might be a bit of an exaggeration tbh, a team with 11 first years lost on what was essentially goalkicking.
I feel like the difference in physicality was obvious on how many times we were held up over their line, and how easily they were able to force themselves over on our line with players on them.
Definitely not the best performance but I think there were some promising signs from some individuals, but Mccormack could do with some more support/strike from the other half and fb I think

Granted but we have been before in regards to last season & this group is a lot stronger across the board they wont be judged on the first two games or even the first 10 but if theres no signs of development like last year then questions need to be asked, dress it up how you like if a club like leeds rhinos who gets its lions share of the best players doesnt get in the top 5 somethings not right. Time will tell though.

Cas obviously have a decent enough crop at this level. They turned Wigan over a couple of weeks ago too. Very obviously Leeds are leading with a young side in the academy, and preferring reserves for the second years.

I guess the concept is that this challenges higher quality youngsters more, I can get that on one level.

On the other hand though it makes it more likely the teams will lose games, which I’m not sure is ideal. It also could increase risk of injury playing lads older and stronger (or men with reserves). It also accelerates the gifted players through where maybe sometimes it would be better for them to hold back and learn and train for longer before “making it”.

Dunno, pros and cons of any approach.

Second part is incorrect, there are no second years playing for the reserves and missing Academy, they arnt good enough, the best 2 second years are McCormack and Corbett and they play for both