So we finally have a reserve grade. Im guessing Toronto players will use this as well as existing squad members from the bulls. The team doesnt seem to have massive numbers so far.. So Where will the remaining players come from? I know you can promote a few 19's too as well but will the Bulls start to recruit from the local amateur outfits and even university teams and make use of players with high potential who are late develoeprs E.G - walmsley, peacock, hill to name a few. Also who will be coaching them?

I’d imagine the older players in the academy

I’d imagine all of the above options. Either JK or BN brought up the inclusion of local amateur trial it’s in a recent interview

Some decent lads around at student level.

It's hard to imagine at exactly what level the reserve side will be. Logically, I'd have thought somewhere a bit above above, what we might call a 'decent' amateur level, is what might be expected for a pro/semi-pro club's reserve team.

What I'm finding hard to call is just where these players are coming from - if they are taken from amateur clubs, doesn't this mean we're reducing the ability level in the amateur game? I'd guess that a slightly above top level amateur fixture list would improve the players, but what would be the effect on the amateur clubs?

Well assuming we don't get hit with a glut of injuries (yeah, I know, this is the Bulls ) I think it will be

1. Those who don't get into the 17 for that week
2. A few of the older Academy lads who are 'knocking on the door'
3. Trialists from various sources (like King, Andrade and Burnett now)
4. As many players from Queensbury or Dudley Hill as are needed to make up a team

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No sure the amatuer game can get any more reduced than it presently is.

The more opportunities to play that exist the better. A lot of lads get the boot at 19 and are lost to the game I know of plenty. Maybe a reserves gives a few cut by other clubs a way back in?

I had a look at the makeup of the St Helens reserves that played Fax last season and there was a sprinkling of academy players in the side to make up the 17, so I would guess - given that the reserves were announced at the same time as the Toronto linkup - that it will be a mix of ours and Torontos squad players plus our academy to fill in positions where needed.

If lads see that there is a way to SL below semi pro, or age grade level then they will be tempted to remain or return to the game IMO. If trialsits play on Wednesday evenings then theres no reason why they cant really turn out for their comminuity sides on weekends.

For me, I think its a really good way to take a look at those that have slipped through the net, deemed surplas to requirements or simply late developers.

Think that is the hope really, and obviously, that the 'hole in the net' will be closed going forward. Leaving all those players with nowhere to go was a big mistake, imo.

It was a shortsighted and idiotic move to scrap the reserve grade in the first place.

It gives young lads who aren't quiet up to 1st grade enough game time in order to develop under the club's watch rather than trying to work out less than useful dual-reg or load deals.

Two perfect words to describe the governing body.

They're not 100% at fault though. Their mistake was letting the SL clubs vote on the subject in the first place, but ultimately it was the clubs themselves (us included iirc) that chose to do away with the reserves and bring dual reg etc in instead.

Quite right Nothus. But maybe the RFL shouldn't have made it a decision for clubs to make?