Another thing that hasn't been discussed too much is in relation to all the signings we have made.

Potter has blooded a lot of kids at Saints, mainly due to injuries and a thin squad.

We have now signed 10(?) players and there are likely to be 1/2 more added to that. How many of our youngsters are likely to play in 2011?

Yes, we did need some squad depth, but we are unlikely to see many youngsters playing next season unless we have the mother of all injury crisis.

Backs:
Sykes, Ah Van, Ainscough, Platt, Walker, Halley, Kearney, Royston, Raynor, Herbert

Forwards:
Sculthorpe, Worrincy, Godwin, Hall, Scruton, Kopczak, Lynch, Elima, Sibbitt, Diskin, Langley, Whitehead, Hargreaves

That's 23 "1st teamers" with possibly 1 or 2 to come in.

Not much room there for kids, and why sign a "Sibbit" or re-sign a "Worrincy" if you've an intention of blooding a young kid?

It is something that is bugging me a little and hopefully any kids that do come through do so because they excel and deserve a place and not because of injuries.

That list also leaves out Donaldson, Addy, Finigan and Crossley who all had a reasonable amount of game time at points throughout the season.

Edit:
Oh yeah - and Heath L'Estrange too!

I've gotta admit, I've had the same thoughts. The biggest downside to having a large squad of experienced players may be the lack of development for the likes of Donaldson & Addy.

I've been thinking it all the way through while signing these players, but wasn't going to say much until I saw the kind of sides Potter was putting out, to see if the likes of Sibbit & Worrincy got picked ahead of Whitehead or Donaldson. I'm glad I'm not the only one who it had occurred to though.

I expect Whitehead to be part of the fist choice 17 now so I doubt squad depth will affect his development but I am certainly concerned that too much depth will limit the chances of the other younger players.

Hopefully potter is going for depth in case of an inury crisis and to avoid throwing too many in at once should such a crisis occur rather than simply allowing these youngsters to fall further behind in the pecking order.

Also - not too many long contacts have been dished out (all 1 or 2 years IIRC), therefore it's a gently gently approach to blooding the kids, with a view to them taking over in a year or two.

IMO

I suspect we'll see a few of the youngsters going out on loan/dual code deals to get gametime. And I'll be surprised if some players (sibbit and worrincy spring to mind) get into double figures in terms off appearances. As others have said plenty of short contracts handed out. This gives potter a year to have a good look at both our youngsters and also the players he's brought in, then keep the best at the end of the year.

He knew that. He is just trying to cause trouble.

Isn't this the point of having a large first team squad, to cope with injuries and out of form players.? Medders said at the Forum that the Academy Lads were at least another Season away from being able to step up to regular first team playing. Which means this time next year there will be less incoming and more stepping up of Academy players!

Absolutely. But there isn't, nor ever will be, any way of stopping this happening, short of a rule that another club must pay a 250K fee or whatever which just ain't gonna happen. OTOH, the reason George (who is big but might even turn out to be not much cop) may be away is due to no fault in our setup or process, and has everything to do with where his big brother is, trips to Aus and Russell Crowe's house, etc.


Well yes, but Wardle is the only one of any note who has actually gone anywhere, and the large majority are still here. Including for example Whitehead and Donaldson. And the likes of Crossley and Addy. So I'd say that we don't seem to have a particular problem. The rest is just what sadly e have to expect, just as we occasionally poach young players from elsewhere.


That was really the point I was making, other than instilling in the kids a desire to stay at the Bulls (which I'd imagine is a combination of prospects, money, and their perception of how the club is going and who they will be playing alongside) is there anything you could ever do? (Given that we smply couldn't afford to tie them all in on whopping great contracts? I really don't think there is.


On this, I think in fairness we should wait and see what Potter does. I have no clue what he will do in terms of young 'uns in the first team squad, and would be very disappointed if we didn't have a clear policy of pushing a steady number of suitable candidates on, but I see no particular reason despite the number of incomings to doubt Potter's inclination or desire to play a mix of new and old.


I should think everyone can see who is trying to do that.

JP had 6months? or a year? right at the beginning of his career in Australia. Was that on loan?
If there is some substance to this loan deal to Souths then I suppose we could extend their current 2 year deals to 3years, maybe build in a smallish

minimum fee clause and send them on loan for one year. If they improve rapidly then we get them back next year ready for SL or we get some cash for them.

Why would they be better staying here as opposed to exposure of the best RL comp in the world as well as an accompanying excellent lifestyle?

1. Their chances of gaining first team experience is much higher over here so they would be playing in a higher standard of comp than in OZ

2. They are very young and by definition, immature. Hence, less able to deal with the difficulties posed in an alien environment away from close knit networks.

3. Being told you're s**t compared to your brother by the whole of South Sydney wouldn't be 'excellent' me thinks.

Their exposure to quality of player, coaches and systems around them in Oz would likely be significantly better. It would be a move primarily about their development than immediacy of appearance.



I can see mileage in this to a degree but having Sam around would likely be a primary pull in their decision.





True.