You mean NSW Cup players.

Dear lord how terrible do Australian players get? Ryan Tandy is playing in the NRL Grand Final so represents the elite of the game over there.

Just how bad does it get?

I think they are looking at Kafusi and Joel Clinton.

Yes, Australian players playing in Australia shows just how far Australia has fallen.

Ashley Gibson signs for Salford today... www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... lford.html

Ashley Gibson signs for Salford today... www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... lford.html

I Can't understand why a young kid like Gibson has only signed for one year.
With 2 years guaranteed franchise. i thought he would have been worthy of a 2 year deal. Or is it the only offer he had.

He's had a bad time with injuries recently, so maybe it's all Salford would offer.

On the other hand, maybe he's got his sights set on better things!

Spot on.

If we don't sign any players for next year we won't necessarily be weaker because of it. We will more then likely have a new coach and one thats more willing to give the young lads we have a chance on merits and not just through injuries and suspensions to experienced players.

We have the best crop of young players in the country by a distance and the difference to previous years is we're going to use them and keep them.

I can't wait for 2010.

Im sure I heard that in 2004...

I think wakey (amongst others) also have a right to make that claim.

I don't think they have.

Wigan have won the reserve Grand Final for the last two seasons, and their U18 side have made the Grand Final for the last two seasons.

Their production line is the best in British Rugby League. Every Superleague team bar Leeds and Catalan have a Wigan born player in it.

Too true Rogues.. and I hate Wigan
Leeds' production line is up there in recent times though, and looks to be for quite some time, Saints, while producing Roby and Graham with a couple of other potential half backs is slipping i'd say, where's the next decent prop coming from?

Surely Wakefield finishing top of the academy league (reserves league means nothing as that's made up of first-team player regaining fitness and players too old to play in the U18s) and making the Grand Final means they have a better claim for this year?

Just like why Leeds sing "that's why we're champions."

Of the Wigan team against Saints that won the reserves final only 1 or 2 were 21+ and only 3 players had actually played 1st team this year (one of them being Karl Pryce, who was crap at first team and crap in the final)

I think 6 or 7 of the Saints players had played 1st team this year as well.