Quote: Leaguefan "Just out of curiosity, and being bloody minded, how many have been signed from local amateur clubs and the clubs development systems?
Or, as I suspect, the easy option is once again being taken.'"
Wakefield have signed Hirst from Dewsbury, he's also gay but sadly not black or a Hindu else he'd have ticked every box.
Seriously I think the days of taking players straight from Amateur clubs are long gone. Sadly I have to say it's because most of the clubs simply arn't run well enough anymore to produce the players and the players who are of limited interest seem to want a big contract immediately. I do though think he Championship remains grossly under exploited with a number of players who IMO are every bit as good as some of the Aussie/NZ and French players who do get a gig - ditto top Academy teams - but for some reason chances or second chances are not the norm over here - in contrast in the NRL players often disapear into the feeder clubs and bush football only to re-emerger better and stronger a few years later.