Those who watch regular academy how far off is Simpson?

He's an exciting talent with bags of potential, only 17 though, id say atleast 12/18 month away realistically.

Wasn’t Chev Walker himself already brilliant at 16 and knocking 18 stone blokes out from what I can remember…..!

We keep hearing about exciting 17 year olds, and how they're a year or so off first team. A year later they're still a year off. And again.

Edwards was supposed to be the next superstar according to the club, and nearly got a game in 2020. Today he seems further away from a game than he was then. Broadbent debuted 2 years ago and is still considered to be a higher risk than someone who isn't even a centre. Corey Hall wasn't getting anywhere at Leeds but within weeks at Wakefield he's probably only behind Newman of our other centre options.

Shocking youth development in those vital years from 16-20..

Completely agree. Some of the great players were given debuts aged 16 and onwards. You watch Corey Hall at Wakey and you do have to sigh…..
Keep hearing young players are ‘not readyi’, do better and safer to go with an old player out of position….

You have to remember that Hetherington decided to basically cut an entire 2 years of academy products which included lads like Iwan Stephens. That financial decision has now left us with a very young junior section and a reserve team now full of 17 year olds. It will take time to build back up.

We have real talent in the club but they are all 17 year old and need time to develop physically. Lads like Simpson, Lumb and Sinfield will all get the opportunity to come thru from the current 18s Edgell and Gatus also but if you think chucking them in against St Helens in this current team will benefit them you are way off. Corey Hall took some stick on here last year now hes lauded.

Its not true that we dont develop talent the current 1st team is full of academy products. In recent years weve brought Newman, Oledski, Walker, Smith through who we forget are still all very young. Broadbent should be starting ahead of Briscoe but needs to show more when he plays 1st team or reserves and is getting badly advised from away from the club. He needs to knuckle down and earn his place.

How many 17 year olds are currently running around in SL? Not very many and theres a reason for that.

Our issue will end up being now Gary has interferred again and we are now trying to recruit some kids to train and play on amateur deals will be getting the best kids to join Leeds.

I appreciate you are very I the know on young players, so will defer to your knowledge on this. It’s just so boring watching some of our work horses week in week out. That’s the issue….
I want to see if Broadbent is good enough. I’d rather see Tindall every week. I said last season not to judge young players in the odd game. They need at least a couple of months of getting picked . I’d play Smith at Hooker as we are desperate for some consistent passing from acting half….
O’Connor is ready to start at Loose. We some how need to spell pour threadbare props a bit more…..
I know these changes are not going to Make us get good, but at least gives a bit of a message….

Whilst there is relegation from Super League this will never happen.

That's why Im against P&R - but that's a whole separate debate!

Mate, we are going down if the same players keep getting picked. Toulouse are the only club worse than us, and they just beat Saints!

Chev was a monster physically at 16/17, Simpson isnt, he's got a good frame to grow into, but he's not there yet. One youngster doing somthing in 1999/2000 dosnt automatically mean another can or should be doing the same a couple of decades later.

How often have you seen Max Simpson play?

I’m not talking about the likes of Simpson. I think Broadbent and Corey Hall, even Tindall should have been way more used by now. We’d have learnt so much more……

You quoted my post about Max Simpson and compared it what Walker was doing at a similar age.

Broadbents a different matter, everybody, apart from our inept coaching staff, wants to see him selected and most think he's already better than the current starters.

Sorry I didn’t mean to compare to Max Simpson, I know absolutely nothing about him.

I'm guessing a decision's been made to let him go. Hard to fathom any other reason why he's not being picked if it's not that.