Quote: headhunter "You are aware that only 6 Catalans players played against England yesterday? They have 18 French players in their first-team squad, and only six played against England. That is the bigger issue, not some fantastical explanation about Catalans not developing enough players. Also I'm really not sure that Huddersfield can boast 18 home-grown players in their first-team squad, but I'm sure you know more about that than me.
Yeah, small-time, unambitious, penny-pinching clubs with no interest in junior development. And Leeds, who have a ready-made feeder system and so no need to run reserves.'"
Catalans can't develop many players to get into their best 17. Absolutely pathetic. Throwing money at antipodeans and bringing through very little quality when they are the only SL team in the country.
Few teams if any can 'boast' 18 home grown players in their squad with so many clubs sharing the same catchment area. So comparing English home grown players with French players in the Dragons is idiotic. The Giants - with 3 other SL teams in west Yorkshire (4 other til very recently) - compare pretty well with the Dragons who have no SL competition. The 4 West Yorks clubs can find 20 or so home grown players to play each week despite competition from big Lancashire clubs & Hull. Catalans with no local SL competition struggle to get 5/6.
Your suggestion that clubs running several junior teams + scholarships right the way through to the U19s are not interested in development because they dont want an U23s is plain daft. Many prefer the current pathways + dual registration. Very few want U23s.
