Especially since he trained with Bradford in the morning apparently.

Still, we're not in a position to be pedantic with them. If they want him back for a game or two, let em. They're more likely to let us have him back afterwards. If we said "no, it's only 12 hours", then all 4 would likely be returning today and not coming back.

Don't mind Leeds calling him back ultimately we knew it might happen as is the position of the club with having to deal with loan signings as much as we are. The worst for me was throwing him in the deep end when they were in for a hiding, not a great way to give kids confidence

The way it was described on Sky, the impression was given that Leeds were on the point of not having a full 18 for the game.

It is just part and parcel of loans though, and we have to accept it, or do without. Right now we're better with the loanees than without and Leeds should have our (very grateful) thanks, though I definitely agree that bringing our own youngsters through should be the priority. That said, you can only push kids who are ready for the step up into the side, and we only have so many of those.

Quite. The one thing that doesn't change as you move up and down the leagues is the physical disparity between the big lads and young players.

You're as well easing a kid in for a SL team than you are a local league team.

One of the RL papers saying we have take Lilley on a 4 week loan again, minimum due to him being recalled. Can't see that happening with Leeds in the state they are in re form and injuries but also Easters coming in 4/5/6 weeks.

Does it always default back to a one month loan after a re-call?

A month loan means he can't be called back during that period (unless I've got it wrong..) and I'd have assumed that the loan, with instant re-call available, would have just been re-started?

I believe it counts as a new loan. This is where the difference between loans and dual reg comes in. A loan, is a guaranteed one month no recall, then after that it can be as instant as you like for recall. However once that recall is activated and he goes back to the original club (in Lilley's case he played), then if they are to go back, it is a new loan, not just carrying on the original. Dual Reg however they can come and go as they please, Will Maher for example I believe played for Cas on Thursday and then again for Batley on Sunday.

There will be a limit on the maximum number of loan deals in a season as well won't there?

Don't think so. Think the rules are you can loan as many players as you want, but only 5 are allowed in your 19 man squad.

With the lack of any meaningful reserve or A team competition I think loans are the only way many young players, particularly in in SL, can bridge the gap between the U19s and open age. Without Loans or DR where would they improve or mature after the age of 19?

There is probably nobody available but we need to make a few permanent signings,
It will settle the squad, and Give Toovey (visa allowing) something to work with...

Absolutely.

Whilst we're grateful for the loans and sometimes, as in our case, other factors intervene, having our own players leaves us in charge of our own destiny. We do though come up against the point that we can't just sign, 'anybody', and that any signing has to be good fit to the squad. I guess that's the real problem, until teams start looking to unload there just isn't the choice. A week or two and things may be 'on'.

That and we don't seem to have the cash to tempt part timers full time or pay for real quality i.e if he was free we couldn't afford to sign lilley full time also the likelihood is he wouldn't leave Leeds for us anyway..

Progress seems to have slowed a little for us, I have been expecting a couple of new faces for a couple of weeks to no avail

I'm still waiting for Lowe to turn up more players from down under - hopefully this will happen once the visa issue is sorted.

As we know there is a lot of quality down under. Surely we'll sign more than just an untried 7s/touch rugby player?

You would have liked to have thought, Leons age was always going to be a bit of a problem on the injury front..
I hope we are all pleasantly surprised soon.