Pretty much GH's take on the reserves debate in terms of how he thinks the cash might be better spent.

Yeah agree the overall player pool needs to grow, it's a numbers game to some extent. But if you look at Leeds, we are consistently hunting in Cas/Wakefield/Halifax areas for academy talent aren't we? We pick up some of the best lads because Leeds is a relatively sexy club with relatively good facilities and a strong culture. But as a city of around 1m people I think the club is not great at attracting enough really local Leeds lads (I know we do get some of course). Growing up in North Leeds just a few miles from Headingley, my high school didn't play rugby league and many of my more middle-class mates played RU instead (some talented lads too). My point is that we can always do more to farm our own back yard. None of this is easy of course.

RL has always been stronger in Leeds south of the river.
I can't think of many recent examples of players from North Leeds making the grade. Alex Foster is the only one that springs to mind.

I think it’s true that at least in part it’s a numbers game. I can remember I was given a stat by someone involved in the England setup trying to get clubs to do more for local participation, that Sydney alone has something like 4-5 times the numbers of 12-16 year olds playing the game than England does.

Yep and other one big stat is the ~3x salary cap NRL clubs have compared to SL. Easy to forget that when you watch a world club challenge.
There is an argument that the cream of the crop would find their way into the game regardless - if you’re big, athletic, tough then it’s a natural match. But just taking North Leeds into account; it’s heavily populated and there should be less overlap with other RL clubs as you head towards Otley and Harrogate for example. RU much stronger in these areas but lots of untapped RL potential. It’s the old class divide - but doesn’t seem to have changed too much in... 30 years?

This is coaching issue - we simply don't have the quality of coaches in this country that they do in Australia. Add to that the participation and lack of progression of some young players then it is pretty obvious why the Aussies have more strength in depth at senior level.

Then you have the relevant strengths of the elite competitions - it is no suprise that England have become more competitive as the number of British players playing in the NRL increases.

I genuinely don't want this to sound how it may sound to some.

Why aren't out and out black kids coming thru into RL? We have half castes playing the sport but how many coloured lads play the game at junior level and why aren't they coming through? I remember watching players like Des Drummond, Roy Powell, Henderson Gill, Ellery Hanley who was all magnificent athletes. Look at McGillvray at Hudds, strong, powerful and fast. Coloured people seem to be genuinely better athletic people than whites.

What are the club's foundations, the RFL doing in places such as Chapeltown in Leeds to develop the game and get those kids playing?

I often hear our foundation is in places like Adel and Otley, sorry but those kids ain't gonna play RL.

How many out and out coloured players are currently in SL? Not that many. McGillvray, Springer, Matongo at Hull. Very few.

Seems a large potential talent pool that is untapped to me.

90% of NFL is black. RL should be attractive to these lads. Why isn't it? I genuinely would love to know.

As I say this isn't in any way meant in a racist way, quite the opposite.

We need these lads playing RL.

Just how many black kids are there in Leeds? Not that many, and are there many amateur clubs in areas like Chapy and Harehills?

I get your point but it's more about the areas players are coming from and not their colour. My kids are mixed so it is offensive that you don't class them as black. They are, but they're also white.

And don't say coloured! It's deemed derogatory.

For the record, I'm from Kirkstall.

not sure how it's offensive.it was a genuine question. I'd add why Asians dont seem to play either code or football really. do they just love cricket?

Well that's my point Charlie. What is being done in these areas when there so much untapped potential there.

Choose to take it that way Damo but believe me it's not meant in that way

The point I'm making is that black kids are not seemingly coming thru for whatever reason, a question I don't have an answer for and would like to know as I find it a real shame.

I want to see more playing the game as they have the potential to offer a lot to the sport as people like Drummond, Hanley and Offiah have done in the past.