Of our young backs, Broadbent and A Suttcliffe are both ready for championship rugby, both played it last season, Suttcliffe done very well at left for Fev and Broadbent showed flashes of his undoubted potential at Fev and Batley. Suttcliffes a /backrower and Broadbents played and wing in the championship but he's a all day long and a very good one. We'v got some very good prospects who'l be 2nd year u18's this season Stephens, Hall, Burton and Tindall...All England academy players, they'l most likely be monitored throughout the season to see if theyr progressing well enough for a championship stint. Theres also a lad called Liam Whitten , Yorkshire academy player , same age group as Broadbent, Fullback, scored loads for our academy, good player but very slight, type of player the reserves will benefit imo.

Exactly how they’ve said they’ll do it. Fringe players who Featherstone aren’t using on dual registration (max of 5), players coming back from injury, Featherstone players that aren’t playing that week, university rugby league players and amateur rugby league players.

As a Bulls fan this really is a strange one. Rhys was a solid enough player when fit last season but hardly looked Super League material despite his history with the Wire. He lacks pace and I doubt he will feature much in your first team. As for your youngsters coming to Odsal..........sorry Dewsbury(!!) I just hope they don't get bullied in the Championship. I fear this hints that both our clubs will struggle this coming season. Anyway I'm looking forwards to visiting the shiny new Headingley on the 12th Jan to show our respect for JJB and Rob Burrow.

I assume the young lads to Bradford will have a recall option - or will it be season-long like Evans is?

Sometimes we seem to think that some lads would benefit from having their eyes opened a bit. Young lads coming straight to Leeds are spoiled really in terms of facilities and support, from a young age. Mixing with grown men who have a day job as well as playing can show them what opportunity they really have, maybe.

Can't say it improved Cam Smith or Mik last time out, but we'll see. Another thing is that I'm sure Leeds do genuinely want to help Bradford out a bit (hence us paying a small fee too).

Would be disappointed if we can't see Walters, Holroyd or Mustapha in a Leeds first team this season TBH.

It would also undermine (if further undermining is needed) Leeds' commitment to the Reserves. It becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy if big clubs don't engage, but Leeds have made it clear that they favour sending players out to Champ clubs... I do wonder if there are some commercial considerations in there!

wonder what our duel reg club thinks about our best 4 prospects not going to them?

Maybe they haven't room on their salary cap.

possibly.hadnt thought of that.

Signed quite a few ex SL players. Ferries will be on a fair wedge.

They’ve been asked which players they’d likely use over the season and these weren’t mentioned, which is why they are going out on loan.

DR doesn’t go onto the Featherstone salary cap.

Didn't know that but they still have to be affordable

Highly unlikely Evans will ever get a game unless we get severe injuries but if he does play him on the wing outside Koni he will probably score 22 tries and be in the Ashes squad at the end of the season and the fans will be raving about him. It worked for Handley.

As for the club lacking ambition these days and never gonna win anything again i agree this signing isnt quite as mega as Anselme, Botham, Kirke, Vickery, Coady etc but those was the days of real ambition.

That Vickery even got a contract. He must have got a decent little payoff when they finished him

Quality.

I'm honestly surprised that you've gone for Evans. He's been solid but not spectacular at Bradford - at least when he's been fit. Just a suprise that you haven't got a junior coming through who'd do the same job as you'd imagine Evans will be doing - cover for cover