www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... ve-it.html THE player drain to Australia is on with the scrapping of the Super League U-21 competition. George Marchant is joining Ipswich Jets from Bradford Bulls — a move set up by his uncle Tony Marchant, who contested the Queensland Cup with Wynnum Manly in the 80s. And wealthy Rockhampton club Central Coast Comets want Warrington Wolves forward Lee Mitchell, Wakefield prop Adam Gledhill and Halifax prop Joe Chandler. The news follows Wigan full-back Matty Russell’s switch to Gold Coast Titans and the move by Hull KR’s Louis Sherriff to Redcliffe Dolphins. Redundancy notices are alleged to have been handed to some members of the RFL’s development staff, with the game currently preparing to have its £29million of Sport England aid slashed.

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... ve-it.html THE player drain to Australia is on with the scrapping of the Super League U-21 competition. George Marchant is joining Ipswich Jets from Bradford Bulls — a move set up by his uncle Tony Marchant, who contested the Queensland Cup with Wynnum Manly in the 80s. And wealthy Rockhampton club Central Coast Comets want Warrington Wolves forward Lee Mitchell, Wakefield prop Adam Gledhill and Halifax prop Joe Chandler. The news follows Wigan full-back Matty Russell’s switch to Gold Coast Titans and the move by Hull KR’s Louis Sherriff to Redcliffe Dolphins. Redundancy notices are alleged to have been handed to some members of the RFL’s development staff, with the game currently preparing to have its £29million of Sport England aid slashed.

Theyre all semi pro clubs. Theyll all be back within a year, it's nothing to worry about.

The Titans aren't semi-pro, although I expect Russell will play mostly Queensland Cup next year. TBH I think this is a positive, as the Queensland Cup is a far better place to learn the game than U21s or even the Championship. Every side has a few former NRL players plus some future stars, and they play highly structured NRL-style rugby. Its not as good as SL, but should be a fantastic place to learn.

TBH if the RFL had the money, I'd look at sending the best 17-year olds to Australia for a year for the same reason.

A few players may be permanently lost to the NRL, but most will come back to SL as simply better players. We'll probably see numbers peak this year and next anyway due to the scrapping of the U21's impacting a whole batch of players in one go.

Jamie Peacock's year in Woolongong in 1998 made his career. This is good news not bad!

Marchant is still eligible for the new Academy competition next season so the new system isn't to blame, i haven't seen him play, how do you guys rate him ?