I dont disagree with you Gotcha but the clubs stance as per GH is that the 19s are our reserve team and that wont change going forward.

If this is true, then he's lost the plot.

Bet other clubs wishes their CEO's would lose their plot too then!!

I think it will change. He has been shown to be wrong this year, and I don't believe he will leave the club out on it's own just to save face.

Agreed. But I believe the Leeds arrangement with Hunslet is pretty much a feeder arrangement anyway since Hunslet are propped up financially by Leeds. GH isn’t really bothered what other clubs do unless Leeds start to do badly out of it – which you could argue they are now.

Can’t see anyone changing the championship into a feeder league – it’d turn so many supporters off that clubs would go to the wall.

I'm not sure that they have. We've had Lilley and Handley emerge as first teamers last year and they look, at least , to be capable of super league standard at this stage in their careers. Producing two every year or so is a pretty decent hit rate.

Of course, their first team opportunities were somewhat forced upon a first team coach who seems to be very reluctant to give such opportunities to young players, judging by the likes of Baldwinson and Mulhern. That may be as much of or more of a problem than the Academy production line. Maybe there's been a blockage at the end of it in the guise of a first team coach who seems to have faith in a very limited number of senior players?

I suppose 2 or 3 a year is the target. We don't seem to produce many quality forwards though, and when was the last real star we produced? Hopefully Cameron Smith will kill 2 birds with one stone.

I do agree that the first team can be a block. Its not all the coach's fault (although some seem far more ready to give kids a genuine go). Luke Gale is an example of someone who just came through at the wrong time. OTOH this year would have been an ideal time to give as many Academy players a go in the first team who were physically ready for a game or two. Not to mention the likes of Baldwinson.

Maybe I've been harsh on the development side, but if the Academy is a reserve team with a small group loaned out to other clubs, the current system is rubbish.

Just watched the highlights of the Scholarship game v Hull, everyone should be excited by the display from prop Tom Holroyd. It says he is only 15yo, wow what prospect.
The other prop Owen Trout looks a monster too.

I go to most academy games and went to the Hull game. Holroyd is immense for his age and seems to getting fitter every game. Louie McConnell is a great prospect at loose, big lad but very skillful with his offloading. Muizz Mustapha is just a beast and would run thru a brick wall and is so strong and hits very hard in defence and again its easy to see his improvement in passing the ball which is pleasing.

Full back Hartley, centre Newman, 7 Scott, prop Trout all played very very well too.

The real star for me tho is centre Jack Broadbent who at 15 is tremendous for his age. Big and powerful, runs great lines is fast enough and has tons of ability.

Its too early for any to say who will make it but the 16s look a very talented batch. The best weve had since the golden decade brigade.

The most pleasing thing for me is that its clearly noticeable that the players and team are improving.

Who is their coach?

Sorry, but no there not. We have had plenty better than the golden decadd brigade, but then they have hit a wall. This side is brilliant, with many a good player there, but so too was last years under 16's too now playing in 19's. We have had other very good under 16's.

What we all have to hope for is the right development going forward, because a lot of our players in this age group have not had it for a few years. Then hopefully we can see that talent realised.

We are all entitled to our opinion Gotcha. How many games have you been to?

Mark Butterill

Respect a lot of your comments Gotcha but to say weve had a lot better academy than the golden generation ones is laughable.

That wasn't actually what I said, and either a play on words or just misunderstood. What I said is that our under 16's have had a lot better teams than the golden generation. Difference then is the development of that side was completely different.

I repeat, that last years under 16's were excellent and had ten players signed up to the academy.

As for how many games. As many as I can, but my son plays under 15's too with and against a lot of the players, so I see a lot of these players each week.