Or maybe it shows that the intensity is not there anymore as there is nothing to aim for with there not been a league table this season.

Some people are unable to show either tact or have the ability to give credit where it's due it seems.

Sour grapes.

Well done Widnes, its a great achievement.

Dud you make all of that up? We do have a 20's / reserves who reached their semi final also but fit our development was decided 18's best place for the best kids a lot as mentioned under 16 as a few if the older lads 16/18 had to step up to first team level and may I add none looked out of place despite are issues on field this year!

To add I also initially doubted the crediting others as SL at such an age but when you think of the much higher outside funding for clubs she the higher pull for the players (Saints thread about signing 14yr old from Wire) it makes you realise what a good job the club has done in retaining and developing these young lads... It s certainly something to be proud of

It does seem like a bizarre way of arranging the U18's League, but credit where credit's due, Widnes won the most matches and when it counted. Very well done.

Exactly! And tbh I think all sides in the comp would of played like it was for a title of course... I really couldn't believe it when it was announced that the under 18's would be 'non competitive' what a joke... like sports days!

We wonder why we struggle on the international stage across board when we are killing the winning spirit whereas you look somehwere like America / Austrlia and 2nd is nothing 1st is everything and their lads don't go home and cry about it they toughen up and raise their game to the very top!

people in the media keep bleating on about the excellent youth structures at wigan, saints and leeds........but they were all beaten by lads from a championship club, surely that says quite a lot about the academy structure and recruitment at widnes!!!

I've seen you're reserves twice this season, not seen them win yet. Two weeks ago they played a lot of the first teamers and couldn't be Featherstone, who according to your Manager have a poor reserves side

They do play more then twice a year you know

...and thought this thread was about our academy?..well done to phil finney and all the lads

That has been said but who where these first teamers? And I mean actual first choice players compared to your boys... team sheet?

Noticed Grady, Houghton & Yates in that side (pics)Yates will be 21 I think the others are both under 20 and have played first team but also due to injuries... and isn't that the idea?

Well done Widnes!