I must admit I don't have much knowledge of the junior grades but if what you say is true, then that's good news, and it couldn't have come at a better time because we literally haven't brought through a halfback of genuine quality, since mcguire and burrow.

To be fair how many teams have near the top of the league in the era of McGuire and Burrow?

The likes of Tomkins and Lomax ended up at FB, Gaskell has moved clubs and sometimes positions down at lowly Bradford. Wheeler is a mystery. Ratchford is getting their but didn't come through Wire's academy and has had to do a few other positions first. Luke Robinson didn't get long at Wigan but eventually over time with Hudds has made it up, all be it with a spell at hooker under Brown. Brough had several clubs before Hudds. Kevin Brown hasn't been the out and out starting half for a top side. Pryce was at Saints but after a few years of Wing/Centre/FB at Bradford. Myler is the closest in terms of always staying at halfback but even he came from Salford and not Wire and had to endure being dropped a few times early in his Wire career and still isn't convincing them over there now. Also Matty Smith, finally hit the big time at Wigan but it was a bit of a detour he took to get there.

Obviously Sinfield started out in the backrow and Burrow has done hooking duties. Briers was let go by Saints and it was a long while before Wire became challengers. Long was let go by Wigan before Saints. Iestyn Harris and Sculthorpe were both Wire and different positions before halfback cam calling for them. Deacon made his start at Oldham.

Danny McGuire is probably the last out and out halfback that one of the top teams has promoted through their Academy and that has stayed not only at that club, but in that position.

It's still a big if, but if the likes of Sutcliffe, Jordan Lilley, Morgan Smith and Jack Wray come along to somewhere near their full potential, then that's a quartet that are going to provide quality in depth.

The reason for that must be fairly self evident.

No.



The club will try and produce as many top quality players as they can, they will hardly have said ''well, we have mcguire and burrow now, halfbacks can go to hell for the next decade''.

It's not like we've had real potential come through but their path has been blocked by burrow and mcguire, we just haven't physically had anyone of any quality come through, period. That's the point.

We have had plenty of potentially good half backs. But to go the next level they need to play first team. That wasn't going to happen, with the pairing we already had.

Trouble is that a massive percentage of potentially good kids will go by the wayside if the break doesn't happen. Only the very focused and strong believers will still make it happen.

Gareth Moore is a good example. Had he being at any other club at the time, he would have got a shot at first team.

Has any SL club developed a top quality half back over the past decade?

Only one pops to mind is Matty Smith, is he top quality? Im not sure. However he was pinched by Saints and even then they didn't want him.

Sneyd -Still to be known.

Brough - He was average for 5 years, became top class for a year and has now gone back down a division.

Myler? Meh, And again was a signing from Salford.

Tomkins & Lomax - Fall into top quality but then they were shifted to FB.


I've heard big things about Morgan Smith. A pal of mine is part of the Huddersfield scouting set up, they wanted the lad, wanted him a lot. Best young kid he has ever spotted. They showed him around Hudds, but then Leeds stepped in.

Regarding Morgan Smith, it says in League Weekly that Warrington and hot on his heels for his signature as Smith has got himself an agent and is open to the highest offer.

TBH I havn't seen the lad play so couldn't comment on wether he is worth busting the bank for.

He is worth busting the bank for.

I am lead to believe though, although different position, that Cameron Smith is the best player of his age, and who everyone wanted and wants.

How do you bust the bank on a kid?
Throw £££££ at him whilst he is out of the 1st team therefore not yet on the salary cap? Then what happens once he hits 1st grade? Is his house/car already made for him from before?
It can turn daft. Sold to the biggest idiot.

It's a tough call on whether Leeds have developed any potentially top class halves. There are a smattering of Leeds products in Super League now and in the past (Luke Gale, Scott Murrell, did Tansey start as a half back?) who had to drop down a division for a while before stepping back up...that of course will not have aided their development and who knows how they'd have faired staying in a full time environment at a top class club?

I am a big believer that busting the bank with regards young outstanding players, has nothing to do with cash. It's all about opportunities and the path they are on.

For me every big club will be offering nothing different to potential stars in terms of short term money, money will be the same at each club. However opportunities is what changes that money value in the medium to long term.

does Super League need these lightning fast, eye catching halves anymore? so do they need to be developed.

Leeds have won plenty of titles with solid pivots and Wigan are doing the same.

Just a thought.

It's an exception rather than a rule that young halfbacks break into the team in the pivot positions. The most talented kids will probably be playing their junior rugby at 6 but have to learn the ropes in another position before moving to the middle. This has applied to Holmes, Schofield, Hanley, Edwards, Harris, Lockyer, Kenny and a lot more. Hardaker, Moon, Sutcliffe and Ward are all in that template of junior stand-offs who may one day step back in, while the next kid off the rank slots in at centre or back row. Scrum-half is a bit different. We could do with finding one ready-made over the next few years.