Yes, they were better than him. That is all.





is your argument in defence of Hull Kingston Australia not giving games to young English players really that its ok because Leeds didnt give games to Mike Ratu because they were giving games to two other better young English players one of whom is four years younger than Ratu?



aww that is bad even for you

so your defence of Hull Kingston Australia not giving games to young English players REALLY IS that its ok because Leeds didnt give games to Mike Ratu because they were giving games to two other better young English players one of whom is four years younger than Ratu

So what your saying now is...just because you're English does not guarantee you a start in SL, there are other factors which will determine if you are selected which explains why Gibson and Watkins played far more SL games while Ratu was at Leeds. At last we are in agreement Smokey. We got there in the end eh?

when did i say being English guarantees you a start in SL? how many claims about what i have said is that you have made and not been able to back up in the last few pages? 3?4?







The only factor that determined why Gibson and Watkins played more games than Ratu when at Leeds was because Watkins and Gibson were/are better young English players than Ratu, that isnt the same at Hull KR



Whats your next defence? Its ok for Hull KR to sign a 24 year old NRL reserve grader at scrum half because Saints played Kyle Eastmond instead of Matty Smith?

Gosh you're twisting and turning like a twisty-turney thing Smokey

. Are you now saying that at Leeds if you are English you can [uonly[/u be kept out of the side by a better young English player?





It makes you wonder why Leeds need any foreign players with such high standards of youth development really.





Mike Ratu Leeds Rhinos 2004-2009 (5 years) 6 SL games.



Mike Ratu Hull KR 2010 (1 year) 5 SL games. Injured for much of the season too, well done Hull KR for giving young English players a go!

God you are really desperate to try and dance around it arent you.



Im saying that if you are a young English player at Leeds you will get games and experience and the only reason you wont is if there is a better young English player in your position.

because the overseas players are of an even higher standard. You know like world cup winners, Dally M Winners, NSW Captains. Dally M 2nd Rowers of the year etc etc. There is no problem with a few players who really are top quality.



Its packing your team with a lot of overseas players, some of whom arent particularly good instead of giving a opportunity to young English players like Hull Kingston Australia have which is the problem.



why are you ignoring the other, better young british players who played ahead of Ratu in Watkins and Gibson?

Your comparison isnt with Ratu and Leeds and Ratu at Hull KR, its between Ratu at Hull KR(your best centre prospect) and Gibson and Watkins at Leeds (our best centre prospects).



as i say your justification for Hull KR having 10 overseas players and not giving young English players an opportunity is that Leeds gave more experience to two other young British players aswell as Ratu (and strangely that Ratu didnt get many 1st grade games as a 16 year old) which is idiotic even for you.

Funny how it's only Leeds that sign top quality overseas players. Shame they're already past their best when you get them.









Yeah, three in the dream team last season. Dobson in again this season. You're making loads of sense here Smokey.









You're using Ratu's SL games at Rovers as some kind of slur on Rovers, I'm pointing out the hypocricy of your argument. You don't like that do you Smokey?









Even Leeds fans disagree with you. Regardless, it's not Rovers' responsibility to give young English players an opportunity for the sake of it. It's Rovers job to field the strongest Rovers team,as an advocate of excellence I thought you would support this view Smokey.





It's the job of the RFL to devise rules that support the development of a strong national side, which they have.



You know, it's funny. Rovers have been in SL for 4 years now and they're to blame for a poor national side. What have all the other SL sides been doing to develop young English talent for the last 15 years?

Loads. Thanks for asking



And we've been doing it with young LOCAL English talent as well......not getting 3 blokes picked for England who started their careers nearer to say, the Leeds area.

As BB said on the other thread, why does it matter where they come from? If they slipped through the net at another club we would be stupid not to take advantage.





Hey so re your crowds next season, are you going to try letting everyone in free again to see if that brings them up?

So, all SL clubs have been doing loads to bring on English players for the last 15 years? Makes me wonder why we keep losing.





Harlequins have had loads of English players for 15 years

, I wonder why you needed so many Aussies then? And since you had all these English players but played many Aussie/Kiwis you wouldn't be churlish enough to complain about the number of Aussie/Kiwi players Rovers use would you?