That's a very fair point Dilligaf!

There is a bit of difference between the two though; whilst I'd say they were a quite even in many respects, the championship is open age and this means young players exposed to it will gain the experience of playing with not only more physically mature men but players with maybe a bit more guile. That's why I 'd say it was suitable for players graduating from the under twenties but maybe not quite ready (physically or maybe in ability) to go straight to SL.

To be honest, I can't really see any advantage in someone like Briggs going into the A-Team. He was ripping up the championship so is already above that level.

I completely agree. I think the Championship is a level up from the U20s and is certainly the next best thing to Super League. You're spot on about the physicality of it.

Playing Briggs or Royston or any player whose played regular Championship RL in the U20s for a bit is utterly pointless to me. The only time that should be done is if the player isn't in the 17 for the Super League game, and even then I'd rather see them playing on a Dual Registration somewhere.

Leave the U20s for exactly what it's there for. Developing young players and getting them ready for a step up (as well as dropping the occasional underperforming senior player to send a message to him).

I wouldnt p[lay briggs in u20s in terms of getting him physically upto speed. More a case of giving him a chance to learn our plays in a competitve enviroment (as I assume under 20's use the same playbook as 1st team). If he can get upto speed with our set moves etc in the remaining friendlies then fair enough throw him straight into 1st team. Just my feeling that a month is maybe a little too quick and probably unnecessary when we've had kearney and herbert training together since mid november.

I can see the logic in what you're saying, but we've had plenty of players join mid-season and go straight into the side. The sooner Kyle starts playing with the full side, the better IMHO.

I actually think that the clubs signing of Kyle Briggs is actually a very shrewd move

I have watched this kid since he was 15/16 and Kyle has always had bags of talent, he has just been very unlucky IMO that he was behind not only Sinfield but also Burrow and McGuire in the pecking order at the Rhinos

Briggs could yet still make it as a SL player, Keep the faith guys you've got nowt to lose here with him, and he won't have cost the earth

Like I say BB a Briggs/Southernwood combo could be just as beneficial for Bradford as the Burrow/McGuire partnership was in the early 00's.

Biggs/Southernwood maybe good but we could potentially re-sign Herbert if he has a great season then sell him if Southernwood comes good. Very much like the Long/Eastmond thing at Saints.

Also Briggs and Herbert are about the same age as well.

Agree Dill and Bull, absolutley no point whatsoever in playing Briggs in the U20's. Play him, throw in the deep end and let us all find out wether he is good enough. I'm sure he will succeed all expectations. Really looking forward to seeing this kid play.

Agree with you 100%

Yep. But let's not start slating him if he doesn't win games all by himself straight away. He does need time to settle into the side before he'll hit his top form, but although I see Mat's point, I think the best and quickest way for him to settle is for it to be with the first team.