I used to watch the old Colts and A Team quite regularly in the 80s, and spotting the kids who will become stars is not easy. I thought Ian Thomas of Hudds would be awesome. I'm sure only diehard Shudds fans would have even heard of him. Ditto with our own Gareth Stephens (not just the club that made that mistake!) from watching him play in the A Team as a 17-year old. I can name many other examples of juniors that looked the business who did nothing - as can anyone else who watches them.

More recently you could add McNally. He's obviously still young, but a lot of people were wetting themselves over how good he was for Haven, and yet where is he now over a year later?

I tend to feel that a lot of people overestimate the age at which stars tend to emerge onto the scene. The likes of Ryan Hall (or to cite a genuinely great player Ellery Hanley who really didn't become the star he was until 1984-85) arriving late is rare - your genuine star players very often play a lot from a younger age - Schofield was a first-team and GB regular at 18, Connolly, Edwards and Farrell were regulars from 17 etc etc. Of the world class players GB has produced over the last 30 years (ignoring RU signings) I suspect the vast majority were first-teamers very young.

TBH that's one of the reasons I get very suspicious when a youngster touted for greatness actually happens to be 19/20 but hasn't played in the first team or very rarely. It's also part of the reason I think the whole 'wait for him to mature in a few years' is a load of old guff. IMO had Watkins not got injured, this would have been a make-or-break year for him - he'd either start to show glimpses of greatness or the weaknesses in his game would reamin and he'd just be another might-have-been. Harsh maybe, but I suspect true.

Props I understand developing physically a tad later, but in every other position IMO a genuinely talented kid would force their way into the squad at least earlier.

In any event, back on topic, I wouldn't lose any sleep if we didn't sign this kid. If he turns out to be great, then that's life.

Especially when Sherwin was crocked when he arrived here and still is,together with him being unfit and overweight,yet Brierley does not get a look in.

Some good points well put Brisbane rhino but there are still players who take longer to adapt than others so i think it's a bit hasty/harsh to write them off too early.

Myself never rated Watkins last year however he has improved a bit and I agree that this would have been make or break year for him. It would have been a shame really that at under 20 you can be wrote off at the Rhinos. However I recon he’ll come back and make up for lost time like Jamie Jones has done so well for us.

One thing that is stifling outlooks is Eddie and Stevo’s obsession with youngsters coming through. You’d think that if them two had their way super league would be an under 23’s competition.

They need to show more appreciation for players who’ve been here a long time. For example Keith Senior and Steve Menzies who are arguably better than what’s coming through at the moment or what has come through these last five years. Yet if these two had their choice these two would be classed as a liability to super league.

excellent post Brisbane. That said, Lunt at Huddersfield is a good example of how it can be a folly to write of 21.22 year old players you are not yet 1srt team regulars or stars.

Clubs cannot carry 20/21 year olds on the basis that they might make it in a couple of years. The salary cap makes that less and less likely to happen than it might have done in the 80s or early 90s.

Had the 19 year old Jamie Peacock been at the Bulls now, arguably he would be shown the door rather than retained to allow him to blossom into one of the better English players of his generation.

Richard Moore definitely played for the Leeds Academy (and got sent off while doing so a time or two IIRC) but I think Leeds picked him up from the Keighley Academy so not sure if that effects his eligibility or not in any way. Another in that category might be Danny Sculthorpe who also definitely spent time in the Leeds Academy team.

A few more
Ex Leeds Academy that played SL elsewhere:

Mark Gamson (Sheffield 96)
Ricky Wright (Sheffield/Workington?)
Ikram Butt (London 96)
Vince Fawcett (Oldham 97)
Francis Maloney (Oldham 97)
Darren Turner (Sheffield 97)
Dan Potter (Widnes 02)
Michael Wainwright (Castleford)

Joe Westerman

Totally agree with that. We may not have seen players of the quality of Peacock or Fielden (at his best) if clubs had shown players the door if they hadn't progressed as much as others at 19/20. Whilst the salary cap evens up the competition alot, this is certainly one of the drawbacks.

Rumour Mill

Westerman
Shenton
Langley
Horne R
Westwood

I don't think these players would be lost to the game, just maybe start at a lower level, then get picked back up at a later age

Watching the Widnes - Halifax game last night brought another Ex Leeds Academy that SL graded elsewhere to mind in Mat Gardner

And another Union convert that Leeds introduced to the game that also played in SL elsewhere - Jon Scales

The Leeds totals now look like thisEx Leeds Academy, SL Graded with Leeds - 58
Francis Cummins, Marvin Golden, Graham Holroyd, Mick Shaw, Adrian Morley, Nick Fozzard, Phil Hassan, Jamie Field, Marcus Vassilakopoulos, Matt Schultz, David Gibbons, Anthony Gibbons, Paddy Handley, Paul Gleadhill, Terry Newton, Leroy Rivett, Lee Maher, Gavin Brown, Adam Hughes, James Leatham, Kevin Sinfield, Garreth Carvell, Chev Walker, Dave Wrench, Danny Ward, Chris Chapman, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Andy Speak, Mark Calderwood, Matt Diskin, Gareth Morton, Jon Liddell, Jason Netherton, Rob Burrow, Danny McGuire, Andy Kirke, Ryan Bailey, Richard Mathers, Nick Scruton, Jonny Hepworth, Carl Ablett, Lee Smith, Scott Murrell, Ashley Gibson, Danny Williams, Jordan Tansey, Ryan Hall, Michael Ratu, Luke Burgess, Danny Allan, Ben Kaye, Michael Haley, Kallum Watkins, Joe Chandler, Ben Jones-Bishop, Paul McShane, Dane Manning, Tom Bush


Ex Leeds Academy, SL Graded Post Leeds - 16
Paul Anderson, Paul Cook, Danny Sculthorpe, Richard Moore, Mark Gamson,
Ricky Wright, Ikram Butt, Vince Fawcett, Francis Maloney, Darren Turner, Dan Potter, Mat Gardner, Peter Fox, Jason Golden, Jodie Broughton, Michael Wainwright

There was also a Leeds second rower that SL Graded at London Broncos whose name escapes me at the moment.

Ex Amateur/RU, Leeds introduced to RL who played in SL - With Leeds - 4
Gareth Raynor, Ewan Dowes, Liam Bothom, Simon Worrall

As above - Elsewhere - 1
Jon Scales

Daniel something wasn't it? Big blonde lad.

Joe M'bu (or something like that) ???

Actually was it Kennedy or something? Damian Kennedy? something like that. Blonde backrower.

Also I think you have missed off your lists Jamie I'anson and Tommy Gallagher.