Also worth considering whether what you interpret as only being interested in 20 players is actually just me not wailing and gnashing my teeth if there aren't loads of 19 year olds playing every week.

When we actually stop producing young players for the first team I'll worry.

For the record, I see the same number of academy games as nantwichexile...

I don't know your creed, colour or gender so can assure you I wasn't being racist. But if I offended you I apologise.

Just kidding innit.

I hate Creed though. Nasty pop-rock rubbish. Bit like Nickelback. *shudder*

Burrow will be at Leeds next season according to Brian Mc.

I know I am bias and love to whip up a storm. But it is about time they offered Watson a decent contract.

A hat trick for Hunslet on Sunday, no mean feat in a rubbish side I can tell you. Especially if they don't give you the ball.

Should have had a chance on the wing by now, what more does he have to do?

Probably most of what he has to do is be patient and take his chances when they come up. I question how helpful it is to bring these kids in for odd games if they have a planned development route that travels via Hunslet. It would make more sense to bring them into the fold when there might be a consistent spell in the side available to them. He'll be learning about being a full time pro in a senior side, he'll be developing physically. I don't understand the rush.

As with Stevie Ward, if he's as good as he looks like he could be, he might well be in the first team at Leeds 7,8,9 even 10 years from now. No hurry, let's get the development right.

Hall's wing spot looks pretty safe now. I'd see the other being more open to competition. That should be Watson's target, but probably next year. Good year at Hunslet, good pre-season, grab chance and put pressure on.

I'd guess Vickery is here because the club thought some of the young, exciting outside backs we have would gain more from consistent game time at Hunslet than sporadic appearances in the first team. Time will tell whether they're right. But while (contrary to your assertions earlier) I am not a believer that everything the club and coach do is right, or that the status quo must never change, I can see the argument for the approach the club are taking and am inclined to think they're deciding from a position of greater knowledge and experience than I am, and while I don't know what your background is, I'd guess probably you as well.

I fully respect your opinion, and unlike nantwichexile you appear to actually see these kids play much more than I do, I just don't personally agree with your philosophy on this stuff.

Cool - good points being made there.

Just don't want him becoming another Daniel Smith? Especially as its now Watson is doing the business.

I had a conversation with Gary H and he said to me at the beginning of the year, his words; "Watson has a chance and could make it". Guess we will not know if you don't extend him.

Some big calls to be made W55ARE I've seen most of the u19's games this year and like Watson and Keinhorst there's some potential future stars in that batch that are gonna be off contract and i personally rate them as highly as the team that Mcguire ,Burrow ,Mather ,Bailey et al all played for.
Off the top of my head we must retain Sunley ,Sutcliffe ,Baldwinson ,Minns ,Handley ,Tonks ,Minchella ,Briscoe and Mcavoy at the very least.
Then there's Mulhern ,Harper ,Duckworth and Foster who imo could also have good futures the team is that good .
In terms of Wingers Watson ,Sunley ,Handley or Duckworh should get a go there and give Watkins his RC spot back imo.

Accomodating this crop will be harder than it was to bring in the McGuire, Burrow, Diskin et al cohort though.

They were brought in during an injury crisis to a team that had, frankly done not much and was promising to do ever less as the Murray team reached the end of its shelf life.

This lot are graduating the academy at a time when the club have won 6 of the last 9 titles, whose beter players have a year or 2 left at least and already contains young stars in a number of key positions (Hall, BJB, Hardaker, Watkins, Clarkson, Ward etc).

We can't afford to lose them, but it's going to be a bloody tough balancing act to keep them happy without dismantling the current squad too quickly. I don't envy the club that job one bit.

It'd actually be interesting to see if any of them could get a year's loan next year at a SL club, or even the NRL. Whatever (I know, nothing, rhetorical question) came of the Souths link-up.

At the end of 2014 season the succession plan for McGuire, Burrow, Sinfield etc will be much more pressing, and it'd be fantastic to have players with a year's top-level experience behind them to step in....

Watson and Keinhorst are nowhere near as good as the under 19's in their positions.

So I think we have gone full circle here then. My original post was all about what will happen to them as there is no room.

Remember?

Excellent. I love it when a plan comes together.

Cake anyone?

Not sure thats a fair like for like. The secret is to look good in a rubbish team! Which is not the case with the U19s at the moment as they all play well together.

I doubt Ryan Hall would have been looked at if he was playing for Hunslet full time and getting no service on the wing, regardless how good he is. You have to be playing in a good team to see someones full potential.

I always thought that if you were a good player then you would stand out in a rubbish team, but that is not entirely the case - if you get no service then it is hard to do that. I say not entirely the case as Rangi Chase at 6 or 7 gets the chance to bring the rest of that team in.

Just the one slice I'm on a diet