Johnson has quality and yes, I think he'll make the cut at SL level. How far he goes, is anyone's guess.

Cam Smith is still only 21 and playing in the pack. He may not make the step up he needs to, but we'll know better in another season or two.

Why would we send Johnson out on DR when we have the reserves side to fill this season? I imagine we'll use DR only for players who are on the outer, or those who need to be put out of a comfort zone for their development.

With only Dwyer and Johnson recognised hookers I could see both being used in first grade - unless the Leeming signing comes off, in which case I'd think Johnson might be first choice reserve grade hooker.

Think the better players will be on Duel Reg as it will be a higher standard than the reserves. For me, the natural progression, in most cases, going forward will be...Scholarship < Academy < Reserves < Duel Reg < First team. Given Fevs uncertain hooker situation, i can see Johnson spending a fair bit of time there if he's not in our 17.

The Championship will be a far tougher and higher standard than the reserves and therefore Corey and lads like Holroyd, Walters and Muizz need to play there and not in the reserve competition.

As ive said before i can only see Leeds playing lip service to the reserves. Fev will be providing players for our reserves which backs that point up.

Dual reg at Fev will be far more beneficial to any of our prospective junior talents that we want in the first team within a season or two as it will be a far tougher competition than the A team competition,and IMO this is the best pathway at present to get our kids ready for 1st team SL rugby

The A team will also have it's benefits in that any late developers from our academy wont be lost to not only us but also the RL game as they will still have the opportunity to progress whist at their prospective clubs if the Championship clubs don't come in for them

IMO Lets all wait and see how this A team competition is treated by all of the clubs first before we think that its going to be the great saviour for developing junior talent

At present I am sceptical that the A team comp could be a bit of a joke competition,although I do hope that I am wrong

i don’t know what we will do with reserves next year - we still have to field a side so if Johnson isn’t the 9 who will be?

In reserve grade the players train with Leeds with Leeds coaches in Leeds systems all week, which I think has to help when they get a shot in first team. You’d like to think that any player vying for a first team shirt would be in the a team.

There will still be plenty of open-age players in reserve grade I’m sure - does the standard have to be lower than Championship?

Stephens, Tindall, Broadbent, A Sutcliffe, ?, Myler, McLelland, Cuthbertson, Johnson, Oledski, Trout, Donaldson, L Sutcliffe: Holroyd, Dupree, Walters, Burton for example would surely give most Champ sides a rattle?

Think you are kidding yourself about the reserves Jim sorry. Sure put Cuthbo and Myler in the reserves but do you expect them to motivated? Not a chance. Players like that wont be in the regional based reserves. We will have half a tean of Fev players for starters.

The best kids need to be on dual reg and will be, they still train and are around Leeds every day they just play at a higher standard and tougher standard on the weekend.

It will be interesting to see what they do with it. Duel Reg came about after reserves went didn’t it? There is a place for it on a case by case basis but we still have another 17 to field even including the odd Fev player.

With regard to motivation, the players should be trying to get in the first team on the strength of their performance- that’s how it used to be. Myler isn’t /shouldn’t be ahead of Gale or Lui and could help bring McLelland on if he does want to stay. Having said that of course you’re right that results probably matter more in the Championship.

A full Leeds Reserves team should be stronger than a first grade Champ side, or certainly competitive with one.

I suppose though that the main function will be to give more development time to academy players a year or two over 18.

In a perfect world the reserves would be the next best 17 that wernt selected for the first team that weekend, with all teams taking that approach and all players motivated. The reality is different unfortunately.

Imo, maybe an optimistic one, the current system is going to be the best we'v had, the duel reg is an extra, higher level, layer of development to what we had the last time the reserves was here. The best 4 or 5 will be at Fev, depending on Fevs needs, while the reserves gives the lads who arnt young physical specimens more time to develop. A player like Louie McConnell will benefit massively from the reserves imo, he's a quality player, Plays a lot like Trent Merrin, but he isnt blessed with the natural size or power of an Oledzki, Holroyd, Dupree, Trout, Mustapha at such a young age...The extra year or two in reserves, before a duel reg stint and he could easily end up one of the better youngsters we'v got.

Talking of the reserves, when and where will the games be played, will they do 'double headers' with the main team or will they be played mid week on a training ground?

Talk of them playing at Fev for some games i believe.

They have had meetings about it all being regionalised and not playing any Lancashire teams so i dont know how many games they will actually play but that hasnt been confirmed.

Where do Leeds United play there reserve or whatever they're called now games ? Is it true Liverpool play there's at St Helen's?

Would be good if ST holders got free entry as I probably would go and see a few of the games

I’m pretty sure that’s what happened in the 80’s when I used to go watch the A team with my dad. Seems a very sensible proposal.

I’m sceptical about how seriously the A team will be taken by Leeds. It has the potential to be a good breeding ground for talent that isn’t quite ready by 18, and for those who would need a way back from injury etc.

Some of my most fun times watching Leeds, we’re watching the John Holmes led A team and “Stormin” Norman Francis scoring for fun.

I think Sinfield is a big advocate of the reserve comp so maybe it will be taken more seriously?

It's funny I was thinking the same re. McConnell. Captain of a very good academy side for a reason - but he needs some more time to see how he develops physically. Gone under the radar a bit but is a good player.

Say we do sign Leeming (?); what if he or Dwyer gets injured, and Johnson is out on DR? We've tended to use it for players who are unlikely to be needed in first grade for a while, or players who are on the outer and need to be in the shop window still to get another deal elsewhere.

There are definitely circumstances where going out on DR is beneficial for a player's development, but there are plenty of Academy lads who've come straight through the system into first grade too.

I still think our own reserves team has come at the right time with us having a batch of talented lads coming through over the next year or two.