I think you spot on with the coaching and spot on with point 4. Dissagree on the others though.

Watkins actually came from the Manchester service area. Therefore backing up your point of targeting and getting.

But what have they been doing with the rest then? Its already been commented by people defending our academy operation that the pack is too small. That been the case, why? other academy teams seem to have got the players why not us?

But other than the targeted Watkins, what other player is there that looks like he will be a star?

I know from personal experience, that Chris Clarkson was an absolute star in the making. I speak to a few of the scouts who were after him, who say in any other set up he would have been playing first team by now. Where is he in the Leeds pecking order? somethings gone wrong there. Of course it could also be down to desire which you stated earlier.

He's been mentioned by many people now so maybe it's just a matter of time before he break's through!!
As for poching wasn't he coaching with the scholarship 1st???
So surely he's been assessed rather than a "job's for the boy's" attitude??

Paul McShane, Ben Jones-Bishop, Luke Burgess.

You mean like Daryl Powell was when he got the first team coach job?

The lower grade system is about to change as well. There are plans to scrap the reserve grade as it is and introduce an Under 20's competition as it the case in Australia at the moment.

I don't know why people are getting too beat up over the reserves at the moment, it's a crap competition. It's no preparation for Super League. The jump in class is simply too much. It would be better if some of these kids got chance to play for a championship club and were brought into Super League in this way.

Although fortunate to play for his own club, 12 months in what is now the Championship hasn't done Richard Myler any harm has it?

He started with the kids and was in the right place at the right time.
Whatever people think of powell barring Ali it was his squad that ended the 32yr drought in the championship stake's,plus he got rid of the "deadwood" in the squad and gave player's like burrow,mcguire,walker,bailey and ward their 1st team break.
I don't take nothing away Tony smith's influence he's a legend and his place in the club's history is a shoe in,but don't dismiss powell's impact on the team.

Spot on Oldham, look at Joe Westerman, and Shenton at Cas as well. The jump from the championship to SL is still massive, but nowhere near as big as the step up from the reserves.

Thats all well and good OR, and whilst I dont dissagree with you, How many do Leeds have out on loan at the moment? Broughton and.......

No it wasn't.

It was Dean Bells

You know full well what i meant!!

I agree with what Oldham Rhino put. But seriously, as the poster put up above, where are these players out on loan? Playing in the National Leagues is good preparation for them.

I hear good things about this Jack Carvill. Seems a good long term replacement for Sinny. Also from what I hear he already has a good build, which is what some youngsters lack. Get him out on loan early.

They can't loan everyone out, they need to keep some bodies back to actually play for the reserves.

So how many are loaned out? Which players are they?

Will that really help?
The academy and reserve grade is terrible. Wigan reserves have played 6 won 6 and are winning almost every game by 30 points or more and not breaking sweat.

How moving to U20's will change things I don't know.
Apart from Pryce and Flanagan, the entire team that played on Saturday were under 20 anyway, and quite a few still qualify at U18.

We tried U21 a few years back, but there were so few players available that they allowed up to nine over age players in the 17.

How will U20 change that? Where are all these young players going to come from or will they scrap the U18 academy?

I'm think it's just Broughton at the moment. To be honest I don't really know.