Let's get the media man on this and give it a positive spin... "Are you a promising youngster? Why not sign for the Bradford Bulls. In no time you too could be snapped up by saints/Wigan/Huddersfield etc"

In serious, the best of luck to James. He has been a rare positive in this season and always have it everything he had. I hope we have at least attempted to wrangle him back on a year long loan next year as he is unlikely to get into the saints first team straight away.

There we go again - giving one of our best players to help a SL club.

Our club motto should be "Bradford Bulls - the club that just keeps on giving"

Have to agree we are just being bled of our future heritage.We ought to receive something and sell on options surely.In a real business world you would not be able to give away your assets.

I aren't sure why people are getting upset, out of contract players move on from big clubs, it happens, not just to us

He's an employee who's fulfilled his contract,just like you changing job for more opportunities or money

It's not the legalities, it's the morality. Should we continue to spend our meagre resource developing quality players for the game when we receive nothing in return. Same can be said for Halifax or any other club developing talent, it's a waste of time, money and effort. Why do something you get no benefit from? We may as well sack it off. Hudds can turn out the talent and reap the benefits of their own endeavours.

However, the stipulations for NewCo were 'must run an academy' on no phuqqing funding, for other teams to cherry pick with no compensation. The RFL didn't even bother with lube this year.

An alternative would be to stop chasing the 'big name' juniors; ie. the ones who are on the St Helens, leeds, Wigan etc watch list. We always make a big thing about taking juniors who were being 'courted' by the big clubs but these are [iexactly[/i the ones who are most likely to depart when they hit open age. We'd be better off lowering our sights on these recruits and taking the ones who are not being chased by the SL clubs. There are plenty about and the chances are we'll still get some very decent players who will want to play for us.

Eh? Couldn’t disagree more. Have you been on the sauce?

We already take on a lot of juniors that are "below the radar".

Cameron Scott was one that was passed over by the "big" clubs. He subsequently did very well with us thanks to our superior coaching and development and was selected for England. He's now at Hull. So even if you lower your sights you still lose them.

One lad currently shining is Reiss Butterworth. Let go by Fev. Doing well for the U19s, not out of place in the 1st team. He'll get better.

All the kids will leave if they do well unless the club itself starts to improve. It matters not where they come from.

Perhaps we should recruit the kids that are no good and that won't improve. We'll be alright then because nobody will want them.

I'm with Bullseye. The junior players we sign, stay with us for a couple of years at least normally (until we have an off-field meltdown). I think us gong down to L1 has a big reason Bentley has gone. Ethan Ryan is likely to go too, but last 2 seasons he's been our best back by a country mile. When the young players come through, they end up being some of the best players in the squad, so i think it's essential we keep the academy going. Where would we have been without Ryan, Oakes, Bentley? I don't think we would have won a game. Bentley and Oakes were probably on a damn sight less than Thomas, Mendeika etc too. If we continue that conveyor belt and have stability, yes one or two will inevitably go barely playing a game, but i think most will stay for a few seasons. I don't understand Bulliacs idea of sign a worse standard of junior player. If he surprises everyone, and plays well for the first team, he will sign for a bigger club anyway.


The Cameron Scott example is stupid by Bulliac. He didn't leave because a bigger club came calling. He left because he were liquidated. Bentley hasn't suddenly attracted a load of interest because he was a good junior, it's because he's been outstanding in the first team. Do you think if he was a junior that nobody wanted Saints wouldn't have signed him now? Same with Butterworth. His Dad says he's here next year and if he performs in the first team (like he has been doing) the bigger clubs will come sniffing no matter whether only us wanted him as a 16 year old, or every NRL/SL club were trying to sign him. Personally think he will stay as he will probably see playing first team games for us, is better for his development. Give me 2 seasons of Reiss Butterworth over 5 of Oscar Thomas!!

Er it was me that cited Cameron Scott (not Bulliac).

A few of the young lads - like Bentley - re-signed with us after we were liquidated and reformed. A few didn't like Scott, Trueman, Brown, Hooley and Waite Pullen. I'd say they were some of our best and all signed for SL clubs despite them not playing 1st team.

Agree 100% with your other points. Think players like Butterworth and Pickersgill will figure more prominently next season. Like you I'd take them over players like Thomas and Mendeika.

Apologies Bullseye and Bulliac, as i thought Bulliac had posted it i read it as Bulliac was using Cameron Scott as an example of it being pointless signing talented 16 year olds

You after a game?

We've tried that with the grown ups.